Changing Directions

I don't know if others are like me and change ideas on the pattern as they go along weaving.  Nothing is ever set until I'm at least 1/4 way through because I just might pull it all out, part of it, or add to it.  I guess it's my artistic bent that comes through as I'm weaving that tells me it will look better if I just alter it a bit.  I'm usually right, too.

Right now I'm making a Xmas table runner on a piece of burgundy monk's cloth.  My plan was to start the pattern with a metallic green and then add in a metallic white but it didn't look quite right so I took the white out.  I did some shopping looking for a different shade of green that would look nice as a contrast but couldn't find what I had in mind.  I did find a metallic black that I took a chance on and it's perfect...in my eyes, anyway.  Where the original idea was for the runner to look Xmasy, it now looks quite elegant as it's being worked up.

Part of my fun in Swedish weaving has always been in altering an existing pattern and making it unique.  I've said that I don't have the talent to create my own designs from scratch although I have done a few I'm happy with.  I'm content with more or less following the beautiful patterns that the true artists have created and maybe nudging them a bit.

I'm not sure I'll have this latest runner finished before I leave for my family reunion on Thursday but I do plan to take some work with me just in case I have a quiet moment or two to do some weaving.  It's my pastime and my peaceful time.  

2 More Table Runners

I really should iron these runners before taking the photos but I get too impatient.  I will iron them when I attach the iron-on labels.

The first one I'm going to keep for myself so I did a bit more work on it than I usually do.  It's Jeanne Tams "Garden Path" done with Caron's Simply Soft yarn in bone on white monk's cloth.  The lattice is something I worked out on my own.  I love the shade of this yarn and refer to it as golden beige because that's what it looks like to me.  I think it looks very elegant on the white fabric but I plan to try it on the ecru at some time, too.

The second one is Jeanne Tams "Hither and Thither" using Caron's Simply Soft yarns in "persimmon" and "sunshine" on white monk's cloth.  Try as I could, I wasn't able to get decent pictures showing the lovely colors here.  It's much more colorful than the photo shows.

Both of these patterns were fairly easy to do but the "Garden Path" was my favorite.  It's going on my diningroom table just as soon as I do the ironing!


  

"Butter Cups"

I love the looks of this pattern but the name "Butter Cups" doesn't seem to suit it.  It's a pattern by Jeanne Tams and I used a very soft blue monk's cloth (sorry how dark it looks in the photo) and Caron's Simply Soft yarn in a lovely variegated "peacock feather".

The center is kind of time consuming but it isn't a difficult pattern to follow.  I did alter it a bit for my purpose.

Remember when you're using variegated yarn to find one with short (4") runs of colors so that you don't get large blocks of the same color in one spot.

Almost Mine

I went looking in my stash of already prepped pieces of monk's cloth and saw this dark green one and decided to do something Christmasy with it.  "Holiday Traditions" is in the little booklet "Monk's Cloth Afghans For Christmas" and one I probably haven't done for quite a while.

I started out with a green with sparkle remnant yarn so I don't know the name and also Caron Simply Soft Party in red sparkle.  I was going to add in a white sparkle to the pattern but it didn't look right so I stuck with just the green and red.

The pattern is super easy to follow and one I'd use to teach newbies.  I honestly just had wanted to play around with the piece but it turned out so pretty that I almost decided to keep it for myself.  Then I remembered the ultra valuable 1 yard of red monk's cloth I bought just before it became impossible to find and that is what I'll make up for myself so the green one will be sold.

If anyone has any red monk's cloth you should include it's tremendous value in your home insurance in case of loss or damage.  LOL! 

Prep Time

I just spent almost 2 full days preparing 18 future table runners and, after they've been worked on, there will be further finishing time.  No crafter considers the time it takes to produce an item for sale because we will never, ever be paid for that full time.  Crafters create because we gain our satisfaction from creating.

I remember a lady at a flea market telling me how people complained about paying $1 for one of her dishcloths.  I knew that the yarn itself cost her $1 but I understood why she kept on making them...for her own satisfaction!

Yes, the prep time is annoying but it's so much fun to watch your creation come to life as you weave on it.  Just don't try to earn a living with it!

2 More Table Runners

Project #1 was done after I made 3 white and grey table runners and needed to work with some color.  The monk's cloth is Potato and I used Avery Hill's "Picots and Diamonds" for the pattern.  Bernat Satin "Rose Garden" and Caron's Simply Soft "Bone" were the yarns.

The bottom table runner was a little larger remnant that I had so I just worked with it instead of cutting it back.  The pattern is Jeanne Tams "Marquis Pillow" and I used Caron's Simply Soft "Peacock Feather" for the yarn on ecru monk's cloth.  I never worry about what the original pattern was intended for (a pillow) but just adapt it for whatever I'm making myself. 

I just checked my stash of fabrics and realized I had only one piece of white left that has been preshrunk so I'll spend a few hours now preparing the large pieces of white...stitching and shrinking.  

I pulled these out yesterday and decided to make sure they were evenly cut and was sort of shocked to see they weren't so I had to trim all the ends.  I know I bought these at Joann's Fabrics a few months ago but I do have a vague memory of taking the whole piece instead of having them cut the yardage.  Someone there does not know how to cut monk's cloth because I ended up losing a good half yard by straightening the ends.

I don't know if all our Swedish weavers know that they can buy pre-cut and packaged pieces of white or ecru monk's cloth at Joann's Fabrics.  It can be found at the back of the store near the yarns and I buy it with my discount coupons only.  It is by far the cheapest way to buy monk's cloth any more...the packages all have 2 1/2 yards of fabric, too.  

2 Table Runners

I sure wish my colors would show up more realistically in these photos but it is what it is.

The first one is Jeanne Tam's "Pumpkin Patch" but with my version for the border.  The monk's cloth is ecru and I used Red Heart "Aspen" which is a lovely variegated for the weaving.

The second one was actually done on sage monk's cloth and the pattern is Jeanette Coffin's "Grenada Design".  I wanted something very soft for this one so I did the weaving with Caron's Simply Soft Party in "Snow Sparkle".