Honeycomb Library Bag

My latest free project for the rigid heddle loom is posted over at Schacht Spindle Company's website. It's a shoulder bag woven in a honeycomb pattern using my 20" Flip rigid heddle loom. The cells of the honeycomb showcase some yarn that I dyed at NEWS this past July. It was actually just a bit chilly this morning, and this bag screams fall to me. I love fall. I'm going to go make myself some cocoa and get my loom dressed for fall. 

Everyone looks very focused

The May project for my column, 'Yearning to Weave', is now live on the Schacht Spindle Co. website. You can access it by clicking here. The project details how to make bean bags on a rigid heddle loom using pick-up sticks and your stash of perle cotton.
 
Two summers ago, Kevin and I got hooked on what we used to call 'the bean bag game'. We were attending Folks Fest up in Lyons, Colorado, and there it was, all set up just waiting for us. We were there with friends who were also not originally from the area, and when the rain started to fall, everyone else ran for cover, and it was just the four of us and a few happy-go-lucky little kiddos looking skyward and letting ourselves get soaked. It's so dry there, that we knew we'd be dry too within a short while after the rain passed. And when you live in a desert climate, rain is a small miracle. Well thanks to the rain, the game area cleared out, and we were free to play 'the bean bag game' until the sun once again overtook the clouds and it was time to share the fun with everyone.

My wedding wrap

My latest free project for Schacht Spindle Co. is now available by clicking here. Using a beautifully soft and squishy Habu wool, I wove a 2/2 twill using crammed and spaced warp threads to create an undulating effect. It's my favorite project yet, and I am quite sure I'll be wearing it as a big warm scarf once fall rolls around.

Our initials on the back

My March free weaving project is now available through Schacht Spindle Company, by clicking here.  I made a little ring pillow for our wedding next month using pick up sticks to create our initials and some other details. It was quick and easy - probably about an afternoon's worth of work to weave if you count taking a bit of time to calculate blocks to make your own letters or shapes. 

Close up of my Fringe on Top scarf

My latest project for Schacht Spindle Company's Yearning to Weave feature, is now available for free here. It's a scarf pattern that uses basic tapestry techniques to create both textural interest and a keyhole feature that enables you to thread one end of the scarf through the other for an easy cinch (ha!). Schacht also launched their new website this past week, and if you're looking for more free patterns, click on their Newsletters link. Of note if you happen to be a Flip rigid heddle loom owner, the Winter 2007 issue has instructions for warping and weaving with two heddles.

Sans ribbon, but not sans wine

My latest article and free project are now live on the Schacht Spindle Co. site. Click here for details. This festive bag uses hemstitching to create holes through which ribbon could be threaded to cinch around the neck of a wine bottle (or your favorite 40 - yowzers!). It's super easy to weave up on a rigid heddle loom, and I would advise you to weave at least two because you may just want to keep one for yourself.
 
I got the yarn for this project from the fabulous Ellen at Purl Diva in Brunswick, Maine. If she ain't got it, it ain't happenin'.

Fulled woven clutch

I'm very excited to say that my first monthly column for new weavers is up on Schacht Spindle Company's website. For anyone who doesn't know, I'm the former Director of Sales and Marketing for Schacht. A move back east cut my tenure short, but I am close to family and friends which makes me happy, and I still get to work with Jane, albeit from afar. Plus, we now have enough elbow room for me to have my own studio space which is very cool. Anyhow, the point of the column is to offer up some advice and encouragement to new weavers and provide some project ideas as well.
 
My first article is about selvedge frustration, and the project is a great stash-busting fulled clutch. I made three in one fell swoop for only the cost of the buttons. This could be woven on almost any loom, so it's a perfect beginner project not to mention a quick and easy gift.