Colored Monk's Cloth

There has been a rumor that monk's cloth manufacturers will no longer produce colored monk's cloth and I'm sorry to say the rumor is definitely true.  I e-mailed one company and just received an e-mail back verifying they'll no longer provide us with colored monk's cloth so I'd suggest to all weavers that you try to obtain as much as you can now.  The white and beige will still be available so it's not the end of the world for Swedish weavers.

I thought I'd beat the trend by ordering a bolt of red in November but the order got screwed up and only 1 yard was sent to me.  By the time the order was corrected, the red was no longer available.  I have lots of other colors in my stash but I guess my Christmas items will have to be woven mainly on white and beige.

And now a thought.  If anyone has any red monk's cloth they don't need or want, I would be happy to buy it from you.

I won't be back on the computer until after January 3rd so I wish everyone a Happy New Year!  

Merry Christmas 2018

I say "Merry Christmas" because I come from a christian background but that doesn't mean that I don't respect the culture and traditions of other religions.  Enjoy the season your way and don't be offended when you hear "Merry Christmas".  I'm definitely not offended by being greeted in a friendly manner by people who celebrate December a little differently from the way I do.  This should be celebrated as a season of peace, harmony, and generosity no matter what your background happens to be.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Following a Pattern

This is an unfinished Swedish weaving table runner where I had trouble following the pattern so ended up doing it my own way.  It is often very difficult to follow these old patterns that are printed in black only instead of having each line a different color.  That's the problem I ran into with"Tropical Paradise" which is in the first Avery Hill book of patterns.  Whoever thought to color code each line of pattern is a genius!!

Anyway, I just couldn't decipher the pattern where the lines crossed each other and finally gave up and sort of created my own pattern.  Some interesting features were lost that way but it was the best I could do.

I'm using a very course and thick yarn...an old one without the wrapper to identify it...and it gives great texture.  It's rough to work with but looks perfect when done.  I like using a thicker yarn like this once in a while because you always get good heavy texture with it.

The monks cloth is a light sage and the yarn is a variegated green.  I've already packed my sewing machine in the car to go to Florida so any Swedish weaving I do right now will be finished in Florida.  

This will be my last post of the year so I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Keep on weaving!

Copying Patterns

There's been quite a debate on the Swedish weaving Facebook pages about how no-one should copy a pattern but always buy them.  A few even went so far as to call anyone who did copy a pattern a thief.

I understand that the Swedish weaving pattern designers have copyrights on their work and only receive payment when the pattern is bought but it's unreasonable for them to expect someone isn't going to just copy a simple pattern instead of buying it.  No-one has bought more pattern books than I have but occasionally I see something very simple and just work it out on my own instead of buying the pattern.  To be called a thief for doing that makes me want to steer clear of groups which are way too militant.

We copy recipes, songs, posts, and heaven knows what.  If we get too stringent with rules that some people are insisting on then a lot of the fun has gone out of the group.  

I hope this blog remains friendly and informative...and it's free.

Unfinished Table Runner

I wasn't going to add this runner to the blog yet because it's unfinished.  I haven't done the fringe yet because my sewing machine is already packed in the car ready to go to Florida.  I have a couple of runners I'll complete once I get there and post them at that time.

This one is a little different, though, and I thought it might be a good lesson for new Swedish weavers.  Placing diamonds between the patterns is a common practice to fill in spaces.  I love playing around with the diamonds, making them different sizes, etc., and decided to create this table runner using diamonds only.  I love it.

My original plan was to weave all the diamonds in with royal blue yarn (Simply Soft Party) but I stupidly didn't check to see if I had more of the blue than just the remnant of a skein I started with.  Well, I didn't.  No problem, though, because we are crafters and crafters can always find a solution.  My solution was to use both the royal and the silver/grey yarns because they go well together.

I think I ended up using more silver/grey than the royal but it looks nice.  I didn't use a pattern, just found my centers and started weaving in rows of diamonds and using different sizes of diamonds.  I would have done more with the royal if I'd had it but I like this runner so much that I just might keep it for myself.

Finished Odd Run Runner

Using the Odd Run fabric is not quite as comfortable for me to work on and I still do prefer the regular monk's cloth but this runner, which I'm laying at the end of a twin sized bed, was not difficult to handle.  It looks navy in the photos but it's actually a grey that looks almost black in reality.  The yarn is Caron's Simply Soft Harvest Red.  I used only part of Christine Allen's Magical Mirrors pattern.

This runner is going in a bedroom/craft room that I have started to decorate in red, black, and white.  I'm still looking for a white coverlet, preferably one with little red flowers on it.

I haven't been crazy about using the Odd Run fabric but honestly had no trouble at all on this project other than my usual difficulty in working on dark colored fabric.  It's hard on my eyes and I can't imagine doing a whole afghan on dark fabric but it is a beautiful background for any yarn pattern.

I still have some of this fabric left and will use it all for table runners, just cut it shorter than the full width it comes in.

Going to Work on the Oddrun

I'm not looking forward to it because the "oddrun" fabric is sort of flimsy to work on but it's the right color (dark grey that looks black) for my purpose.

I installed some really nice shelving from Ikea in the summer...white cubicles...in the spare bedroom where I keep all my craft items and loaded the open shelving with red canvas boxes (I'm not sure of the proper name for these). I also made a black quilted cover for the tote box where I keep my finished table runners.  I've been trying to find a white coverlet with little red flowers for the bed thereto complete my color combo but I haven't found one yet.  On the end of the bed I will place the grey/black runner.

The other day I pulled out the fabric and some red yarn for the Swedish weaving but wondered if I should add another color, too.  Right now I'm thinking I'll stick with just the red but we'll see.  I can change my mind if it doesn't look right.

One of the Swedish weavers who posts on Facebook showed a photo of exactly what I'll be doing and it looked great so I may be on the right track.  Anyone who does Swedish weaving should follow the groups on Facebook because it is really informative.  I learn from it every day! 

Colored Monk's Cloth to be Discontinued

I can't believe this is happening.  The manufacturers of monk's cloth have said they'll discontinue producing it in colors other than white and beige and, apparently, there is a danger of it all being discontinued.  I hope I'm wrong about that.  It had seemed to me that Swedish weaving was only gaining in popularity as a craft and that's why I'm so surprised.

The price of the fabric has gone up drastically and maybe people are buying less.  I don't know but I feel grateful I bought up all the colored monk's cloth I could when Walmart started to phase it out.  At that time I was paying about $7 per yard.

I've been planning on buying a bolt of red monk's cloth when I get to Florida after Christmas but got very worried there would be none available by then so I had my daughter (American) order some for me.  Shipping a bolt of monk's cloth to her was $20 so I can't imagine what it would cost to ship it to Canada.  The order went through (on Ebay) so I can only hope it will be filled and waiting for me when I get to Florida.  I want the red fabric to make Christmas table runners.

I'm now the proud owner of more darned monk's cloth than I'll ever use up in my lifetime but my plan is to leave it all to Faye and Donna when I pass away.  

On the serious side, I obtain a true joy creating with Swedish weaving and I know many others do, too.  My hope is that we'll somehow find a decent substitute for the monk's cloth if it disappears altogether.  

3 New Table Runners

This is "Holiday Star" by Jeanette Coffin.  I used white monk's cloth and wove in the pattern with Caron Simply Soft Party in red sparkle and spring sparkle yarns.  I also used Caron Simply Soft yarn in dark sage.  This is one of my favorite Xmas patterns.

This is an old pattern from Avery Hill's first book that I'd never tried before.  It's "Flaming Gorge" and every row is repeated so it's super easy to follow.  The fabric is a burgundy (not purple) monk's cloth and I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in soft pink, and victorian rose.  The shading doesn't show up properly in the photo but it's very subtle in reality.  A little too subtle for my liking, though.

I loved working the pattern so much that I did it again but used sage monk's cloth with Caron Simply Soft yarns in persimmon and melon, and Bernat yarn in rouge.  It looks a million times nicer than my photo.  I've used this color combination of yarn before on an afghan and absolutely loved them together.

Like most Swedish weavers, I have my next project ready to go...white monk's cloth with variegated turquoise yarn. 

Happy Days

When we seniors move from a house they've lived in for 40+ years, it's not easy to discard what we've accumulated...especially if you're a craft person and you have lots of fabric.  You know you won't use it all in your lifetime and it's foolish to move it all from one place to a smaller place so you have to be strong and just do it.  I had tons of fabric, including monk's cloth that was not going to be left behind.  I gave bags full to a friend and then took bags full to the senior center to donate to anyone in the sewing classes.  The fabric I couldn't part with was carefully stacked in large totes which I meticulously carted to my new apartment.  Once there, they were piled in closets.  Some totes, after 5+ years are still piled in the same spots and rarely, if ever, opened.  You never know, I might still be crafting when I'm 110.

There was one large tote in my front coat closet that was always covered in toy trucks for my greatgrandsons when they came to visit.  I thought it was filled with quilting fabric which I may get back to at some time.  Maybe.  Well, the other day I packed away one of the fans because it won't be needed till spring and I had to move the toy trucks over a bit.  Printed on the top of the tote was "monk's cloth".  OMG!!!  I thought it might still be quilting fabric stored in a box that once held monk's cloth so I didn't bother opening it.  But it was on my mind all night long!

Early in the morning I dragged the tote out of the closet and opened it.  Angels sang!  It was full of monk's cloth and even some sheets still in the packages.  I tend to buy ahead.  I was happier than a person should be who has just discovered more monk's cloth than I have room for but so what!  I felt like I'd won the lottery.

I'm still smiling!

Salmon/Gold/Sage Table Runner

I just love this table runner!  The border pattern is Christine Allan's "Paper Dolls" but the center is something I did on my own.  The monk's cloth is sage and the yarns used are Caron's Simply Soft in Sunshine, Persimmon, and Bernat's Satin in Rouge.  

When you place the Persimmon and Rouge side by side, they don't look like they go together but they do.  Faye used those combinations one time a while back and I worried they'd clash but they look perfect together.

I love mixing and matching patterns and I see on the web sites that many other weavers like to do the same.  I think it makes your project completely unique.

Green/Gold/Sage Table Runner

This is the same pattern, "Flickering Flakes", by Christine Allan but done on sage monk's cloth and using dark green and deep gold yarns.  The yarns were remnants so I don't know the shade but I think they were Red Heart yarns.

I'm not sure if I really like this color combination on the sage fabric but I finished it anyway.

Blue/Grey/White Table Runner

One of my favorite combinations is blue yarns on white fabric.  It looks so crisp and clean!  This table runner was done using Caron's Simply Soft Party in Royal Sparkle and Silver Sparkle.  I think adding the bit of Silver Sparkle makes the pattern stand out.  The pattern is now one of my favorites, Christine Allan's "Flickering Flakes".

I mentioned before how badly this yarn ravels in use and how I solved that by knotting the ends tightly before weaving.  The tiny knot travels through the floats with no problem.

Donna's Blue/White Afghan

Donna is camera shy so all anybody is going to see is this beautiful Swedish weaving afghan she's 99.9% completed.  She had a tiny issue with the edging which will take an hour or so to repair but it's one of my favorite color combinations...blue and white.  She used a few different shades of blue (I neglected to get the details) and then incorporated them all in the fringe.  She also mixed and matched patterns which is really fun to do because it gives you a truly unique project.

Donna has been working on this afghan very slowly...she thinks 4 years but I don't think it's quite that long.  It never matters how long it takes us to complete a project because the joy is in the creation.  Donna and Faye meet here at my apartment almost every Tuesday afternoon and we weave a bit and talk a lot.  Then we have tea and home made goodies that either Faye or Donna bring.  No-one ever expects me to bake.

The afghan is just beautiful and Donna has already started on a lap afghan, this time red monk's cloth and white yarn.  I don't know what other colors she'll use but just the red/white combo is lovely.  I'll post photos when it's done...hopefully before 2022.  LOL!

Paper Dolls

This is the "Paper Dolls" pattern by Christine Allen that I'm working on now and I just wanted to point out how some people have the ability to create these patterns and some (me) don't.  I would never have been able to look at picture #1 and realize that by adding just 2 more rows (picture #2) it would look like little dolls.

I had thought it would be very easy to create my own patterns but I've found that I have very little talent for it...I've done a few.  Mostly I start with an existing pattern and then change it to be uniquely my own.  That's not the same as starting from scratch and creating a pattern like "Paper Dolls".

So cute!

Pulling Out, Starting Fresh

I started a new table runner using the sage green monk's cloth but wanted it to look Christmasy so I tried red glitter yarn with white glitter yarn.  I hated it.  Then I pulled out the white glitter yarn and replaced it with gold and hated it even more.  I'm going to pull the whole thing out now and start fresh with yarn that actually looks good on the sage green.

Never be afraid to admit you've made a mistake with your color choices.  Just remove them and start fresh!

Selling...I Hope!

I'm taking these 4 table runners and 1 small tablecloth to Decor On A Dime, a consignment store here.  I'd thought at first to take only used pieces but I have very few of them so I'm taking new pieces.  It will be interesting to see if they sell.

I'll also be selling at 2 craft shows this fall and winter since I'm not going to Florida until after Christmas.  This isn't a big income maker for me but it helps to sell a few so I can create more of them.  It's the creation I enjoy.

Update:  Unfortunately, this didn't work out.  The store would have had to put a list price on the items way too high in order to cover their costs so I'll just stick to selling them at the craft shows.  I do love this store, though, and will continue to shop there.  

Table Runner on burgundy

I have such a hard time photographing the real color but I'm going to be busy for the next 3-4 days so this is the best I could do.

The monk's cloth is a lovely deep burgundy and not the purply shade you see.  I used Simply Soft yarns in bone and off white to do the pattern but they're so close in color that you can't see that, either.  It does make a difference, though, and gives dimension to the pattern.  It's part of the "Grenada Design" from Nettie's Needleworks and it was easy to follow.  I couldn't use the whole pattern because of space.

I have to say it was nice to be back working on monk's cloth instead of the "Odd Run" from Ikea.      

Table Runner from Ikea's Oddrun Throw

I decided to use the pattern "Annie's Throw" from the Monk's Cloth For Today book.  Patterns are by Trice Boerens.  What you see on my table runner is only the very first row of this pattern and then I got lost so I created my own second row.  I'm finding it all a little sparse but I lost interest and just wanted to finish it quickly.

The Oddrun Throw fabric is very close to monk's cloth but not as sturdy and a little flimsy to work with.  This might have been what bored me.  The color is supposed to be grey but it really looks black to me and that makes it hard on the eyes to work on.  Another reason I might have lost interest.

I used Caron Simply Soft Party yarn in silver sparkle and snow sparkle. and they looked nice on the dark fabric.

This is also an extra long table runner at 60" long x 14 1/2" wide.  I threw the thought around that I should add one more row of border but, again, not too interested, so I have started another table runner using proper monk's cloth in burgundy.  It's lovely and I was very happy working on it.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who also used the Odd Run fabric and what they thought of it.

I'm not thrilled with this runner and will have to use brighter colors the next time I use the fabric.  That might make a difference.

Christmas Table Runner

I had just begun working on this table runner when my daughter brought me the "odd run" fabric from Ikea.  I rushed to complete it so that I could work on the "odd run" fabric.

It's dark green monk's cloth and I used the same pattern I used on the last one, "Celestial Flare" by Christine Allan.  I love all the possible color combinations you could use with this pattern and will use it again some time in the future. I used Caron's Party yarn in red sparkle and spring (medium green) sparkle. 

Ikea's Oddrun Throw

I was going to wait until I worked on this fabric but worried Ikea might run out of them.  My daughter washed and dried mine but I forgot to tell her to wash on gentle cycle so there was a lot of lint.  Something else I'd suggest is to cut off the fringe before washing because I think that's where most of the lint came from.

Anyway, I was just thrilled when she brought it to me because, if it isn't actually monk's cloth, it's the nearest thing to it.  I bought 2 but cut one of the throws into 3 pieces because I want them for runners.  If I leave them as is, the runner will be extra long (I didn't measure but I think it's maybe half again as long as monk's cloth).  I'll decide once I start working on it.

I paid $15 Cdn...they're $12.50 U.S...so each runner will have cost me $5.00 for the fabric.  They come in very dark grey (almost black) and a slightly off-white.  I have the dark grey and plan on using white and light grey yarn on the first one I do.

I have tons of fabric already so I'm not going to buy more of this but I advise all Swedish weavers to get on over to Ikea and buy some before they're gone.  They are with all the other throws so not hard to find.

Update:  I started working on it this morning and have discovered a flaw you need to be aware of.  Monk's cloth is extremely forgiving when a strand is pulled out of shape but this fabric is not.  I accidentally pulled a couple of floats and was unable to get them perfectly back in shape.  I'll keep trying.  The photo below shows how similar the fabric is to monk's cloth.  The color is actually darker than the photo shows, though.

Beautiful, But Nothing But Trouble

                                         Shows knotted ends.

                                 
                                         Super glue I used.

                                         Ends cut back before applying super glue.

                                         Runner left to dry overnight.

                                         Completed table runner.

                              Hemmed ends...kind of bumpy.

I made a terrible mistake when I bought this beautiful yarn...and then bought 2 different colors which I have used.  Patons Metallic is not for Swedish weaving.  It's properties are so bad that I can't believe it can be used for any craft.

I don't like to waste anything so I proceeded to use my second color (burnished rose gold...but it looks more like mauve) on a table runner for myself.  The finished product looks lovely but the underside finishing isn't up to par.  The yarn ends fray in long strands so can't be used for fringe.  Luckily, each end of the strand can be knotted and still slide through your fabric.  

On my first project using this yarn, I burnt the finished ends before hemming the end of the runner.  This time I decided to super glue those ends but wish I hadn't.  First, I was very afraid of super glueing my fingers.  Second, it took forever to dry completely.  Third, it dried hard and I actually broke a sewing machine needle when I was hemming the ends of the runner.

Now for the good part...I used Christine Allan's "Celestial Flare" pattern which I absolutely love and can't wait to use again.  The pattern was a little large for my fabric so I chose to close it up by one float between each pattern.  I decided at the very end to change the final row to suit myself and realized I hadn't needed to close it up but it was done.

The runner is lovely and will go on my dining room table.  I will never, ever use that yarn again, though.  

Oddrun Throw at Ikea

I'm pretty sure I got that name right.  A few people from the Swedish weaving groups I follow informed us about this throw.  It strongly resembles monk's cloth and is sold at Ikea (14.99 in Canada).  I don't have it with me at the moment because I gave it to my daughter to wash and dry for me so I don't know the measurements buts it appeared to be a full size bed throw.

It comes in 2 colors..very dark grey and an off white.  I bought the grey.  The fabric looks amazingly like monk's cloth but not quite as heavy so I'm really excited about getting it back from my daughter and weaving with it.

Monk's cloth has become very expensive so trying this out will be a fun experiment.  Results to follow!

Table Runner I Won't Repeat

This is a perfectly beautiful table runner but one I'll never repeat because of the yarn I used.  Unlike the photos, the yarn color is a rich variegated copper metallic and I just loved it when I bought it...but not after using it.

Paton's Metallic in the copper alloy colors doesn't weave particularly well...I had to pull out one row when the strand itself began to unravel.  It definitely doesn't lock in well at the end of the row.  I knew I couldn't use it as part of the fringe because of it's terrible unraveling so I wove the ends back in and actually tried to knot them to prevent further unraveling.  It doesn't appear to be working so this runner will definitely have to be hand washed carefully.

Each strand is variegated in color and in thickness which makes for a beautifully textured design.  And that's where the good part ends.  I love the finished appearance but not the worry of future unraveling.

Unfortunately I bought 2 skeins of this yarn, the copper alloy and a gorgeous burnished rose gold that looks more like periwinkle to me.  I guess I'll use it on a runner just because it's so pretty.

The pattern is Christine Allen's Cobblestone Way and I only changed the border to simplify it.  I've used this pattern before and love it!

Update:  Donna gave me a really good idea on how to secure the ends of this yarn.  She suggested burning the ends so they wouldn't continue to unravel.  I used to make floor mats with very thick ropey yarn and that's how we secured those ends.  I haven't tried it yet but will take photos when I do.  I'm actually getting ready to start a new table runner using the yarn (I was foolish enough to buy 2 skeins) so I sure hope burning the ends works!

Update:  I cut off a piece of the yarn to burn the end...didn't want to start burning it on the skein in case it flared right through it...and it worked perfectly.  For some reason I thought it might leave a glob on the ends but it looks very small and neat.

Just a Hint

I was horrified to read that one of our Swedish weavers actually keeps track of how many hours (days, weeks, months!) it takes her to complete a Swedish weaving project.  I have an approximate idea how long it takes me but I don't know exactly...and I don't want to know exactly because that might take the fun out of weaving.  It doesn't matter one bit to me how long it takes when I'm making something for family or a friend but I try not to think about the hours I spend making an item to sell.

People who do crafts for sale will never get paid properly for their time and we accept that.  We hopefully get our enjoyment out of creating...I know I do.  I get further enjoyment out of seeing a stranger look at my work with admiration.  Thankfully, the few pieces I sell are not an important part of my income or I'd starve.

It's been gratifying to me to find more Canadians who actually know what Swedish weaving is.  Most have never heard of it because the supplies are atrociously expensive in Canada and that's why I buy most of mine in the States.

My hint for today, though, is for weavers to put to the back of their minds how long it takes them to complete a project.  Just weave and enjoy! 

Paton's Metallic Yarn

I discovered this yarn by accident while shopping at "Len's Mill Store (not sure if this chain is only in Ontario).  I bought it and a lovely plain lilac color because I loved the sheen.  I found out quickly that it unravels on the ends just like the Simply Soft Party so I knotted it in the same way and was happy to see that it slipped through the floats easily.  

Unfortunately, one of the stands began to unravel right in the middle of a row so I had to remove it and start again.  This means I won't buy this yarn again.  It's pretty but too unstable.  The yarn is a beautiful variegated rust color called copper alloy and is also variegated thicknesses along each strand.  I love the effect and hope it doesn't cause me too much trouble finishing my project.

Another problem arose at the end of each row where I normally weave the ends back into the runner or leave them as part of the fringe.  Because this yarn unravels in a sort of ugly way, I chose to weave it back in but then wasn't sure how to end it.  I had to knot 2 pieces together to feel safe that it won't unravel during normal washing.  Again, it's beautiful but not suitable for me to buy again.  

New Christmas Table Runner

The runner is from the booklet "Monk's Cloth Afghans for Christmas" and called "Snowy Sparkles" and I, of course, changed the little border a bit.  It's fun to put your own stamp on your work.  I used the Caron's "Simply Soft Party" yarn in royal and silver grey...I've used the white with the silver grey and they also go well together.  

I had added some of the grey to the fringe along the length but decided it looked better without it so I took it off.

I had posted the photo of another table runner but mistakenly credited the design to the wrong person.  I was actually threatened with a lawsuit for my innocent mistake!  My apology was thrown back in my face so I won't be using any of her patterns any more.  Let's face it, we're all human and make mistakes but I shouldn't have to take verbal abuse when it was an honest mistake on my part.