Choosing Patterns

A lot of people ask me what pattern I used for a project and I have to tell them that I now prefer to mix and match patterns according to my whims.  I simply make sure that the main points of any pattern match up with whatever I started out with.

There seems to be a progression of process in the craft of Swedish weaving where the novice starts out with a basic pattern to complete their project.  This is the wisest way to begin.  Even though everyone discovers that Swedish weaving is not nearly as difficult to do as we first thought, beginning with the basics is where we really learn how to do it.  From learning the basics, we can very easily go on to "doing it our own way".

I like to think I'm pretty experienced but one thing I have not been able to master is how to weave letters, numbers, or pictures, and that is on my to-do list for the future.  I tried once and failed miserably and have been unwilling to try again but that will change!

Novice Swedish weavers will already have discovered how expensive the pattern books are but you can get by with just a few of them if you do as I do and mix and match.  Every project will be totally unique and never seen anywhere else.  I like this!

We also learn from our mistakes.  Last year I decided to make a large quantity of Christmas runners for a craft show I attend.  I foolishly bought the cheapest red and green yarns I could find because I knew I probably wouldn't use them for anything but Christmas runners.  Visually they looked fine but they weren't fun to work with.  I enjoy working mainly with "Simply Soft" but there are other good ones, too.  I guess my point is to use your time to your benefit and buy the yarns you enjoy working with.

I'm still working on the afghan for my grandson and his fiance.  She was just the girlfriend when I started it a few months ago but they made the big commitment on New Years Eve.  We are all thrilled with his excellent choice of a life partner!

Well, I hope we Swedish weavers make lots of beautiful creations in 2017 and I hope many more novices join us. 

Started Nick and Bev's Afghan

I started Nick and Bev's afghan a couple of days ago and sort of chose the patterns as I went along.  I love to mix and match and alter to suit my purpose so I'm not sure if I'm finished adding a pattern yet.  What you see so far will be repeated until the afghan is finished.

I chose a white monks cloth with teal, dark charcoal, and medium grey yarn because the colors in their home are fairly muted.  The one major difference is a huge picture of a teal flower which sits above the sofa in the family room.  That is where the afghan will live.

I was a little concerned that the teal color might not show up enough against the greys but it seems to fit in just fine.

I enjoy making an afghan with the recipient in mind because I weave a lot of love into it.  I hope they feel that love as they cuddle in it this winter.

Making a Border Design

I made this little placemat for my make-up table, using ecru monks cloth and a burgundy yarn.  You can make perfect corners if you count the floats carefully but I chose to make do with a piece of cloth I already had prepared so my corners are not perfect.  This was a larger piece of fabric that I cut in half and that's why the fringe on one side has been laundered and the other side won't be as soft until it's washed again.

More Table Runners

Here are two more table runners.  Each takes about 2 days to make and that's all I want to commit to for the present time.  

Both are on ecru monks cloth and the pattern of the first one was done with a turquoise green yarn.  The second one was done with a deep dark green yarn that looks almost black.

I've mentioned that I very often change established patterns just a bit so that my work is unique but, with the second runner, the pattern is all mine (I think).  One of my interests is in one day creating a booklet of all new patterns but, for the time, this is my only true (I hope) original.  I say "I hope" because there are similar ones out there.

I was at a craft show yesterday and a few ladies came up to me who had some experience with Swedish weaving.  It is very rare for Canadians to know about this craft because the fabric and the yarns are at least double the cost in Canada compared to the States.  One lady needed help with an afghan she'd started many years ago and had run into difficulties with (it was her first project...I always instruct first time Swedish weavers to start with a table runner because the time needed to finish an afghan can be intimidating).  This got me thinking I should maybe teach a class at the senior center next summer.  There wouldn't be many students so it would be an easy class to lead.

If any of the people who read this blog are from the Hamilton, Ontario area and are interested in such a class, let me know, okay?

Swedish Weaving Table Runners

These are two Swedish weaving table runners I just finished for the upcoming craft sale.  Both are on ecru monks cloth and the first pattern is simply interlocking diamonds done with 2 shades of salmon colored yarn.  I really like this one especially and will make another later but using different colors.

The second one was done with alternating rows of solid lavender and a variegated lavender/pink/green/tan yarns.  I often use a solid yarn with the variegated, especially to outline the pattern.  It's not necessary but just one of my habits. 

Each of these runners measures 9" wide x 56" long.  I mainly use remnants for runners so the sizes will vary.

Table Runner On Blue

This piece turned out so nice even though the yarn color I selected was unusual.  The fabric is a light blue monks cloth and the yarn was mainly variegated greens with some blues and greys.  The end result is lovely.

This is not something I would ordinarily have chosen but the yarn was sitting close to the fabric and it suddenly appealed to me.  This isn't the first time that an unusual grouping of colors seemed to blend perfectly so we should always keep our minds open to different choices.

Christmas Table Runners

I had a terrible problem trying to photograph the true color of these two table runners so I'll describe them the best I can.  I had to fold each of them in quarters, also.

The first one is a sage green monks cloth with red and gold yarns and is approximately 56" long x 12" wide.  The second one is ecru monks cloth with red yarn and is approximately 56" long x 11" wide.  My runners usually vary in width because I often use remnants of different widths.

These will be taken to a craft sale at the end of the month.  I don't especially like doing Christmas table runners because I prefer weaving with prettier shades of yarn so I've only made the two.

I don't know if I mentioned that I've hurt my right arm and now find it a bit painful to do Swedish weaving for long periods of time.  Because of this, my plans are to make one more afghan this winter for my grandson and his girlfriend but, from then on, settle for making runners and place mats at least until this arm mends.  I've torn a bicep muscle slightly and have had one steroid shot to help heal it.  I'll have another shot next month and one more in the spring.  Whether or not this heals the damaged muscle or not will determine if I can carry on making the afghans.  The weight of 2 1/2 yds. of fabric is a little much for me right now but we have large tables at the Florida clubhouse to lay the fabric on while I'm weaving so that should make it easier for me.  Life goes on and we do the best we can, right?