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?
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.
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.
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?
This is the new table runner I made to replace the turquoise cloth one with variegated turquoise yarns. Since I'm having a wall in the room painted turquoise, I decided to cut down on the amount of that color used there. The sofa is light cream with solid turquoise cushions so I thought the table runners would look better in white with turquoise yarn.
I used the same variegated turquoise yarn that has yards of one shade before changing. I felt I achieved the variegated look by making sure each row of the pattern held a slightly different shade. I won't ever again make the mistake of not checking a skein of variegated yarn to make sure each shade is no longer than 6".
It's very easy to put too much of one color in a room but I think mine is okay now. The wall gets painted on Thursday and I'm hoping I'll like it. I've never had an accent wall before so this will be a new experience for me.
My plan was to weave a lovely turquoise variegated yarn on white monks cloth...it's done but I'm not thrilled with the pattern. The third photo shows how the yarn can get lost in part of the pattern and that's why I'm disappointed.
Also, I always tell my students to be careful when using variegated yarn because too long a strand of one color shows up too distinctly on your project. I didn't follow my own advice and bought this gorgeous variegated yarn that had maybe a yard of one color. I ended up cutting the worst string of it off but that is a terrible waste of yarn.
I have another runner to make but I'll use a different pattern. The two pieces are far enough away from each other that no-one but me (and you) will ever know.
By the way, the pattern is Avery Hill's "Blue Ridge Mountains".
This is the first of two table runners I'm making. My plan was to use white monks cloth and a variegated turquoise yarn...looks like what you see, right? Well, not all is well!
One of the things I tell my students is to be very careful when buying variegated yarn. Always check how long each color is on the strand and try to keep it around 4-6" so that you won't have long stretches of one color in your pattern. Apparently I didn't follow my own advice when I purchased the above yarn.
I've actually never seen a variegated yarn like this one. There is approximately a stretch of one color that measures 3-4 FEET before changing to different shades each measuring 6-8" (too long but I'm stuck with it). The variegated section also measures about 3-4 feet before once again returning to a solid color measuring 3-4'.
Because I don't need a lot of yarn to complete my project, I'm disposing of the solid sections and using only the variegated sections. The waste is immense and bugs the life out of me.
I can only blame myself for not checking properly but, if what could be checked was the variegated, no-one would be able to tell that further along was that awful 3-4 feet of solid color.
Live and learn, I guess.
