Once the warp is tied up on the loom, it is possible to have a finished woven garment within a few hours. The longest stretch of time comes from threading the heddles and sleying the reed (not as violent of an act as it sounds, although it does involve a hook!)

I had virtually no problems with this yarn and warp combination - the tension stayed steady throughout, and it gave me a boost of confidence considering some of the other “learning experiences” I have had with the loom of late.

This time, I chose a very textural yarn, Pingouin Minou, that has been in the stash for some time. It is a thick-and-thin cotton/rayon blend with the little slubs of cotton, and the shiny ply of rayon. I picked it up in a trade last year from Sarah - but as to the provenance, I am not sure. The tag says “Made in Brazil”, but a Google search reveals very little, so I am assuming that it is long discontinued. Too bad, because it was definitely a treat to weave with…

Loaded up two episodes of This American Life podcast, set the pedals for a plain weave, and a few hours later, I had a finished shawl. Seven feet long, fifteen inches wide finished shawl. Weaving is meditation, but it is also production - it just goes so quickly compared to knitting!

I have to admit, this was yarn/warp initially slated to be a baby blanket. However, as I worked it up, I realized it was not the right kind of fabric for a baby - too drapey and with uneven textures. So, what kind of garment works well with drape and textures? hmmm… a wrap. A wrap for me. Perfect. (Baby can get booties or a bib, just like all the others!)

(More photos here)

Bonafide love for my new wrap. Not only is the color amazing, but the texture! I am definitely a happy weaver. The yarn definitely looks better in this form than sitting in a bag on my stash shelf!