Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:26

Kayt (not verified)

Just had my two romney x sheep sheared and they have fly strike! Hoping this list will talk about all things related to our fiber producers -? At any rate, the girls will come through this with a little loss to their dignity, but otherwise okay and they have given me the usual 10 pounds of fleece apiece.

Which brings up my next area of interest. Since this is a hobby rather than a way to earn money, I'd appreciate any suggestions about efficient ways to process wool.

In the past, I've sent fleece to Morro Bay and gotten back beautiful pin drafted roving, but I do like dyeing and carding blends of color. Does it seem to anyone else that washing wool is a huge job? Am thinking of just sending off the fleeces to be washed this time. Does anyone have thoughts on this?

 

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:37

Becky (not verified)

I am a fairly new weaver. I've done some projects on big loom and actually own a big loom, but most of my weaving has been on a rigid heddle. I am finishing up a cotton/linen scarf right now and will be doing the WAL, too. (I haven't posted on the group, but I read it every day!)

I have a couple cones of Sugar n Cream cotton for a start and just have to figure out what colors and if I need more yarn. I'm looking forward to playing with log cabin.

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:57

Becky (not verified)

I bought a used Louet Hollandia, four-shaft a few months ago.  Right now, I am taking a class on a Cranbrook to learn how to use my new loom. I'm making a shadow weave blanket. I can't wait to warp my own loom at home!

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:57

Becky (not verified)

I bought a used Louet Hollandia, four-shaft a few months ago.  Right now, I am taking a class on a Cranbrook to learn how to use my new loom. I'm making a shadow weave blanket. I can't wait to warp my own loom at home!

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:01

ktweaver48 (not verified)

Because I love weaving a lot, I weave a lot, and am always looking for more efficient ways of doing the joyful work.  One of my favorite tips came from one of Peggy Osterkamp's books (beg, borrow, or steal [not]  one or more of them if you really want a treasury of tips).  Warping back-to-front, after you have threaded the heddles, recreate the cross in front of the castle, and you'll have access to the thread-by-thread warp from which to sley the reed.  This has saved countless hours, and certainly, errors of crossing threads between the heddles and the reed. 

I've been weaving for about a dozen years, having started when my daughter joined a fiber 4-H group.  I weave for pleasure and for sale, and am the member of three local guilds in upstate New York.

 

Karen

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:09

maurerwerks (not verified)

Hi - I'm Sue and we have three wethered angoras, Bill, Peanut, and Wilbur.  I also have bags of their fleece laying around waiting to get the hay picked out so they can go to the processors.  Boy can those guys grow hair!  Lots of fun though.

Sue

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:26

Holly Shaltz (not verified)

I don't have a WWL as yet, but am very interested in building one and trying some basic wool cloth of handspun yarn.  I'd like to do a reproduction piece from Bronze Age NW Europe.  Figuring out the right type of wool has been a problem.  Ryder's categories are difficult for me to interpret in modern wool breeds.

I hope to hear what others are doing!

Holly

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 17:27

Holly Shaltz (not verified)

I have the use of an AVL 16 shaft 60" mechanical dobby loom, thanks to a friend who had to make room for her MIL.  I've only  used it 3 times so far--have a 30-yard warp of 8/2 unbleached cotton, 22" wide, on right now, threaded to a point twill, for napkins, table runners, and the like--some for gifts, some for a weaving group exchange, some to hopefully sell.

Because this loom isn't mine, I'm hesitant to spend money on it--my friend may want it back at any time, though I suspect I'll have it for a few years yet.  It's reconditioned from the mid 80s--86 I think, though I'm not sure without looking it up.  It has a sectional beam with 2" sections, which deters me from fine warps.  I have to borrow bobbins to fill, or make some (I've used toilet paper rolls, which actually work quite well), to be able to use even my standard 8/2 cotton.

Holly

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 18:19

Peg in South C… (not verified)

Kerstin, thank you for sharing your blog url.  I've checked it out and subscribed because it's clear I'm going to like it. 

I am now trying to figure out things,here.  There is no reply under Kerstin's post but there is under the following posts.  So I simply posted a new comment. 

Also, it seems that this is a forum for those who have signed up for Efficient Weaver, but there is posting in both places. 

Soooooo.........I'm a bit confused.

Peg in South Carolina
http://talkingaboutweaving.blogspot.com/

 

Tue, 06/09/2009 - 18:19

Peg in South C… (not verified)

Kerstin, thank you for sharing your blog url.  I've checked it out and subscribed because it's clear I'm going to like it. 

I am now trying to figure out things,here.  There is no reply under Kerstin's post but there is under the following posts.  So I simply posted a new comment. 

Also, it seems that this is a forum for those who have signed up for Efficient Weaver, but there is posting in both places. 

Soooooo.........I'm a bit confused.

Peg in South Carolina
http://talkingaboutweaving.blogspot.com/