Tentative Fiber Artist

[avaylee]

Well, I learned. And I still think this looks pretty great, but it is not what the request was. I definitely reversed the S and Z threading.

But! It still looks cool and hopefully the spawn enjoys this camera strap while I go back to the drawing board and make the right one...

[diabeticbutterflywings]

Look at this!!!

LOOK AT IT!

ITS FROGS!

I MADE THEM!

WITH TABLET WEAVING!!!!

I FOLLOWED A PATTERN!

AND IT TURNED OUT WELL!

Heck YEAH!

[avaylee]

I do NOT have an issue with roving when it comes out like this...

(Second pic a reminder of what it looked like)

Better in person. New technique worked splendidly. I may clear out a whole bin of "what do I do with this roving??" this way.

[avaylee]

Thing I'm finally getting around to soaking.

The copper single is Merino. Nothing super special other than it's gorgeous and a pleasure to spin.

The rolags however...

About two years ago I purchased a pound of "mystery fiber" from Paradise Fibers. Never been disappointed by them and always up for a bargain. I wish I had pictures of this act against the dyeing gods. It was all primary colors in the most random of patterns and colors and this roving... gods above and below. I just knew it was never going to be something I loved, or wanted to spin, or even look at.

Enter spawn. The kid had been wanting to learn how to blend fibers on the blending board. Not my most favorite thing, but I have two boards (natch) so I was showing the spawn how to create rolags... but not with any of my fancy fiber.

The kid blended the most gorgeous rolags with the ugliest of fiber and has gifted them to me as they appear. They look like sunsets and autumn and trees with gorgeous foliage. Blending fiber is like blending paint I guess.

So that's the story of those singles.

Ended up with 332 yards of this and have ideas, something that can be gifted back to the kid. Our first (hopefully not last) joint creation!

Also, when I say my kid has an eye for color, this is what I mean. The natural color theory that appears to be innate is magical.

[avaylee]

Admittedly, I have an issue with roving.

Meaning... I buy it for the pretty colors, not really remembering that when I spin, ply, knit... it will not look the same. I don't have the visual eye to see how it will interpret in the future depending on what processes it goes through.

So, trying something new on this gorgeous Nube by Malbrigo in colorway 870 Candombe.

A friend picked this out because it looks like a sunset or an aurora or some other gorgeous sky event. She has given me full reign in whatever I want to do with it. Five yards isn't as much as you hope it will be, especially with my inconsistent spins.

So how to preserve the colors?

I took about a quarter of the roving and spun, then chain plied. I will take the rest of the roving and wet felt a base that keeps the story of the color intact. Then I plan to felt the yarn on top of the felt base, or possibly zigzag stitch with silver thread and truly try and capture the sky.

Or maybe some beads interspersed?

I want to make my friend a lovely wall hanging that captures the colors, and somehow using literally every fiber skill I have is the only thing that makes sense.

Why am I like this?

Well, at least part one is done. Now for the wet stuff.

[weftist]

Took a Sulawesi tablet weaving class and learned a ton about pattern drafting!

We wove a band/day, focusing on a different technique each day.

[avaylee]

Have I started the second sleeve on the wrap sweater started in August? No.

Have I finished spinning the copper Merino that needs to be done so I can ply it with the 4oz ugly fiber rolags that have been sitting since September? Also no.

Have I warped the Penelope for the camera strap belated Solstice present? Resounding no.

Did I start an eyelet scarf shawl for myself anyways, with high hopes of finishing it while on vacation? Yes.

Also, knitting with size 11 needles feels like knitting with hot dogs.

[avaylee]

Winter Soltice 2025

Even though I feel like I did more actual fiber art'ing this calendar year, my gifting was a wee bit more restrained.

Weavings all by me, but the blue one is a kit from Lunatic Fringe. Love them, they have been my go to for rigid heddle and tablet weaving supplies.

Socks are from Nerdy Knits BG3 series, these are Halsin. The kid seems pleased.

Still to deliver before January are another pair of socks, a camera strap, and a pair of fingerless mitts. I'm also working on some projects for myself hence why the Solstice post is limited.

Happy merry all.

[avaylee]

Winter Soltice 2025

Even though I feel like I did more actual fiber art'ing this calendar year, my gifting was a wee bit more restrained.

Weavings all by me, but the blue one is a kit from Lunatic Fringe. Love them, they have been my go to for rigid heddle and tablet weaving supplies.

Socks are from Nerdy Knits BG3 series, these are Halsin. The kid seems pleased.

Still to deliver before January are another pair of socks, a camera strap, and a pair of fingerless mitts. I'm also working on some projects for myself hence why the Solstice post is limited.

Happy merry all.

[avaylee]

First sock!

Finally decided to try my hand at knitting socks. First beginning... not so much. I completely screwed up not only the row count but the placement of the markers. It wasn't worth salvaging.

Try two... I only had to frog the entire heel flap.

But! Thing I learned about me...

Using magic loop on a sock meant I lost about ten stitch markers in my sofa because of having to move the cable around. I found, eventually, the size 3 9" circulars that I knew I ordered six months ago and switched over. I feel like a giant with these tiny needles in my hands, but all my stitch markers are still accounted for!

I have more yarn than I know what to do with, and I think this could be a good way to get some different stitch practice in on smaller projects, so I'm happy for the learning.

There continues to not be enough hours in the day, but for my sanity, some fiber art every day.

[avaylee]

Well, I have mathed so very very wrong. Loom math is not the same as knitting math. I keep thinking there is less uptake, less waste, but no. I need to build in more to the waste numbers. This is at least 10" shorter than I intended based on my initial measurements. Oof.

The front (left side) is my least favorite of the sides. I really like the definition on the back (right side).

Things I learned this go round:

* For twist neutral patterns, I might be better suited using the back beam to maintain more even tension.

* 30 cards is a LOT to manage.

* I need better tools for tracking forward/backward card motion. This was all cards move together. Not sure how I will fare with some cards forward, some backward. I want a tiny HUD on my glasses to help me keep track.

* Band weaving is super satisfying for how fast I can get something completed (even if too short).

* I need to do more research in how to trap my warp thread at the beginning and end of the band.

* I need to shave my dogs. This project is officially 99% mercerized 5/2 cotton, 1% Yellow Lab/American Foxhound hair.

Anyways, not sure what I'm doing with this. Perhaps someday a bag covered in bands that are learning projects. (Great, another project...).

[avaylee]

First thing done! Not a real thing, not even long enough to make a lanyard, but learned so much.

Onto the next project. Pretty certain Twisted Threads is my new favorite place.

Top bit is after I learned some stuff (see bottom bit for not so well done).

[avaylee]

A few people have asked me about my tablet weaving loom. It's a Penelope by Daedulus. They came out earlier this year and I had the pleasure of seeing it in action at Fiber Fusion.

I have been wanting to learn tablet weaving, but I didn't need another tool that took up a table (a la inkle loom), so I'd been putting it off. This loom is 16" long and 7.5" wide. Literally can weave on my lap.

I tried to capture the back of it in the picture below. It does have a warping beam, but it also has both front and back clamps, so the warp can be somewhat limitless.

I may have also been inspired by having just finished Circe by Madeline Miller, and taking it as a sign that I had to have this new toy.

I'm still very much new and very much learning, but I have liked having the option to unlock the back clamp to release tension so that I can do things like forward only patterns.

@knitkninja Tagging you since you had asked about it. Hope this helps!

[avaylee]

Procrastinating on other projects (ugh, these sleeves!!), but got enough done on the tablet weaving to feel kind of proud?

Still using this piece as practice, so no consistent design to be found, but starting to make sense of forward backward and all the sheds, and also how to reduce tension using the back clamp.

Anyways, another fiber art with a different kind of fiber (mercerized cotton) is probably not what I needed. At least my apocalypse clothes will have flare.

[avaylee]

My current knitting project is in timeout because picking up stitches for sleeves makes me rage. Please tell me this gets easier... MATH IS HARD.

I am instead practicing tablet weaving on a Penelope loom. First project, strictly practice, making mistakes/wrong turns for the learning.

Also broke out the e-spinner again.

And the rigid heddle loom is warped up for something new. But that's because I finished this a few weeks back.

I love fall and guilt-free fiber arts season!

[avaylee]

Berry Baby Down Alpaca

Holy moly, the spring on this. Hoping my slight overtwist loosens up in the wash, but its still pretty soft. Less bright than the picture with flash shows.

248 yds. Two ply. S singles, Z ply.

50% alpaca, 50% baby doll sothdown.

Likely becoming some sort of accessory(ies?) for Mom for Solstice. Maybe another contender for Fair entry this year.

[avaylee]

Well this turned out some kind of wonderful.

My friend gifted me these gorgeous rolags for Solstice, inspired by a trip to a conservatory in Glasgow that we visited in 2019.

Spun it up, but wasn't really sure what to ply it with. I didn't want to self ply to avoid muddling. Sifted through the whole fiber stash and found this brown/teal that my kiddo said would make the green pop.

Kid gets a gold star for color theory.

Brown/teal is 80 alpaca, 20 Merino. Rolags are various wools and firestar. 228 yds, Z singles, S ply.