There are few things in life I enjoy more than a quiet afternoon inside, curled up in a big chair with a cozy blanket, a steaming cup of tea and a craft project to keep my hands busy. Preferably it is raining horribly outside as well of course, rain clattering against the windows whilst the wind is blowing branches from trees type storm.
Wanting to share a little bit of the things I create during those hours (and others), I made this blog. What I’ll post, and how much I’ll post of what, remains to be seen. But be sure, knitting, crocheting, sewing, pattern drafting, baking and even some gardening will all be talked about here. Currently there is not much to be seen, yet, but soon there will be. Stay if you like, drop an ask or send a message or hit the reply button if you wish to get to know me a little better, I’m always open for a good chat!
completed weaving of the penelope skyphos from chiusi:
the header is tablet-woven linen, with the linen weft for the band used as the warp for the rest of the piece on a warp-weighted loom, which you can see in the photos below (there is also a previous post with more process photos here). the reverse is a negative mirror image of the front, since I wove this as double-weave pickup rather than tapestry:
additional details below the cut:
the bottom and side borders of the finished piece are tablet-woven with a mixture of linen and mercerized cotton. the sides are a classic meander motif, while the bottom border includes the "X" square from the skyphos itself. the bottom border was woven directly onto the piece using the remainder of the warp beneath penelope's feet (tablet draft for anyone interested—I designed it to be twist-neutral and everything). the side borders are sewn on because I didn't set up the side borders when I started the project, but ellen harlizius-klück previously executed a stunning version here that has the side borders woven in, as well as a really helpful video on this technique.
I was originally planning to leave part of the black warp threads unwoven to serve as penelope's warp, the way I did a few years ago with the amasis painter vase:
but I couldn't figure out how to execute it well in this version, especially since I was doing double-weave and not tapestry. perhaps next time! overall, this was a complicated and fun project as a first warp-weighted loom piece. I learned a lot of important lessons—chief among them being to actually calculate warp lengths instead of eyeballing them and to increase the loom weights on the warps for better tension. unfortunately, I also learned I want to build a large warp-weighted loom (the one I have now was made by jennifer marcus at fiber paintings studio and it is lovely, but I would like to weave larger pieces.)
the original pot also features telemachus standing over a grieving penelope (I had room only for his spear), perhaps a reference to the scene in book 1 when he reprimands his mother and orders her back upstairs:
Odysseus was not the only one
who did not come back home again from Troy.
Many were lost. Go in and do your work.
Stick to the loom and distaff. Tell your slaves
to do their chores as well. It is for men
to talk, especially me. I am the master.
οὐ γὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς οἶος ἀπώλεσε νόστιμον ἦμαρ
ἐν Τροίῃ, πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι φῶτες ὄλοντο.
ἀλλ᾽ εἰς οἶκον ἰοῦσα τὰ σ᾽ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε,
ἱστόν τ᾽ ἠλακάτην τε, καὶ ἀμφιπόλοισι κέλευε
ἔργον ἐποίχεσθαι: μῦθος δ᾽ ἄνδρεσσι μελήσει
πᾶσι, μάλιστα δ᾽ ἐμοί: τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἔστ᾽ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ.
Od. 1.354–359. Emily Wilson translation.
my plan is to eventually create a larger version of this piece that includes telemachus and the meta aspect of unwoven warp threads. it would also be interesting to figure out if I can weave a different image on the back of the cloth, since the reverse of the pot itself depicts eurycleia recognizing odysseus as she washes his feet.
Another 100g finished. 75/25 zwartbles/silk. Gradient dyed. Intended for warp. Spun straight through from end to end. The second braid I will break down into small strips and spin into a short repeated gradient skein and that one will be weft. This is the furthest I’ve ever gotten on a planned spin to weave project which is very exciting!
Soft, Squishy & Irresistible - Popular Pattern To Knit A 'My Lovely Goose' 👉 https://knithacker.com/2025/07/soft-squishy-irresistible-popular-pattern-to-knit-a-my-lovely-goose/ - designed by Luba of May Lily Knitting
My first filet crochet piece! Its boarders aren't as neat as i'd like but i hid them under the frame lol. This was my first time working with thin string and i love how far a little ball takes you
The pattern is on Antique Pattern Library in the book Le Filet Ancien au Point de Reprise (1913)
I’ve been making a couple of things for myself lately that I need to post but I’ll start with the most recent - this incredible jumper I just finished!
Since it’s the middle of summer, I won’t be able to wear it but the design came out exactly how I wanted. More details on my inspirations to come 🕷️
This friendly little slug often comes out on a wet evening for a walk, and this time it was dry enough that my knitted slug could go out and see them! They seemed quite curious about the strange new object on their path
This has been a delightful end to my week, happy Slug Sunday everyone!
fit check: ikat very high-waisted pants (the waistband falls above the top of the incision) with a sweater i knitted in 2020 because it’s cool and rainy today 😤
when discussing the comparative merits of crafts and why or why not they were used at various times in history, it is VITAL to remember that we didn't put wheels on suitcases until the 1970s. Sometimes a technique would be great, but you just haven't thought of it. If you haven't invented knitting it doesn't matter how knitting compares to weaving. You cannot choose a method you do not know. Tools and techniques have to be thought of before they can be used. I am saying this several ways in the hopes of being understood. Everything has to be invented. If it hasn't been invented, it won't be on your list of options for things to use.
