Blog moving....

Hey everyone!

I've decided to move my blog over to my website www.pattyannesplace.com

The actual blog address is... www.pattyannesplace.com/blog/



I hope that you'll join me there!

Today's post involves a little step back in weaving time for me (and maybe you too!)

I Am Now an Authorized Schacht Dealer!

I am excited. I'm putting the finishing touches (I hope) on my Weaving Website.
You can see it by going to www.pattyannesplace.com

Please let me know if you come across something that is not working!!

Ohhh.....here's a sneak-peek!! :)

OMG Look what I got at a YARD Sale!!

I'm sooo excited. I got this Mighty Wolf by Schacht at a YARD sale on Saturday when we were enroute to SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair). The owner of the loom had passed away and her daughter was selling it. The loom came complete with photos of the owner proudly weaving on it. Ahhh.... so sweet!

I Need Your Help! :)

I made this teeny tiny bag as a gift and now am STUMPED. I guess I should have thought this out first but unfortunately I didn’t so now…. what to do????

Does anyone know anything about the magnet closures? Is it too late to use them because they needed to be sandwiched between the weaving and the lining?

I Need help! :)

Let There Be Peace On Earth

I just have to ..... I just have to do it.... I just HAVE to put up one more video.
Here's why....

Next time you're watching the 6 o'clock news and the videos on the news are constantly showing kids at their worst --- hurting one another and/or breaking the law and you begin to wonder .... are all kids like this .... is there hope?? Flash back to this video.....

Again, kudos to the teacher who ts encouraging these kids!




Ohhh...and this one is for my sister, Jeannie!




OMG....There are sooo many I wanna share! I guess I should share the link and let you find the songs you LOVE!!

Don't Stop Believing!

I am a former middle school science teacher (both 5th and 6th grades) and have always believed that getting the kids involved in something that they LOVED meant all the difference in their lives....

The theme song I used in my classes year after year after year was "Lean on Me". Basically I used the song to help kids learn to respect and accept one another. (I had no tolerance for belittling or bullying!) Everyday, at some point, we would crank up the tape player LOL and would all belt out the lyrics to our theme song because, after all, we ALL need someone to lean on!!

Anyway, here is a video that I came across on YouTube.

The teacher from the videos below says:
"I work with the PS22 chorus, an incredible bunch of NYC public school 5th graders in Staten Island! The chorus has performed all over New York, and have gained quite a following on the internet.

The PS22 Chorus was formed in the year 2000. We are an ever-changing group of 5th graders from a public elementary school in Staten Island, New York. We are NOT a school for the arts or a magnet program."

Kudos to this teacher!!!

A Fix For Your Schacht Cricket Loom's Heddle

I found this heddle modification to be very helpful when I worked on patterns and textures on the Cricket Loom.



LMK if this helps!


Uhhhhhh ooooohhhhh .... I SHOULD be asleep -- it is 2:38 a.m. Maybe THAT is why I misspelled my own name in the link on the video!!?? It SHOULD have said:
www.weavingwithpattyanne.com

**** Goodnight **** :)

Weave a Scarf in a Day!

I am pumped. I am going to teach a rigid heddle class at Yes Yarn on November 14th.

Right now I'm busily making samples of the scarves that students will weave in ONE DAY!!

Here are the yarns we'll be using.... Aren't they GORGEOUS!!!

I have the BEST son-in-law AKA SonnyBoy :)

A week ago Hassan (and my daughter, Alysia) were visiting AND Hassan drew up plans for a 'studio' for me AND he built it!!! It houses ALL my stuff... ALL OF IT!! YAY!

It is FANTASTIC!! I LOVE it.....

Here is one photo.... I may put up more later....seems for the last week I've had trouble writing on my blog BECAUSE I'm too busy playing in my studio!

Thanks again!!

An American Hero

I LOVE this!!!

A Baby Blanket on Flip Loom

I've started a baby blanket on my 20" Flip Loom.

The blanket measures about 17 inches wide and about 8 feet long. I'm gonna cut it in half when done and then sew the two halves together making the blanket about 34" wide and maybe about 34"long.

I THINK I may sew some silky blanket binding on it when totally done. My kids always loved that silky edging.

So anyway, who is the baby blanket for?? No one... it's just a generic baby blanket for someone someday.

Hey... That reminds me of an old jumprope rhyme we used to say:

Fudge, fudge,
Call the judge.
Momma had a new born baby.
It isn't a boy
It isn't a girl
It's just an ordinary baby.
Wrap it up in tissue paper
Send it down the elevator,
First floor STOP.
Second floor MISS.
Third floor TURN AROUND.
Fourth floor TOUCH THE GROUND.
Fifth floor SKEDADDLE.

What the heck did all that mean??? LOL.
Just an ordinary baby??? Ummm... do tell..

Ok, here is the blanket in the works... for that 'ordinary baby'....

Finally.... a scarf woven with some of my handspun!

I bought this BEAUTIFUL hand-dyed Corriedale fiber from Caron at Freehaven Farm. I'll tell ya what...this fiber is RICH. I mean it... it is R.I.C.H. Love it, LOVE it!!

Anyway, I spun the yarn thick and thin so as to have lots of texture in my scarf.

I used my handspun as weft and Patton's Silk Bamboo for the warp.

I used my Cricket (8 dent heddle).

After weaving I gently washed the scarf in Eucalan and then put it out on the railing on my deck to dry. (I want it to dry quickly!)

PS. Do ya see my pup? She slept for about 20 minutes with her bone in her mouth. I have NEVER seen a dog sleep with her mouth half open and her bone hangin' out of it, have you?????

Yet another scarf done on Cricket Loom

The colors of this are a bit different in person... the reddish brown color is actually a light tan.

At first I HATED the way this scarf was turning out... I mean the plaid reminds me of a pant suit I had back in the early 70's. I was stylin' then ;) but I'm not so sure this plaid is stylin' now LOLLOL.

Well, as the weaving progressed I liked it more and more.... maybe my eyes were just getting used to it. BTW, hub said it looked like something his GRANDPA woulda worn. Thanks, hub.

Anyway, as time went on I thought...hmmmm...this scarf would look great with a brown turtle neck and blue jeans. Yep, it really would!! I hope the colors come through well enough that you can 'see' how that would 'work'. :)

Once again for this experiment, I've used cheap Hobby Lobby yarn.
8 dent heddle
Scarf width prior to weaving 6"
Scarf length prior to weaving 72"
This scarf from warp to finished product took less than 4 hours.

Clearance Yarn from Hobby Lobby Makes BEAUTIFUL Scarf

I bought some sale yarn at Hobby Lobby the other day and used it for both the warp and weft on my Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom. You can see the details in the photos below.

Oh, and the 'special' weave is Leno. (You can learn more about Leno in one of my previous posts.)

I haven't finished the fringe yet because I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it.
Any suggestions??? :)

The scarf took about 3.5 hours to make from warping to cutting from loom.

Scarf made on Cricket Rigid Heddle

Here is a scarf that took about 4 hours to make from warping the loom to the hem stitch.

For this scarf I used (don't gasp LOL) some Vanna's Choice yarn from Hobby Lobby. Yes, it is 100% Acrylic.....

I love experimenting with ALL kinds of yarn!! No yarn snob here LOL.

Anyway, I used my 8 dent read. Warp: 48 ends approx. 80"long.

At either end of the scarf I have two Leno weaves.

Leno Weave on a Rigid Heddle Loom

Ok, I don't know about you, but since I was taught using PHONICS when I was a little kid I woulda been taught to pronounce "Leno" as LEEEEE-no. (You remember, don't ya? You divide the word into syllables and if there is one vowel.....) So, anyway, I was all set to say LEEEE-no but then I thought, uh oh, what about Jay LEN-oh. Hmmmm how to pronounce...how to pronounce??? When in doubt, just go back and forth between the two - that's what I did LOL.

Anyhooo, this video will teach you how to do the LEEEE-no or the LEN-oh on your rigid heddle loom (I hope!).

Rigid Heddle Loom - Brooks Bouquet Pattern

I've created a new video showing how to do the Brooks Bouquet weaving pattern using a rigid heddle loom.

Love rigid heddle looms!!!

Today's Scarf - Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom

Today's scarf :) is being woven on my Cricket Loom. I am using the 10 dent heddle that I purchased this weekend. (The Cricket comes with an 8 dent heddle.) The scarf will be about 5 feet long and only 4 inches wide. I think it's gonna be a really pretty 'dressy' scarf. Hey, who knows.. I may just put some snazzy beads on the fringe!!

Anyhooo, I warped the loom with 100% mercerized cotton (50epi).

For the weft I'm using a really cool 100% rayon boucle yarn.


I LOVE the feel of this scarf. It is really a lot softer than it looks.
This is a GREAT, FAST way for me to use up STASH!!! Y'all oughta try it!!!

Today I wove a scarf that I LOVE!

I used my 20" Schacht Ridgid Heddle Loom for this scarf although I could have just as easily used the Schacht Cricket Loom.

For those of you who care about the gory details LOL - I used a 10 dent heddle. I warped 76 ends.

I had a bit of trouble along the way:

1. The 100% wet spun linen (warp) broke several times. Not the whole length of the warp but several plies.

2. I did something FUNKY with the sides of the weaving. It ended up looking like a design element but I have NO idea what I did wrong.

All in all, though, I LOVE how this scarf turned out.

Here are a few photos from the process (including a view of those torn warp pieces and the WEIRD selvages).

Our Meet-up (Knit, Spin, Weave Crochet!

If you're in our area.... C'mon and join us!!

Have you used this yarn?

Is it too "girlie" to make a 'man' scarf????






The color is 'wicker'. It's 86%Bamboo, 12%acrylic and 2%polyester. Funny thing is they've titled it "Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends".

This yarn is REALLY buttery soft. I've started knitting the pattern that comes on the ball band and was thinking how much dh would love its softness as a scarf, BUT........... umm...ahhhh.... i just don't know......

What do ya think? Would he look like a girlie - man in it???

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat........

Well, Christmas IS coming so I'm starting my Christmas knitting etc.

I bought this Noro yarn from a LYS. NICE stuff... softer than most Noro. It is made of 40%cotton, 30%silk, 15%wool and 15%nylon.

I'm knitting my daughter a throw (that's what they call it) in the "Simply Noro" book.

I like how it's turning out and I'm HOPING dd will like it too. I'm just a tad worried about the colors. Oh well, I'm hoping she'll like it no matter what color because she can wrap up in it and it will be kinda like mom giving her a warm hug!!

So, here's the yarn....





And here's the knittin' thus far:

Video for a Brand New Knitter

I've decided to make a few videos on how to knit for a brand new knitter in our Friday night knit group.

It may be helpful as a refresher AFTER she's had some 'real life' lessons since it is a bit hard to see what my fingers are doing.

Resizing Images for Emails and Ravelry using Windows XP

Some of my friends have been having trouble resizing their images for either emails or for Ravelry so I thought I'd try to help out with this tutorial for those using Windows XP

Double Knitting and a GREAT Movie

This past weekend my friend, Robbie, and I went to see a movie. I can't remember the last time I went to the theater and enjoyed a movie as much as I did this one AND I wasn't the only one enjoying it!! Folks in the nearly packed theater were laughing and clapping throughout the show.

The Movie: Julie and Julia

The Plot: Julia Child and Julie Powell - both of whom wrote memoirs - find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends... until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

One line made me really laugh during the show -- not only was the line funny but I loved the delivery of it. Anyway, the line was spoken by "Julia Child". She says, "If no one's in the kitchen, who's to see?"

Yeah, you're right...the line really isn't funny unless you see/hear it in context! ;)




This weekend I also learned a new knitting technique. I'm not really a fan of SunBonnet Sue (the pattern used for learning the technique) BUT I am a fan of this double knitting!! Lots of fun and turns out a really cool double-sided design.
You can get the free pattern HERE.

Here is a video I made showing how to cast on and get started on the potholder. Some of the video may be cut off here so you may want to click HERE to see the larger version.

Dyeing, Carding, Spindling and Spinning

Here's the yarn I was working on this weekend up at the Black Mountain Fiber Swap.

It is a combination of corriedale, merino, mohair and silk waste. I purposely dyed and added the silk waste for texture and I love how it turned out. I spun the singles on my Golding Tsunami and plied it on my Ashford Traditional.




Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with it. I think I may weave it (with some other yarns that I've spun) into an interesting "art" scarf sort of like the technique used on the blanket in my previous post. (See the video.)

For the warp I may use the cone of unidentified fiber (maybe wool) that I got this weekend at the swap for $1.00. Pretty isn't it?

Doesn't THIS make you wanna play with your rigid heddle loom!!!

Sure makes me want to!!! Now I know what I can do with all the yarn I've been spinning!!!

Anyhooooo.... I saw this online and had to share!!! Enjoy! Here is a note from the weaver, "I did two 14 ft warps. Then I cut them into 6 ft sections so that I had 4 rectangles, sewed the opened woven ends shut, assembled and sewed, and then covered the machine stitches with handstitching with– you guessed it– more handspun." She also said her warp was commercial 2 ply shetland that she got from her LYS.

Shrek... a sheep on the lam for six years

A few years ago.....


A renegade New Zealand sheep that managed to evade shearers for six years has gotten a haircut!

Shrek, the 10-year-old wether, had managed to roam freely on New Zealand's South Island for more than six years before being finally rounded up. (He was living in mountain caves after escaping from his domestic flock.)

Shrek's giant fleece - possibly the largest ever - was auctioned off for children's medical charities. (Former world champion blade shearer Peter Casserly clipped 60 pounds of fine merino wool from the Shrek.)

Wow! That's a lota merino!!!

HUGE sale in Black Mtn. NC

I'm hoping to find some great GOODIES here!!

If you live in the area, you may wanna check this out!

Clemes and Clemes, Veggies and Knitting

Soooo sad... I got a new (to me) Clemes and Clemes Traditional Spinning wheel yesterday. It was shipped via Postal Service. Luckily the shipper had insurance on the package because, here's what the flyer came looking like:



I've filled out the claim form for the Post Office. Wonder how long this will take???!

On a happier note, look what's for lunch today....
Yep, some more veggies from MY first EVER garden... can you believe it? The stuff is actually growing! I am not having a whole lotta luck with my peppers yet though. **Crosses fingers **



On the knitting front, I have been knitting some of my handspun using this pattern (from video I found on YouTube). I am not sure I'm gonna like it though.. .it is soooo loose. The directions say to knit two rows in between the YO rows. I have been knitting SIX to try to give the scarf a bit more substance.

I'm eating high on the hog today! ;)

Yep, it's true. Today I picked my first EVER vegetable that I grew MYSELF! It is a Japanese eggplant and it is YUMMY!!

I'm pretty pumped up LOL.

For those of you who have not read my blog for any length of time, I am a 'city-slicker' wannabee farmer. In the spring I posted a picture of my garden (yep, small 4' x 4' garden) and dontchaknow, someone in MAINE (I'm in SC) kindly said.. um.. PattyAnne, I think you may have your tomato cages on upside-down. Talk about feeling D.U.M.B.

Well, i corrected the dang cages and the tomatoes are doing well (none quite ready yet though). BUT, this little eggplant was ripe for pickin! Wish I had taken a picture of him BEFORE I sliced him up and threw him in the WOK.

Oh well... with out further adieu, here 'he' is!

Double Dip by Three Bags Full

Last week I purchased some roving from TheBellWether. The GORGEOUS roving blend is a merino cross wool with hand-dyed tencel and hand-dyed silk noil. It is sooo smooth and soft and spins like a dream.

I'm spinning it on my Golding Tsunami. I was going to tell you the wraps per inch BUT LibbyLou (my pooch) gnawed on my wooden WPI tool and I don't see a ruler or yardstick nearby. (If I spot one later I may update this post.)

Here are two shots of the roving and some spun yarn inside of a bowl-type thingy that I knitted and felted last week.

Here's What's for Dinner?

I dyed up some silk waste and some mohair today in my flea market crockpot. YUM.

The Cushing's Perfection Dyes colors used were Buttercup Yellow, Turquoise and Jade Green.

Gonna add this 'stuff' to some batts (not necessarily together LOL).

Tomorrow will be a FUN day of dyeing at my LYS -- can't wait!!

Targhee Top

I got some really pretty 100% Targhee Top from my local yarn store - colorway = Northern Lights.





Here's a little info on Targhee from, 'In Sheep's Clothing' by Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier.




The Targhee was developed by the US Department of Agriculture as a dual purpose sheep adapted tot he dry western range lands.

The foundation of the breed was a cross of Rambouilett rams and Corriedale x Lincoln/Rambouillet ewes.

The fleece is fine and dense with very good loft, indistinct but well-developed crimp and short staple length. The staples are blocky in shape with almost no luster.

The extraordinary loft and elasticity of Targhee make it particularly suitable for fine, light, knitted and woven fabrics with good shape retention and crease resistance. In blends with other short fibers, Targhee adds loft and elasticity.

Staple length: 3 - 4 1/2 inches

LOTS of Spinning!

I got some gorgeous Dorset roving the other day from Kris' Etsy shop (stseraphinaknits).
The roving is called, PAINTED DESERT. I absolutely LOVE the colors!!!

I've also ordered some fiber from TheBellwether. I hope it comes tomorrow!

Anyhooo, I have had a ball spinning the roving (see below). Can't wait to knit it up into a bag for my new camera!! (Oh, I'm gonna knit it and then felt it!) Stay tuned. Since it's knit night tomorrow night at StarBucks I'll probably get started on it then!

Ain't it purty!? (The spun wool is still drying. I wish the colors showed up better online!)