New Way to Wind a Bobbin!!

Everytime I need to wind a bobbin for my loom shuttle, I have to try to find the drill to do it or wind it my hand (which takes forever!)  The drill works great but since I don't get to work very often, I hate to keep my husband's drill all the time.

I have been searching for a way to have a portable, small way to do this without having to spend $100 or more for a bobbin winder.  I tried a couple different things that worked but still not what I wanted - fast and smooth.

On Ravelry, I found a post about someone using a small battery operated smoothie hand blender.  I had one in a drawer (aren't junk drawers - great!).  I had had this blender for about 10 years - it had the same batteries in it that I put in orginally.  Thankgoodness they had not leaked but they actually stilled worked.

I had to cut the curved ends off the ends so they would fit in the middle of the bobbin.  The bobbin fit snugly on the wands - started the chenille yarn - and WOW, I worked!  Fast, smooth - all the things I needed.

And I still have one wand intacked - so I can still use it in a protein shake if I wanted to!

It has a storage case and be stored in a little drawer by my chair - I can easily put it in my Ashford bag to carry it with my rigid heddle if I want to take it with me. 

I will still use the drill when I am working on my big loom but this is perfect to be able to wind a bobbin fast for the rigid heddle anywhere I am working on it.  This is perfect for any portable loom!

Rigid Heddle Weaving!

Ashford Knitter's loom is warped and going!  I warped the entire 20" with about 3 yards of black cotton blend thread.  Weaving with two colors of chenille that I bought at R&M Yarns - beautiful varigiated brown and a soft black.  I decided to do random stripes so I did not have to keep up with a planned pattern. 

I am not sure if it will be a wrap or some fabric to make something else with. Because the strips are going across and not vertically I am not sure if it would make good fabric.

Weaving Room - Now No Excuses!!!

Okay - I have to get to work and get my Mira warped up - NO EXCUSES!!!  I have my room set up and though I am still finding little cuties things to put in it - I need to get it working!!

This is a great room!  I have a closet to put my yarn and cones of thread in that I have to get organized better, of course.  My duclimer is where I can pick it up and play whenever I want - displayed on the pretty stand .  A TV and DVD, my books & magazines, the table loom that I am working to restore has a place - so cool!!!!

My husband made me a raddle for my loom - I was having problems with warping some fine cotton thread so I showed him a raddle in a book.  He made it in about an hour - great - that saved me about $50 or more (I need a new reed in a different size - almost paid for that).  He is working on me a stand for my Ashford rigid heddle that I bought from the Galtinburg Spinnery - I am so blessed that he likes to try to make some of the things I could use!!!!

My First Handmade Spindle!!

I have 2 spindles - my first was a cd spindle made by my husband and the second was a spindle that I bought in a kit at Yarn Haven in Knoxville.  Now, I have made my first spindle and I am hooked on trying to make more!!!

Everything came from Hobby Lobby except the hook ( I wanted a antique looking hook and could not find one small enough to buy so I dug thru my drawer and low & behold I found one thanks to a clutter junk drawer). I headed to my husband's tools and found a little saw so I could cut grooves on each side of the wheel so I would hold the thread.

 First I stained all the wood walnut; let them dry; then I assembled them using alittle wood glue and putting the rubber washer at the top and bottom of the spindle circle.  I don't know if the black washers are going to help much but I kinda like them there anyway. 

I then rubbed the wood with melted bees wax.  I let it set for a while than I could not wait any longer - I had to spin. 

It spins great - it is heavier than my other wheels so I don't know if I could spin as thin but I really liked what I did.  I used some Jacob roving I bought at the Murfreesboro fiber festival last fall and I love it.  I had been saving it for a wheel but thought I better go ahead and start - don't know when I will have wheel.

The spindle spins & spins - this is so cool!!!!  I am hooked - I have enough to make 3 more wooden spindles. 

Quilts - lots of Machine Quilting

I made and sold two quilts.  One of my customers, asked me to make her son a wolf quilt and do a lavender quilt for her.  They were so cute that I did not want to sell them.  The lavender/blue quilt had two wide center pieces with butterflies quilted in a bright varigated thread.  I just meandered the wolf quilt with random leaves.   Wish I could get a few more orders like this - there would be a new spinning wheel in my house!!!!

New Weaving Room!!!

I finally got my loom out of my quilt shop!!!  I was so excited to get it moved!.  Now if only I would get it warped it - but I am planning!!

I went from a dark mauve bedroom to a bright beige room!!  All my stuff in it - weaving/knitting books, yarn, even a place for my dulcimer!!!    Closet is full of cone of thread and draws of yarn - I must get it organized.  I will have to do more pictures as I work.

View from the Porch!!!

 

God gave this to us - isn't it beautiful!!

When the last time you looked at the sky in the early morning or late evening - He gave it to us - we must take time to enjoy and give Him thanks!

Breathe - Exhale - Relax - Give Thanks