Room for a Loom

 The Kyra loom after years of hibernation has been set up for weaving.  She is a 22” wide 4 shaft loom made of hardwood cherry with fold-able legs and heddles that lie flat for storage. A recent purchase is a new warping board that is capable of creating warps of 6.5 yards of warp for weaving. Originally purchased on Etsy in 2016, was awesome purchase.

The finished size of the garment shrinks as you weave, since weft takes up space. Also its an experience part as well, so the more practice the less shrink. Also procured warp sticks to keep the warp separated. Super pleased with the upgrades. In the past, it took a whole 8 hour day to set up the warp on the loom for weaving. Although it should be easier now that I have a board to keep the warp more organized.   

The natural sheep
 colored yarn

I have been procuring yarn for warp for the past few weeks. I was able to get more of the I Love This Wool brand of yarn that is 100% wool. Also purchased some lion brand fisherman’s wool. Which gives me enough for most natural sheep colored warp for the loom. Which are brown/ black, white and grey. I also found some skeins of wool yarn while thrifting; a two ply in blue and another skein in red for some weaving its a rougher wool so going to figure out some project for that. 

Pretty colors for warp

I would like to get more cones of wool for some brighter colors for weaving.  Particularly in some of the typical medieval colors blue, red, green, yellow, and purple since it’s my heraldic color. That covers most available colors in the Tudor time frame that could be sourced with natural dyes.  It’s good to have some color in your life after all! I have gotten smaller cones with lots of copper colored yarn, so that will be a project for sure coming up. This weekend went to my favorite yard shop that is about 30 minute drive from home. Was able to get the 4 darker brown alpaca merino blend cones, 2 cone that are 2 ply and the other 2 cones are 3 ply. The shop is called Lazy Meadow Alpaca's they run a fiber mill, along with managing a small herd and shop on their farm. Known the owners for years, had to catch them between fiber festivals to do some shopping. 

Smaller cones of yarn

Expanding the weaving library to have some good instructional books.  Since I have been doing this on the fly for the last few projects.  Books both for spinning and weaving and various fiber types. It’s good to have a research foundation to help improve on a base of knowledge. I have a few for narrow card weaving and for rigid-heddle weaving. I have a book on warp coming in the mail soon. Plus been diving into the library to answer most of my beginner questions. Although the local spinners and weavers guild is moving to my hometown, so I will also have the knowledge of some awesome folks for trouble shooting. Also some friendships, many are my mothers age or older. Seem to have many in this age group. 

With my first project, I had someone offer to buy my 16th Century ladies waistcoat. Which was a very nice compliment.  I don’t want to buy it price is $500.00 I put the better part of a year into it and. Only have worn it twice. 

Kyra all ready for warp

So all sorts of fiber arts goodness going on. Certainly will keep my busy over the winter. Plus it’s a warm activity.  

Stay crafty,  

Marrin