Saturday, March 10, 2007

Once again it is the process

... not the finished project that keeps me happy.

I finished the pillowcases yesterday afternoon. Then cleaned the workspace, the loom and finished the cloth by zigzagging the ends and steaming it. There was feeling of accomplishment and of joy for a while. The pillow cloth has minor mistakes here and there, but nothing of which I would be too worried. While weaving I had to live through the moment when the warp thread breaks (it did it twice) and realized that it was not the end of the world. The selvages are not that even, but then I will be sewing the cloth into pillowcases, so they do not really matter that much at this point. (I’m learning yet.)I need to buy pillows and need to do some sewing to have finished objects, but I hope I will get them finished next week. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with the cloth, but having those three pillows alone in the sofa group would be a bit boring. So, I hope I will get some patchwork energy from somewhere and try to make at least one patchwork pillow to go with them and maybe to add some life for this group of pillows. If I may say so, they are a bit dull looking at the moment. (I am finding myself in something that is turning into a bigger project than I had in mind in the first place.

I laid this new woven shawl on the couch, and realized how much I love the colours there. So I decided to make these pillows to sort of match this shawl. OK, so far so good. Now I need to do a patchwork pillow to spark life into the group of woven pillows. And guess what, all this led me to think of new curtains for the room as well… I should get busy because I would love to be able to hang them when the weather lets me open the windows and clean them. Up till this weekend it has been an impossible task, it has been too cold and there has been so much snow on the roofs that the poor old house is under a stress and the windows cannot be easily opened. The windows are a bit stuck, and to get them opened would take some serious work and I don’t think it does any good for the windows or the frames. So far the mother nature has been on my side, but now this weekend the temperatures are rising above zero and already last night I woke up for this crashing noise when huge piles of snow fall off the roof.

The roof is not clean yet but there are parts that are losing their burden and if this heat wave continues I just might have to think about washing the windows, which would mean that it would be nice to have new curtains… March is a bit early for window washing here though.)

Back to where I started off. So what should I do now? I could finish the spinning, maybe I will do it today, but since last night I have been frantically looking for something to KNIT (and something to weave as well, can't leave the loom for too long without a warp, don't want Liisa to loose its spirit - thank you Martie for letting me know - and no, I have not heard anything similar here). I have been looking all over blogland to see something and there is plenty of inspiration all around, but nothing seems to talk to me right now.

So last night I went to bed in a not so relaxed and good mood - I’m frustrated of not finding anything yet. And woke up not so happy again (the old dog woke me up very early, Saturday, she should have known better…), had coffee by the computer (searching...) when nobody else except me was awake. The old dog continued her sleep and heavy snoring right after her privates outside so there was only me wondering what to do with my early morning. No knitting, no weaving, just a tiny bit of roving waiting… This is no good. Hopefully in the evening things are looking good again.

PS. There were some good tips in the comments about weaving. Thank you Ellen and Alina!

22 comments:

  1. your pillow fabric is lovely. Since I am someone who loves a coordinated look - I think they are just right!

    as far as knitting, you might want to consider a pair of socks, they are relatively quick, quite portable, and can give you a break after you are blind from counting and sleying those 600+ ends for your curtain.

    -Holly
    Heidelberg, DE

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  2. Absolutely wonderful - I love the combination of these colours ... so great!!

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  3. 3 pillows like that boring? I think NOT. They are fabulously exquisite!! See, I can't even think of enough praise words to describe your work. I am waiting on a wheel and now I think I need a loom!! Every visit to your blog I get inspired. Thank you!

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  4. Lovely fabric, wonderful pattern, with its variations so distinct. I don't recognize the weave structure either, is it four shafts?

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  5. Lene, your work is so beautiful! Lovely colors! You are such an inspiration to me too!

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  6. How about knitting up a pillow rather than going with patch work?

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  7. Anonymous16:44

    Spring always makes me feel creative, too. I am sure your muse will guide you to the perfect project to satisfy her craving.

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  8. Lovely work and inspiration.

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  9. Those are pretty! The patchwork idea is good, and I would love to see a gold and white pillow to go with them too. Something just a little brighter would tie them together while making them feel different at the same time.

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  10. These are so amazingly beautiful, how do you do that?? I'm full of admiration.
    Ursula

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  11. Not boring. Never. Subtle is a better word. I would want a contrast too but I like very bright colors. They are very, very lovely. Spring seems to be coming early this year so perhaps your windows will be cleaned soon. I should do mine but I've the pruning to finish up...

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  12. Lene, the picture of the snow on the roof looks like woven cloth - inspiration for you?

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  13. Those are not boring at all! They are beautiful. I love the colors. What about knitting a cabled pillow in one of the colors of the woven pillows? I think the textural difference would look great.

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  14. I love the new woven fabric, and I think your patchwork idea will work wonderfully!
    So funny - when I first started knitting again, I said, "I could never spin, too much work," ...Now I own a wheel and spin almost daily. Not so long ago it was, "Knitting, definitely; spinning, yes, okay; weaving is so NOT my thing..." And here I go to look at looms online and dream... :)
    PS - awoke this morning to "drip drip drip" off the roof - too early for spring breakup! - tonight we will likely hear "Crash!" here as well. Strange weather this winter...

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  15. Anonymous00:02

    I love the pillow fabric and would second the other commenter who thought pillows whose fabric was shades of gold would look good. I'd add some subtle blue accents in the gold fabric to tie them all together.

    Or maybe a couple knitted pillows, stranded colorwork maybe. That would kill two birds with one stone :-)

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  16. That fabric is just beautiful! What are the other colours in your room? I would not have thought of the weight of the snow and how it stresses the house, but I should know that because our mountain had the most snow in North American two winters ago and some units in the chalets could not properly open or close the doors! Imagine the wonderful feeling the house must have had when the snow went crashing to earth!
    You will find something beautiful to knit, Lene

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  17. I can visualize your woven linen curtains at the windows complimenting the pillows and shawl. I really like the color scheme and patterns you're working with these days - peaceful and interesting.

    There were a couple winters when it was my job to shovel snow off the roof when we lived in Northern Arizona. My dad, who grew up in Minnesota, wondered why the roof hadn't been built with enough slant for it to shed the snow.

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  18. Anonymous03:58

    Beautiful weaving, Lene, just beautiful. I used to weave many years ago, and had forgotten the thrill of seeing the fabric grow.

    Seeing your work brings back memories on my own little loom. Thank you for wonderful inspiration you give.

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  19. Anonymous07:30

    The new Knitty.com for spring is on the web now - perhaps you could find some springtime knitting project there.

    Your weaving is simply lovely!

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  20. The woven pieces are lovely...what color is the sofa? Something with a small spark of orange to make the turquoise and tan pop would be pretty. I can see something less geometric -- something you embroider with that wonderful stitching you do Don't you need a little bird as the final signature?

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  21. Anonymous02:03

    I came across your blog and just thought I'd let you know that "Dances with Wool" is also the name of our loosely organized guild of knitters, spinners, and roving supplies. What a small world. We are located in the north western corner of the State of Michigan in the US. Your weaving is marvelous. Renate

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  22. It's all so lovely. I can't even imagine sitting back and thinking that I could weave some curtains. (I have been thinking of knitting lace curtains for my kitchen window, is that insane?)
    Your heat wave is coming with ours - we have been wearing shorts and sandals, and yesterday my husband went swimming in the lake. It's going to get HOT soon.

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