AtomicKnits

Gram's Christmas Scarf

I really wanted to make my Grandma's Christmas present this year, but I was getting a little short on time. I decided to break out my loom, because weaving a scarf only take several hours instead of days!  When I spun this purple yarn, I knew my Grandma would love this color, and I especially love how the purple heather streaked with blues and reds came out woven.

This project also gave me the opportunity to weave one piece out of the same yarn, and also a piece that is almost as wide as my loom.  I love how this material came out kind of light and airy, but also very warm.  My Gram really loved the scarf, and I was glad I got a chance to make it for her.

Gram's Christmas Handspun Woven Scarf
Warp & Weft Yarn: Ashland Bay Multicolor Merino 2 Ply, colorway Amethyst

Apple Venus Scarf

This is a scarf that I wove over the summer before I moved to Eugene.  I wanted to start another weaving project for a Christmas present and I found this hanging out in my loom carry bag.  I totally forgot about it!  The edges of the warp and the weft yarn is my first handspun and the other yarns are bits of things I had lying around.  I remember totally hating this scarf when I got done, because I had so many problems weaving it.  The edges are all messed up, the tension got all weird about halfway through, it was ugly.  But, when I pulled this out I didn't think it was so bad.  I washed it and it looked even better after that.  I really want to get in the habit of weaving more regularly.

Apple Venus Scarf
Warp Yarn: Vanilla Corriedale Handspun, KnitPicks Shine Worsted - colorway Green Apple, Berroco Ultra Alpaca - colorway Potting Soil Mix, mystery blue yarn I got from a friend
Weft Yarn: Vanilla Corriedale Hanspun

Campfire Headphase Scarf: My 1st handwoven project!

Last weekend I went with Santina down to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.  We had an awesome time.  I got a lot of new spinning fiber and also this awesome new Ashford Knitter's Loom.  This loom is so cool I can't even begin to explain. I have been wanting one for a little while, but I was afraid to spend the money (times are tough, yo).  Santina and I looked all around the festival and found the 12" loom and carry bag for $210 from Ohio Valley Natural Fibers.  They had the best deal by far so I bought it!  When I got home, Justin helped me warp it up after I picked my yarns.  It was really easy to warp and Justin and I even thought of a few ways for me to do the step where I need a 'friend' by myself.  I will share that when I find a good way.

The next day I started weaving and it was so easy!  I got the hang of it quickly and my scarf started to grow.  I couldn't believe it was going so fast.

Today I finished it!  The entire scarf probably took me about 3 hours from warp to fringe. ISNT THAT CRAZY?!  I kind of feel like I'm cheating or some kind of knitting traitor, but I have to say that having a complete original scarf in 3 hours feels pretty good. I don't think I'll stop knitting at all, but I think I am going to get hooked on this new weaving thing.  I named this scarf Campfire Headphase, because the colors remind me of the Board's of Canada album of the same name.  I like the idea of naming things after album covers, so I am going to go with that for my weaving projects.  That's another thing I like about this.  These creations are mine!  I'm the artist.  I can be with knitting too, but I like following patterns too much and while that is fun and relaxing, I always feel like a little part of the finished peice still belongs to the pattern designer.  This scarf is 100% mine, and that feels great.

I think I did make some beginner mistakes.  You can see when both ends of the scarf are next to each other.  The end I started with is in back.  You can see it is much more open and uneven than the end I completed last.  I'm going to try to tighted up the beginning of my next scarf to try and make the weaving more consistent.  MY NEW LOOM IS AWESOME!

Campfire Headphase Scarf
Warp Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, colorways #3760 Bright Light Green & #3806 Bright Blue
Weft Yarn: Colinette Giotto, colorway #38 Lagoon