Spring Time

Spring is here at Hillside Cottage. It is so exciting to discover what is growing in our new garden. We have had an abundance of beautiful snowdrops especially in the Orchard. Now followed by daffodils and primroses. The tree and hedgerow blossoms are just starting to open up their buds. 

So it is time to sow seeds in the greenhouse and prepare the vegetable garden for outdoor sowing too.

It has been great fun to watch the new born lambs in the field at the bottom of the garden. 

There is plenty to keep us busy and give us inspiration for our craft work.

On the David loom at the moment is a long warp. I first wove 8 T towels in various colour combinations in Twills and Basket Weave patterns.

Then I opened up the sett to widen the cloth so as to weave a blankie/ small throw in Saori weaving with twills and basket weave details. This is giving me a chance to delve into my yarn stash of spring colours and enjoy the freedom of weaving without a plan just choosing the threads and colours as I feel with mindful creativity.

Joyful!  

A short video of my studio today

 

Outdoor Studio Space

This Summer I have been able to run some one to one tuition workshops in my Outdoor Studio Space!

With Covid-secure practices in place, it has been really lovely to offer spinning and weaving classes in my garden.  

I love working in the garden anyway, whether its taking my spinning wheel outside to spin to the sounds of the birds in the trees or setting up one of my small table looms to enjoy the afternoon weaving a bag, cushion cover or scarf and of course the knitting needles are so portable, I always have several projects on the go.

This week the outdoor studio became a weaver's wonderland!

A brand new Katie loom (8 shaft from Ashford) came to be warped and woven on for the first time.

And an "Inside set" was put on my Saori loom to dress with a readymade warp to be taken home and be woven.  

So it was a wonderfully busy day, making a warp, threading heddles, sleying reeds. 

All helped greatly with plenty of chat with tea and cake!

Now some of you who have a Saori loom may think the way I'm dressing the loom looks a little strange in the photo above.

Let me explain. Since having my David 2 loom (8 shaft floor loom) from Louet I have learnt a much easier and quicker way of warping up. I thought that I could transfer this method to my Saori.

I use two sticks from front to back to rest the reed and lease sticks on. 

I place the cross of the warp at the back of the loom and load it onto the extension rod, putting the lease sticks through the cross. I use a raddle clipped to the top of the loom shelf to spread out the warp. I wind the warp onto the back roller.

I thread the heddles from back to front.

With the reed laid flat it is so quick to sley.

Then its just a matter of  using the tying rod, hooking the treadles on and start weaving!

When loading a readymade warp as seen in the photo, I rest the warp on the lease sticks for easy access and have no need for a raddle as the warp threads are already on the roller in order ready to select.

It is such a simple way to dress a loom, in fact the Katie loom was done exactly the same way, no need  for double crosses as per instructions!

give it a go, have fun, happy weaving.