Friday, January 1, 2010

Flipping Out


When I bought my spinning wheel last spring, I had no plans other than to learn to spin. Although a work in progress, I think I'm doing fairly well on this front. There is a drawback to all of this yarn making business though, and that's figuring out what to do with all of the yarn I make. I've only used a little bit of it, and I've given even less of it away. Some spinners are selling their creations at the local yarn store, but I haven't. I'm hoarding it for some reason.

Needless to say, my handspun is piling up and threatens to take over the house. Some has been sacrificed for the learning process, such as learning cable plying techniques. That took a lot of fiber, and makes an interesting looking yarn. The final product reminds me of rope. I have no idea what I'll use it for, but the process of producing two 2-ply yarns then replying those together in the opposite direction was entertaining.

In part, I love the way the handspun looks when it's finally plied, skeined and twisted. I tend to fill a bowl on the table and display what I've spun as art and there it sits. Once it's knit, my yarn takes on different characteristics that I may not like as much as the presentation of the skein. What's a spinner to do?

Well there is a way to take my yarn and turn it into something that appears to keep the qualities that I like about my handspun, but to do that, I'll need some different equipment and a whole new skill set.

Enter Santa, suspiciously disguised as my husband. He gave me a loom. Though I've yet to receive this back ordered item, it's on its way. For now, it's OK that it's not here because, frankly, I need to study some new vocabulary so I can at least sound half way intelligent when I speak about my spiffy new Schacht Flip Folding Rigid Heddle Loom.

I mean, really, what's a warp? Or a weft? Or for that matter, a heddle? I see I have a lot of prep to do before I even take the loom out of its carrying case.

Those elves better step on it; I'm a very quick learner.

20 comments:

Deborah said...

I love looms, I have a couple of round looms, very easy to use and I also have a "crazy" loom that I can't even figure out how to use it! I have tried numerous times lol
Have lots of fun :)

Rudee said...

I'm hoping this loom is easy to learn from Deborah. I have a lot of yarn to use up!

Thanks for following!

SkippyMom said...

Is Fipping [out] a term too? What does it mean? :)

I can't wait to see what you make with your new loom - nice husband! Hurry up Elves?

Good luck with the weft and the um, erm....stuff.

Rositta said...

It should be interesting to watch the progress. I have a loom at my cottage studio but it's a huge contraption, I think it's a tapestry loom. I've never used it, I inherited it and I'll probably never use it...ciao

Rudee said...

I see what you mean, Skippy. I fixed it--even though it's my policy to make most amusing mistakes stand.

Gail said...

Good husband! I look forward to see your creations.

Stephanie V said...

Your creations are always so beautiful - even the ones you call experiments! I can hardly wait to see what you and your loom produce! I love handwoven fabric but confess that, like spinning, I'm not sure I'll ever go there.

Brenda said...

It will be fun to see what beautiful things you create with the loom. I am totally clueless here. So I will watch and learn.
Have a great day!

Jane said...

Wow, what a lovely husband you've got. Love to be a fly on the wall as you get to know your new loom

Anonymous said...

This is all new to me also, Rudee. We are all out here, with bated breath, waiting to see your new baby. It seems you are well pleased with that gift. Good for you.
QMM

Jeannette StG said...

That looks like a great loom! May I ask where your hubby ordered it?

The wintery kind of things, and tools to do with "hand-made" are hard to come by in California.

Even though there are stores here to buy yarn, I've yet to see a solid color of lighter weight sock yarn that is easily washable (except for babies). I'll go off my soap box now:)

laurie said...

this sounds perfect. i can't wait to do something ridiculous on my blog and earn myself a nice rug from you.

Darci said...

Oooh, just think of all the neat things you can create now! Good luck :)

SkippyMom said...

Rudee I don't "loom" I seriously thought FIPPING was a term. giggle.

I am sorry, it was really an honest question. I bet you can come up with a use for it.

Have fun and like I said, can't wait to see the results.

debra said...

I love the colors and textures of natural fibers, and although I tried to like knitting, it didn't happen for me. I can't wait to see what you come up with.
xo

Rudee said...

Well Skippy, I'm going fipping crazy just trying to sift through the vocabulary for this art form.

Laurie, the first thing I'm weaving are some draft blockers for this drafty old house of mine. We got our first big gas bill, and it was more money than the loom. Yikes.

Joanna said...

Wow, a whole new world is opening up for you now Rudee. Have fun with it.

Catherine said...

Don't know where you get the time to be so creative!Love the loom idea - I never did any weaving except home made cardboard loom for the kids when homeschooling them in the African bush! when we lived in Laos there was amazing weavers there mostly silk weaving - it was brilliant! I have some lovely pieces, scarves and wraps and wallhangings. Good luck with it!

Miss T said...

All that yarn is good insulation. It's cold!

Celia said...

Wow! So jealous. Love the loom.