I didn't like working with Caron's Party yarn at first but now that I've learned how best to handle it I do like it. In the beginning I found that the metallic thread unraveled easily while weaving but I took a chance and knotted the ends and hoped they would travel through the floats of the fabric without causing damage or catching. They do. Once in a while they will catch a bit but I just twist the needle and they slide right through. I was ready to give up on this yarn completely before I discovered this little trick.
When weaving, I have the needle right up against the knot as I draw it through the fabric and find that works the best.
Even though I prefer working with colors I had to accept that many people today like to decorate their homes in grays so I started my last table runner using 2 shades of the gray Caron's Party yarn and, lo and behold, my daughter thinks it's beautiful and wants one for her home. That's high praise coming from her. She has always liked my Swedish weaving but never showed a big interest until she saw this latest project.
I decided to complete 3 table runners (white monk's cloth and the gray yarn) and let her choose which one she likes best. I still prefer using beautiful colors but you have to give the customer what they want, right? I'm hoping to sell lots of these at the Xmas bazaar in November. I'll post photos when the 3 runners are finished.
I added 2 photos to hopefully explain better how I have the yarn in the needle.
I just finished this table runner for my friend, Arlean, who had asked for white fabric with rose colored yarns and that's exactly what she's getting. The yarns I used were Red Heart Soft in rose blush and Vanna's Choice in antique rose and I must say they go beautifully together. The pattern I started out with was Christine Allan's "Spring Garden" but I altered it the way I love to do to make it unique to this table runner.When I stat weaving, I never know what changes I'll make until I get to that section of the pattern. I always give credit to the designer of the original pattern, though, because I couldn't do this without them.
I've had strangers at the craft shows ask me to make a special order table runner for them and I always refuse but I'd never refuse a friend. Another friend, Gail, has asked me to make her a few pieces for her bedroom and I'll do that next winter when we're in Florida. I also usually only allow the friend to choose the colors but not the pattern but in Gail's case (because she'll be right there with me) I will give her that choice, too.
I just bought a new sewing machine because my 25 year old one stopped working with the zigzag stitch and it's not worth having it fixed. My new machine is a Brother XM2701 and was ridiculously cheap on Amazon.ca...$121 and free shipping. I used it to finish the fringing on Arlean's table runner and it works beautifully. I always have my machine set on zigzag because I rarely do any sewing besides with the Swedish weaving.
Just a note about Christine Allan...she creates absolutely beautiful patterns and I've bought quite a few from her (single patterns or booklets). She was very kind and thanked me for mentioning that she was the one who created the original pattern that I altered. I wish I had her talent!
Her website is www.funandfastpatterns.ca which is a Canadian company but she sells anywhere.
These are 3 table runners I made when I was in Florida, brought home and did the finishing stitching. The top one (actually done here) started out being copied from Christine Allan's "Lover's Lane but, as usual, I put my own spin on it
The second and third ones are actually done on beige monk's cloth but somehow look greenish in the photos. Both are much more vivid in coloring than the photo shows, also.
The second one, as much as I can recall, started out slightly by following some pattern (it was a while ago so I don't remember which one) but I changed it around a lot.
The third one started out following Christine Allan's "Stepping Stones" but I altered it to suit myself.
I've mentioned how I don't have much talent in creating my own patterns but I do love altering existing patterns. It makes the finished project totally unique.
Because the 2 table runners were worked on a few months ago, I don't have the name of the yarns I used...I'll do better with my descriptions while I'm home.
This isn't what I'd wanted to start first but it was the only piece of fabric I had pre-prepared and I had a whole day to kill at my grandson's house while some work was being done there.
I started out with Caron's Simply Soft Party yarn in the silver sparkle and then followed with snow sparkle but I don't like the silver in this case so I think I'll pull it out and decide on another color...don't know for sure yet which one.
It's so good to be back weaving. All my tools were in my car trunk and I didn't get my car back until last week. It's much better to be keeping my hands busy with a craft needle instead of a fork.
Working on this lovely piece of turquoise monk's cloth makes me so sad that we won't be able to get the colored cloth any more. I especially wish I'd been able to stock up on the red before it all disappeared because the only craft show I sell at is near Christmas time.
Well, I'll post a photo of the finished item and then I really have to start a special table runner for my good friend, Arlean. She wants rose shades on white fabric and, as of today, I have no white fabric prepared. I've been putting that off until I have my spring housecleaning done and it's about 75% done now. First things first and then I can do what I really enjoy and that's the Swedish weaving!
Well, I'm back home from my winter in Florida and I've brought a whole pile of monk's cloth with me...only white and beige. It's really sad that we can't get the colors any more but, hopefully, that will change in the future. I still have lots of colors in my stash but none of the red I so dearly wanted to purchase.
I haven't had a good winter because I was sick or just a bit unwell the whole time. I think it started with a sinus infection and then became complicated with bronchitis. I didn't see a doctor in Florida because I don't like the ones my insurance company has sent me to in the past. Also, my daughter in Tampa is a nurse/practitioner so I sort of left it to her to treat me. I was terribly sick the week before I flew home and was on 2 antibiotics which helped start the healing process and I've felt better each day since I got home.
Normally I start my spring housecleaning first and then, when it's finished, I start some Swedish weaving but this year I've just rested. Those things can wait until I'm feeling much better. Life takes many twists and turns and this is just one of them but it will be a happy time for me when my apartment is cleaned and I've got a new Swedish weaving project in my hands!
If you're going to be addicted to something, a craft like Swedish weaving is the way to go. I just finished 2 table runners all but the hemming and I'll leave that until I get home in a couple of weeks. The problem is that I've already stored a few raw pieces somewhere in the trunk of my car and I have nothing to keep my hands busy.
There are a few reasons to take up Swedish weaving, the main one being how beautiful every single one of our projects turns out to be. There is no such thing as an ugly Swedish weaving item no matter if it has a few flaws. Remember how I've said that sometimes the mistakes can just become our new pattern.
I won't bother posting photos of the last two table runners until they're hemmed but one of them is my own pattern. I have my own way of creating a pattern because I'm just not truly gifted in that way. I start out with an existing pattern and adjust it completely, adding and embellishing until it doesn't resemble the way it was started. That's the best I can do and I have to say they come out pretty nice.
I bought more fabric in Florida but only was able to get white and ecru. This is such a shame and I really hope the manufacturers change their minds and keep on producing and selling colored monk's cloth. I have a stash at home that includes a few different colors but what I'd really like to find is the red. People do dye their fabric but I'm afraid to try that so I'll stick to what I have.
I'm in the process of trying to sell my trailer here in Florida but haven't had any success yet. The lot rent has become way too expensive to carry it for 12 months when I only want to be here for 3 months. I'm hoping to be able to come back to this park and rent next year but it all depends on selling the trailer I have. Life can sometimes be unreasonably difficult because one situation determines another. Wish me luck!
I finished my last table runner a short while ago and decided I wouldn't bother making any more until I got home. Well, that didn't last long because I'm so used to having one on the go at most times. I pulled out a short piece of ecru monk's cloth I'd brought down to Florida with me and decided on using a lovely green for the pattern. I worked on it all day yesterday and actually finished it. I pulled out another short piece of ecru monk's cloth and a skein of variegated oranges, etc. to weave into it. I really think this will be the last until I get home in April. If I change my mind I'll have to search among all the bags in the trunk of my car for fabric and yarn!
Swedish weaving is addictive.
