Almost Done

This table runner is almost done except for the fringeing.  I don't have my sewing machine here in Florida but the park has one I can borrow.  Some fabric will be wasted because I only want my fringe to be a couple of inches long.  

I used the Marquise pattern for the center with a slight modification and then decided to use a part of the same pattern for the border...also with a slight modification.  Altering a pattern slightly means making it your very own.

What Was I Thinking?

I brought 2 pieces of prepared monk's cloth to Florida with me to work on this winter.  I've been wondering ever since why in the world I have 2 pieces measuring 28" wide to make a lap afghan.  What was I thinking?  Anyway, it stopped me in my tracks for a while wondering just what to do but I've decided to continue with the Marquise pattern (which I started in the middle) and work towards the edge until my work measures a decent sized table runner.  Then I'll just snip off the excess.

Lately I've been preparing large batches of fabric instead of one at a time and I think this is what happened here.  I must have been in a rush and didn't pay close attention.

Anyway, I'm using the beautiful marquise pattern from the "Diamonds" booklet but I'm also planning on edging it with a different pattern, one that meets up with the existing points, of course.

The yarn is Caron's Simply Soft in a variegated "baby brights" which looks lovely on the denim fabric.  I hate wasting fabric but this time it was just necessary.  I'll post a finished photo.

Monk's Cloth

I have a very good friend here at my Florida park who is downsizing her craft supplies and I have gained the benefit of this.  She sold me a ton of monk's cloth at the same price she paid for it a few years ago... much of it is remnants with sale stickers, too.  I just hope she's still going to be doing Swedish weaving and has kept some for herself, though.

I already have more than my fair share of monk's cloth back home (mostly white and beige) but there is no way I could have turned away an opportunity like this...much is in colors I can't even find any more.  

We crafters are a special breed.  We enjoy crafting so much that we might be a little too irrational when it comes to amassing too many supplies.  Some, like my friend, see the light and realize the time has come to downsize.  Some, like me, did a bit of downsizing of crafts I haven't done in years but still continue to buy for Swedish weaving.  I've said I'll have to live another hundred years to use up all my craft supplies and I'm not kidding.

Now, monk's cloth is fairly easy to find at Walmart or Joann's Fabrics in the white or beige but colors come at a much higher price so you Swedish weavers will understand why I've continued to add to my collection when I had the chance.  And it just might be what's keeping me happy and alive.

Bought Remnants

One of my friends from the park here in Florida decided she'd accumulated too many monk's cloth remnants.  Like me, she bought as many as she could when they were more plentiful and available at Walmart.  Unlike me, she managed to buy a lot of different colors...even one lovely piece of red!  Also, unlike me, she decided to sell what she has in an effort to downsize her craft supplies.  I bought them all from her because I couldn't resist, especially since she only wanted what she'd paid for them.  I think I now have enough monk's cloth to last me a few lifetimes.

I've already notified Faye and Donna that they will inherit it all if they survive me.

Hard core crafters will understand this completely.  We know value, price, and availability.  When product is scarce and expensive we can't walk away from a good deal.  That said, I make no apologies for adding to my collection of monk's cloth.

What Sold

I took many Swedish weaving afghans, table runners, and lap afghans to the craft show but, even though people admired them, they weren't prepared to pay the price of anything but the Christmas runners.  That taught me to only make Christmas table runners next year.  Also, the first Christmas runner to be sold was the red on red.  Unfortunately, I have no red fabric left and probably won't buy more now but I do have lots of white.  Sparkly yarns in red and green do look lovely on the white fabric.  I also have ecru fabric and will make a few runners with that, too.

I brought some of the other runners I made to sell on Ebay but haven't had great luck with that.  It's interesting to note how many people at the craft sale in Canada knew about Swedish weaving so it's popularity is spreading.  

Craft Sale

I don't know how many of the blog followers are from the Hamilton/Ancaster area but I just wanted to remind everyone that I'll be at the craft show tomorrow selling some of my Swedish weaving pieces...I'll probably be the only one with Swedish weaving.

The bazaar and craft sale is Saturday, October 28th from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. and it's at the Ancaster Achievement Centre, 622 Alberton Rd. S., Alberton, Ontario, (just outside Ancaster).

I was there last year for the first time and there was a beautiful selection of items, some handcrafted.  I'll be selling Swedish weaving pieces (afghans, table runners, place mats), and costume jewelry.  The costume jewelry will be priced at $3-5.

A lady stopped by last year very interested in learning how to do Swedish weaving and I'm hoping more will be there who are interested.  It's such a beautiful craft and one that has been slow growing in Canada due to the cost of materials here but interest is certainly growing.

If you read my blog and are able to come by our table to chat, I'd love to see you!

Last Christmas Table Runner

This is my final Christmas table runner this year.  The monk's cloth is a deep beautiful red and the yarn is really a gorgeous green with a silver thread through it... Bernat's Happy Holidays.  My photography skills are terrible but it could have something to do with the dark overcast sky this morning.

The pattern is part of Pinon Pine from Avery Hill's "Swedish Weaving for Monk's Cloth"...this pattern book is the first of her 4 or 5.

This happens to be the last of my red monk's cloth so I'll probably make next year's Christmas table runners on white monk's cloth.  That will be pretty also.  I still have a large stock of colored monk's cloth to go through so I'm not sure I want to buy any more right now.

The craft show I'll be selling my wares at is on Saturday, October 26th at the Ancaster Senior Achievement Center, 622 Alberton Rd. S in Alberton, Ontario.  All table runners will be $20 so you can see I don't charge for my time.  I love Swedish weaving and will continue to create as long as I'm able!