I don’t mean to moan, so perhaps I won’t.

I was going to have a moan about it being  -5 deg. C this morning, (it was when I started this post, it’s now milder and pouring with rain.  I’m not sure what I prefer!) that our fuel prices are so high  I’m trying to use as little as possible and that the Tax Man is giving me a headache this year but then I decided that we are all aware of the problems facing, well.. all of us at the moment and things could be worse so the best thing is probably to move on swiftly.

So without further ado..

This is the new addition to my fibre room.  We’re having to call it a fibre room now because my ’stuff’ is taking up so much space in there that it would be silly to continue to try and pretend it’s anything else.

Obviously, it’s a loom.  This was no quick decision.  I’d been seriously mulling the idea over since sometime back in the summer and vaguely for a while before that but couldn’t make up my mind whether to take the plunge or not.  If you had asked me a few years ago whether or not I would ever weave the answer would have been a definite no, but then I wasn’t keen on spinning at one time, so I guess things change.

There were many reasons why I finally decided to learn.  Making things that I either can’t or don’t like to knit was amongst them, but really, honestly, the main reason was the challenge -  you use fibre, it can be complicated and I can’t do it.

My first attempt was a sampler scarf in fine 4ply pure wool from cones that I had in the stash.  The white was used as a blank for sock wool that I dyed a fair bit of before finding out that although good for plain socks, it didn’t have that good a stitch definition and the tweedy blue was going (some day) to be a fine knit sweater, still may be as I have quite a bit of it.

It’s pretty long.  Long enough to wrap around my neck and reach down past my waist.  I tried various different weaves throughout and ended up really liking how it changes pattern constantly.

Working everything out and setting this up made my head hurt, but that I suppose, was what I’m after, a learning curve.  And this weaving thing is quite a curve.  At the moment I feel like a beginning knitter that has been taught knit and purl and then given a stitch dictionary and told to go off and knit something.

I’ve set the loom up for another scarf (start simple!) but this time in a type of hounds tooth.  I think that’s what it’s called, it’s all new to me!

This time it’s some sock yarn, the same as the fair isle socks from a while ago.  I’m not sure this will be right as it looks a little open to me.  The last one I fulled a little after taking if off the loom but this sock yarn is machine washable so that won’t happen.  Well, I’ll find out at some point!

I am having great fun with weaving and enjoying the learning process, however much I stand and stare and scratch my head, but knitting and spinning are my main loves and will always be.  For me, weaving is more of an active thing.  Measuring warp, threading everything up and even the actual weaving, takes not only concentration but is a very active thing.  I know knitting takes varying degrees of concentration, but mostly I find it calming and relaxing.  I love the constant finger movement of knitting,  I can’t explain why and spinning is almost meditation.  They are all yarn but in a way so very different.  Perhaps it’s a good thing, this way they will never compete with each other.

I am finding time to do almost everything I want to each day, so far.  I get up early and move a bit quicker!  Don’t know how long it will last, I’ll let you know

As for knitting.  Of course I’m still knitting!  I’ve had a special request for a balaclava.  One that covers all of the face with just a slit for the eyes -  for keeping warm whilst dog walking.

The pattern is the Quick and easy Balaclava from Home spun, hand knit.  I chose a baby aran acrylic yarn so it would be really soft, I couldn’t stand the thought of anything remotely harsh against the face.  I’m not a fan of  k1,p1 rib but it is knitting up quickly.  I’m using a 3.75 mm circular and getting a lovely squishy fabric.  I always end up going down needle sizes with this kind of yarn,  I knit quite loosely, (although it never feels it to me) and I always feel that acrylic needs to be tighter somehow.

January is when I start seed shopping.  I love sitting indoors working out what to buy for the coming season and dreaming of better weather (perhaps!).  I still have quite a few seeds left over from last year but I like to pick something new each year and find other varieties for things that maybe didn’t do as well as they should.  Each year I try to find types of chillies that I haven’t tried before and this year I’ve managed to find some chocolate coloured chillies so I’m looking forward to starting those off soon.  Must go and get the rest of my order in quickly though as I want to try some very popular salad potatoes this year and they’re selling fast!