Mar 11 2008
Yarn Thoughts
After I took up weaving, I began to see some of the items in my yarn stash in a new light. Things that I bought for specific knitterly purposes seemed somehow better suited for weaving. While I haven’t been too hasty and warped and cut my yarns up yet, I know that I will have many decisions to make in coming days… cast on or warp up?
Brooke at The Daily Purl has made some fabulous stoles and scarves with Habu warp and weft yarns, so those are definitely tempting me. But, then so are Olga and Vanessa’s Habu knit creations…
With the help and advice of some weaving friends I met through Ravelry and Flickr, I decided to add a few specific weaving yarns to my stash – just to avoid some of the tension problems I have experienced of late. I am hoping to warp up this linen soon and began work on the denim rag rug!
There is no doubt about the strength of this yarn: 100% linen! It should make a great rug warp, and I liked the natural undyed color to go with the simple indigo of the jean rags. I picked this up from WEBS, along with a few other weaving yarn goodies.
Valley Yarns CotLin 8/2 cones
I really liked the springy combination of these colorways, and the three of them came with a dishtowel drafting pattern for the loom. If I can find the patience and wherewithal, I will attempt the plaid dishcloth! With 3000 yards each, I can afford to experiment a little and play around on the loom.
And as I learn more about my loom and its capabilities, I am also looking at my sock yarn stash in a new way. After seeing some fun store samples woven up at The Mannings, I think it would be a blast to experiment with the colors of sock yarns. After a winter sock “drought” – my last pair being the Autumnal Equinox socks for Socktoberfest – I finally cast on for a pair of socks yesterday after feeling the urge to see how this yarn would knit up. Definitely wanted to knit with this one – there was no thought of using it for weaving.
The feminine companion to the other GGH socks I made for Kris… another thanks to Debi for sending these (now discontinued) yarns in a trade almost two years ago!
After seeing a parade of beautiful socks by Chawne, I felt the time was right to finally cast on for some socks. I was waiting to finish my sister’s sweater, but I thought: why delay happiness? These socks are making me pretty happy! I started them on the train while I was traveling downtown to see Amber, who was in DC for work. We had a yummy Ethiopian dinner. And while we did not knit or take photos of our outing, we had a great time 
So, as I look over my stash, I am thinking about all of the possibilities and all of the fabrics – both knit and woven – that can be created. It excites me. It’s like a newfound spirit of adventure: seeing my stash with both weaver and knitter eyes!
I can’t wait to see what you whip up with all these lovelies!
Just make sure you spool off the linen, not wind it off like you would a cone. I run a dowel through a shoe box and let the spool turn freely. Linen has a lot of twist and if you wind it off you will end up with a major mess. If you have warp breakage, spritz the warp with water as you weave. Linen is much stronger when damp, and will break if too dry. good luck on your rug.
I love the springy colors of the CotLin! A little bit of orange popping here and there would have looked great with the jean rags, but using only the natural linen will be beautiful as well, and will confer a more classic look to your rug.
That is great being newly inspired with the stash! I do like the combination of the colours in the cones.
the weaving will be a great way to use up stash that you can’t figure out what to knit with!
I’m so glad you’re finally using it! It’s knitting up in a very pretty fabric too! It’s so weird, I haven’t used my Tess either and I was just thinking about digging it out of the stash. We must be on the same wavelength
I love your plans for the linen and the soft spring colors!
It’s amazing how an interest in one craft can lead into another. Knitting, spinning…..now I’m tempted by your enthusiasm for spinning:)
lovely yarns – nice to see them used in so many interesting ways. Fiber really is a versatile medium.
Why delay happiness – indeed!
Gorgeous colors! Everytime I see orange pop up in one of your posts, I am so drawn to it!
I thought about that after I got home, that we didn’t take any photos! Oh well, next time!
Gorgeous Habu. I fondled it last time I was in Glasgow. It’s so nice…
I like the orange – beige – green combo. And the socks. They look fun.
Oh those Habu tempations! I have been in that position once… or twice… I cannot wait to see what you come up with.
On the Stash and Burn podcast, they talk a lot about the knitting fantasies, where you dream about the items you want to make with your yarn. Well, it sounds like your fantasy life has now doubled! It’s so great to know your yarns have so much more possibility now.
I love the yarn, love the colors, love the chatter about temptation, but do you know what I love best???
Seeing that sweet sock on the dpn. I have decided that I am not ever going to be a 2 socks at a time girl, ever. I do not like it whatsoever. I miss my dpn’s. A Lot. Sigh.
Can’t wait to see the rug as it goes. I finally wore out my last handwoven throw rug last year, it gave me over 20 years of hard service.
The CotLin is beautiful! Yay- more yarn to love!
Seeing that yarn makes me realize that I have some yarns that would probably work great for you for weaving. I got them on WEBS sale some time ago thinking I’d knit with them, but they really aren’t suited for that. Email me if you’d like me to send them along to you…they are just taking up room in my stash closet!
That is some lovely yarn…. really looking forward to seeing the denim rag rug.
Someone used your sweater picture on wikihow…just wanted let you know.
http://www.wikihow.com/Save-a-Tight-Sweater-%28Jumper%29
[...] my fiber-y exploits were all about the knitting. I didn’t even take the time to warp the new weaving cones I got. I kept on telling myself that I would do it… but the linen yarn for the planned rag [...]
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