Just a Thought

When I finished the 3 white and grey table runners I couldn't wait to start something with more color so I chose a small beige piece of monk's cloth and picked out a pattern I hadn't done before.  I felt this was only a fun piece to do but it turned out so beautiful (like all our Swedish weaving items do) that it dawned on me that we can't really make anything that doesn't look darned good.

I think this is our attraction to Swedish weaving.  No matter what colors or patterns we choose, the end result is always satisfying.  Even our mistakes just make the project unique in it's own way.

I make it a practice to finish 3 table runners before setting up my sewing machine to hem them and then photograph them for the blog and Facebook.  It's at times like this that I wish I had more room in my apartment so that I could always have the sewing machine available.  

Anyway, it's on to the next project! 

2 More Runners Done With Greys

These are the other 2 table runners I made using the Caron's Simply Soft Party yarns in platinum sparkle and silver sparkle.  The top one is Avery Hill's "Field of Violets" with the border slightly altered and the bottom one is Avery Hill's "Fire and Ice".  I have done the Fire and Ice pattern before but always felt it should be done with red yarns.  Now I really like the silver and grey.

The fabric for both is white monk's cloth but seems to appear bluish in the photo.

I've very much enjoyed making these 3 table runners and plan to make a few more using the same yarns.  The Field of Violets looks the best so I might use that pattern again but with colors.  I like to brag that all of the table runners I make are unique in their own way.

Greys are Popular

This is one of the latest 3 table runners I've finished.  The monk's cloth is white and the yarn is Caron's Simply Soft Party in platinum sparkle and silver sparkle.  I usually prefer working with lots of color but using these colors (which are popular decorating colors now) produced what I think are really lovely items.

The pattern is Avery Hill's "The Terrace" which I followed almost faithfully but had to create my own pattern for the border.  I made a tiny mistake in the main pattern that turned out to be pretty well invisible so I just repeated it as I went along.

My daughter who is not usually much impressed with my Swedish weaving spurred me on to do some patterns in grey yarns and I know a lot of people decorate with greys, too.  

I don't know if I'll use the grey yarns often but will do so if they sell.  I only sell at one craft show and that's in November so I have a long wait to find out!

Caron's Party Yarn

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.

Table Runner for Arlean

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.     

3 Table Runners

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.

Back weaving

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!