Fabric Didn't Shrink

This has never happened before but the last batch of monk's cloth that I attempted to shrink in a hot water wash failed to shrink a couple of the pieces.  I use a washer at my apartment building and am only able to set it for hot wash/regular cycle until the tub is almost full.  Then I have to reset it for gentle cycle which only works with cold water so the top part of the tub ends up with a few inches of cold water.  I'm assuming this is why a couple of pieces (out of 12) didn't shrink properly.  I can't reset it after the wash has started in the original setting.

What I plan to do is soak them in hot water in my sink while I'm doing a regular wash in the washing machine and then put them in a hot dryer with the rest of my laundry.  I'm hoping this will shrink the fabric properly.

2 New Christmas Table Runners

These are 2 Christmas table runners I just finished, one I love and one I don't like because I misread the pattern.

The first one (I don't like) is Terrice Beasley's "Let's be Merry" using Caron's Simply Soft yarns in Spring Sparkle and Red Sparkle.  I stupidly misread the pattern and doubled it in size so it looks awkward to me.  I don't know why I didn't just stop as soon as I noticed and correct it but it was a big mistake.

The second one is Avery Hill's "Stained Glass" using Caron's Simply Soft yarn in Red Sparkle and Red Heart variegated yarn in green tones.  I really like this one and will do the pattern again.

I had to do some adjustments to the patterns on both runners in order to fit them into the required size.

Something all of us weavers know and should abide by is to do our corrections as soon as possible or we might end up with something we can't live with...like table runner #1. 

Burgundy Table Runner

It drives me crazy how I can't get my photos to show the right colors.  While I have all the patience in the world weaving the pattern into the fabric, I have no patience when taking photos.  Anyway, the fabric is not purple but a lovely deep burgundy.  The yarns used are Caron's Simply Soft Party in Spring Sparkle and Black Sparkle.  The pattern used is Christine Allan's "Cotton Candy" but altered to suit my purpose.

I happen to love this particular table runner, maybe because it took forever to finish but also because of the colors...they really do look Christmas festive in real life!

I sell my pieces at relatively low prices at the one venue in December so I don't like to put as many hours into them as I did on this one.  This isn't an actual business for me but a way to continue having the pleasure of weaving while still making a bit of money.  I probably give away more items than I sell but that's okay with me.

I altered the pattern (which is beautiful in it's own right) by filling in the spaces.  I felt it needed to be fleshed out a bit and I like the way it turned out.

I have 2 more Christmas table runners all finished but the photos were absolutely horrible so I'll try again tomorrow when I might have more patience.  LOL!  

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!