Once I get a new warp on the loom, I can zoom right along. It’s just getting that new warp on… the process takes a steady hand and a dedicated attention span – threading all of the heddles, sleying the reed, beaming. Once I am in that zone, I quite enjoy the process of it. Especially with a good audiobook* playing.
Silk Stripes Scarf
Warp: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed in Linen (2 skeins)
Weft: Noro Silk Garden in 249 (1 skein) & 269 (1 skein)
[more photos of the Silk Stripes Scarf here]
Each skein of the Silk Garden yielded three bobbins (to put in the boat shuttle) each, so with six bobbins, I alternated the striping patterns between the earthy colors of the 249 colorway and the cream variegations of the 269. Each bobbin gave me between 7 and nine inches of woven fabric. The deep colors of the 249 colorway appear to be three different skeins of yarn – but that is the true beauty of Noro! Every time I work with Noro, I fall a *little* more in love with it. (Sad side story: Remember my Shinano cowl? Totally loved that thing. Well, I seem to have lost it somewhere en route to Nova Scotia. I think it must have been at Dulles Airport somewhere… I am thinking around the security check when I was hurrying to put my shoes back on… ack. I loved that thing. And now I want more Shinano to compensate!)
I am brimming with weaving inspiration right now – so many great ideas and designs out there! Many thanks to Barbara at The Lumpy Sweater for sending a weaving book she found at a sale. It is about Finnish weaving techniques. I look forward to trying some… once I get a little better!
…
I had a nice holiday with the family. We planned to go down to see the fireworks in DC, but the thunder and lightning kept us at home. We played a few card games and Scattergories whilst munching on my leftover Friendship bread! It was a fun night. My sister Sarah and I made plans to get together the next day to check out the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The weather forecast didn’t look particularly pleasant, but it ended up being quite nice once we got to the National Mall.
The themes this year were Bhutan, Texas, and NASA. Very disparate themes, but a good mix for a day of learning. The SFF seems to always include a rich textiles display, and that offers some amazing photo opportunities. So full of color!
[All photos from Festival here]
We saw several demonstrations, heard a few discussions (a particularly interesting one on the environmental sensibilities of the Bhutanese people and their Gross National Happiness) and in the Texas “Opry” pavillion, I got to dance. The band was playing some polka music, and this older gentleman came up and held his hand out to me. I hesitated and pointed at my sister, but he pointed right at me. So, I polka-ed with this man (who didn’t speak any English… I believe he was actually Polish) in front of a large audience. Even though we lived in Texas for a short while when I was young, I guess I didn’t realize that polka was so “big” there. The band was pretty good, and my dance partner was getting quite into it. He kept on saying things to help lead me in the dance (but I did not understand!) and I just stepped around in a square figure. He even twirled me around a few times! what a charmer! (…but Kris should have no cause for concern…)
*I listened to The Man Who Loved China whilst weaving my scarf. Fascinating and engaging story! (Psst – anyone else on Goodreads?)
I’ve been listening to the new David Sedaris and it is HILARIOUS! Love that weaving, Noro does grow on you with each project, I agree.
hey, i think we were at the festival around the same time! we got there around 12:30 and left at about 4… loved the bhutanese temple, and the bhutanese food at the indique booth was amazing.
Ooh, I saw this scarf on your flickr stream…what a beauty. I don’t really know much about weaving but it seems like you can finish smaller projects like scarves a lot faster than knitting.
Sounds like you had a great time at the Smithsonian…and you were definitely a great sport about dancing in front of everyone!
Well, he asked you to dance because you matched him perfectly. What a cute dance couple! And I’m on Goodreads, but have not updated in FOREVER! Are you Lolly on there, too? I’m just plain Heather, I think.
:O)
I love the scarf. The Noro looks so great woven; it really softens the color shifts.
Also, I love little old men who Polka! Perhaps this is due to the prevalence of Polka at all of my family get togethers; that little old man reminds me of my dziadzi
Your scarf is stunning! I love the mix of colors you used.
Oh my – just beautiful! A work of art. It is so interesting to see the knitting yarns used in weaving, and the different effects they have.
A lost Shinano cowl? No!
That festival looks amazing! And polka dancing too!
Beautiful scarf!
I love the picture of you doing the polka!
Your scarf is beautiful and I love the photos from the festival!
Stunning photos….such intense colour….really beautiful!
I love that scarf! I’m trying so hard to resist the pull of weaving, but it sure looks like a blast!
Also, Goodreads is my newest time-buster! I’m Robin Marie there also.
That scarf is simply gorgeous! It turned out so well! I shot you a friend invitation from Goodreads if you are interested. I think I like goodreads for books as much as Ravelry for knitting! I love that you include what you are reading periodically in your blog…I’ve gotten some good suggestions!
Thanks so much for the SFF write up and pictures! I would have loved to have gone – I am fascinated with Bhutan!
The scarf is lovely!
Yup, polka is pretty big around certain parts of TX (mostly central, I think) — there are a lot of little Czech and German communities around there, so polka has made its way into the culture . . . if you have a chance, check out the band Brave Combo — they do polka with a whimsical twist.
Also, your scarf is gorgeous . . . love the Noro!
What a delightful festival – thank you for sharing your day! And for the tip on goodreads – need to check that out!
Your scarf is so very lovely. I love all of the colors in your photos from the festival…so rich! Polka is really big in my (former) area of Minnesota…my hometown is half-German, half-Polish and the Polish portion of the population in particular has held on strongly to their language and traditions. I had no idea it was big in Texas!
That is such a lovely scarf!
And that’s too bad about your Shinano cowl! When I clicked back to look at it I realized the yarn is really similar to Annie’s Rosewood cowl. Weird, eh?
i missed the festival again this year! oh well, there’s always 2009, right? i love your new scarf and i’m sorry to hear you lost your cowl
. thanks for sharing your photos again.
Your scarf came out great! The festival looks like a great time, I love the mandala closeups.
Have a great day!
Amanda
Beautiful scarf!
Arrgh! Lost knitwear is the worst. I think yes on the compensatory yarn. If only TSA would provide. Love your hand woven scarf. You are truly inspiring Lolly. I love the way weaving changes these yarns that I am completely familiar with in knitting. And I intend to make it to a Smithsonian Folklife Festival one of these summers. Thanks for reminding me with your wonderful photos.
That is just gorgeous! I really must try weaving. Is there enough time in the day for another hobby? BTW, I also listen to books while I dye yarn. It really is a great way to accomplish two things at once.
Terry
The colors are amazing! So beautiful!
that scarf is so gorgeous!
love your colorful pics too – stunning!
Your new scarf is really beautiful, and those colourful pictures are gorgeous. Inspiring!
I think the world is conspiring to make me a weaver! At least to make me WANT to weave. The new weaving books showing up on the knitting shelf in the campus bookstore, the woman at the LYS on Saturday packing up her brand new eight shaft loom, and your beautiful projects! I love the texture of this new scarf – I bet it feels wonderful.
Gorgeous photos as usual…and you are making me very curious about weaving! Wow….beautiful scarf!
That scarf is beautiful.
And all your pictures today, what a great blog post today.
WOW Lolly! My head is spinning! Seriously, the scarf is GORGEOUS. And the photos are really, really beautiful.
the scarf is stunningly beautiful lolly… absolutely took my breath away! the combo of the noro beauty with the natural silky tweed is just perfect.
xo
Did you attend Folklife last year? The weavers from the Mekong River Valley were truly inspiring. I couldn’t get over how easy they made double ikat weaving appear!
I think Noro yarns shine in simple patterns – you’ve really proven that with your scarf! The colors and rustic quality are just stunning.
I always loved going to Folklife, even though it was always so crazy hot at that time of year. I’m glad you and your sis got to go and enjoy some cultural immersion. xoxo
Lolly, Hi. It is always so much fun to see your blog. What a beautifulllll scarf!!! and the festival pictures and the dancing….! Really wonderful pictures and colors. Thanks!!
Another homerun!!!
I was trapped inside the Museum of the Native American Indian last year during a wicked thunderstorm. The Folklife Festival a great way to celebrate the 4th!
The scarf is exquisite! I love-love-love it. That festival looks awesome too–what brilliant colors they use!
And I guess you can’t exactly work the toe trick when weaving, huh? Audiobooks, it is!
Your weaving is lovely. The earthy colours blend beautifully.
So many bright colours at the Festival. I always find that a cloudy day makes everything seem more vibrant and rich.
Beautiful scarf!!!
Every time I see something that you have woven, it makes me think that weaving is that much more do-able. Thanks for sharing! And I’m on Goodreads, too! It has been a good motivator to move from “reading” magazines back into reading actual books. I’ll add you as a Goodreads friend!
What a beautiful scarf. I always love working with the Silky wool myself, it has a nice rustic look to it. (Now, if I could finish seaming the cardigan I knitted from it!)
hi lauren,
i just discovered your beautiful blog! your scarf is gorgeous and i am looking forward reading your older posts.
What a beautiful scarf you made! And the pictures from the festival are amazing! It makes me wish I had been there!
Love the yarn combination in your scarf
I would love to weave, I love the fabric it makes. The scarf is nice. Sorry about your cowl, I liked that one too! I haven’t heard of that Noro yarn over here and I hope you can get more.
I think this is your most visually beautiful piece yet. I love the texture of silk and linen.
The scarf is beautiful I can’t wait to get a loom. It looks like you had a fun weekend!
Lovely scarf!
The Folklife Festival is one of the things I miss most about living in DC….we used to love going to it every year!
what awesome photos as usual.. Thank You… The more I see your weaving , The more I feel it calling me… Thanks for sharing your Smithsonian Folklife Festival visit with us.
I always “cheat” and check out your Flickr stream days in advance of your posts…but it just creates more anticipation for the story behind the beautiful photos…very nice!
I’m so sorry to hear about you losing your cowl. I’ve never lost a handknit…I’m sure it will happen, and when it does I know I’ll be crestfallen.
I remember when Matt Lauer visited Bhutan on his “Where in the world” tour last year, and I loved seeing all that the culture is about…it’s truly one of of the last untouched places on Earth.
The scarf looks gorgeous, as do the photos from SFF! I’ve been thinking I should learn how to weave…
Lovely! You have made Silk Garden look completely new with this scarf, in my view. I guess it’s the weaving. Oh, no! Now I’ll have to take that up, after the all the knitting, crochet, spinning…:-)