Petunia rambles on and on….

I often glance at Yahoo.com in the morning, to see what’s posted there.  Often there’s some “breaking news stories.”  Just as often, there’s something that might fall under the “human interest” category.

Today, there’s a movie camera symbol and the headline “People text message from weddings, funerals and while on the toilet.”

I didn’t click to view the video.  I was afraid it would show me someone I know.  Someone I’m related to.  Someone I gave birth to.

Damn it, I taught you kids not to talk to strangers.

Well, the loom came already warped.  From what I understand, this is the complicated and tricky part, and one that I’d prefer to do wtih someone knowledgeable nearby.  But it’s already warped!

So on Saturday, I went up to Vulcan’s Rest and asked for help!  HELP!!   First, I wanted a good basic book that would cover beginner’s issues, and take me further.  The Ashford Book of Weaving for the 4 Shaft Loom was handed to me.  And a stick shuttle, and a boat shuttle, and 2 hooks.

So far, I understand what they’re saying – that doesn’t mean I can do it, but at least my mental lightbulb is still on.

I chose plain white cotton thread to start with.  I figured that wool/blends would be stretchy and that cotton would be easier.  Also, cotton’s probably cheaper, so if I screw this all up royally, less is wasted!  I’m thinking that I can do placemats.   Perhaps not the finest or the most even, but I’m hoping for usable!!  (For the 3-year-olds, at least?)  The colors of thread that were on the loom would not have been my choice, but if I have leftover white cotton, and still want to go at this, I’ll pick out my kitchen colors for later.

I don’t need the hooks yet, but will when the loom needs to be warped again.  Those narrow tools are needed to get the threads in place thru the reed.

Shuttles, two styles, to wind the white thread onto and take through the piece, left to right and back again.  So far, I’ve only used the bottom one, a stick shuttle.  The top one is called, uh, a boat shuttle.  Wonder why?

I also got Franklin Habit’s new book, It Itches.  While I got it at my LYS, it’s also available at Amazon.  Franklin Habit writes the blog The Panopticon, that everyone should be reading.  I always do!

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My husband isn’t interested in knitting, or crochet or weaving.  None of it.  Bored with it all.  He’s gone with me to yarn stores, but would rather not.  (He thought the one in E. Stroudsburg, PA was the greatest one I’d ever wanted to go to – when he discovered the GOLF store right across the street and the taproom next door)  I’m still not sure why he picked up the new book I had here.  Perhaps just to put it up high for safekeeping – the twins like to read anything.   I wasn’t paying any attention to what he was doing until I heard him laughing.  Laughing??  POP??  That’s odd.  Stern old buzzard.

But laughing he was!!   Damn!

Turns out I’m #3 on the list to read this book.  He got it first, then daughter grabbed it up!  Great job, Franklin.  3 out of 3!!

Maybe somebody missed yesterday’s post, or just didn’t get it!   I love alpacas!!!!!

I’m including this just to give some idea of the size of these animals.  The lady in back, with the black jeans, is the alpacas’ mother.  It was time to go, evidenced by the fact that one alpaca decided she’d had enough just standing around all day looking beautiful.  She is being coaxed to get up, to be loaded up for the trip home.  See how their backs are waist-high and the heads only up to shoulders.    (Can they be house-broken?)

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So I had to buy things while I was there.  Of course, I did.  I’m stock-piling stuff for the long cold winter.  In case there’s a yarn shortage.  Or the price goes so high that I can no longer afford it.  Hate to make the choice between groceries Pop’s cable TV and yarn, ya know!

I found several things at Crash Into Ewe.  So did quite a few others, I’m told, and I like hearing that local crafters do well!   I surely helped run up Terry’s total sales for the day.  She does a Jewel Collection, fingering/sock weight blend of Superwash Merino, Silk, Nylon and 2% Silver!  That wee bit of sparkle caught my eye, and I bought 2 skeins of two different colors, with shawls in mind.

Just that hint of sparkle – just enough.  More would be too much.  Agree??

And Terry also had hand-made project bags, big enough for a hat or sock on the go.

SHEEP fabric!  Of course I bought it.  I also got one of her abacus-row-counting goodies, but didn’t take its picture – had already put it away for safe-keeping.  They are listed on her site, though.

And I got another Noni pattern – this time for her Adventure Bag, from the booth of Frivolous Fibers in St Michaels, MD.  I was in their store last month during the Yarn Crab-Crawl here on the Eastern Shore.  Beautiful shop.  I’ll go back – great excuse to visit a nice little town, too.

I love big bags!!!

And The Sanguine Gryphon was there.  Last time I saw her, during the Yarn Crawl, I got beautiful sock yarn so this time, I went for roving.

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Alright, I certainly should have stopped there.

I certainly should have.

But I didn’t.

It’s a used LeClerc 4-harness loom, already warped.  And I don’t know how to use it – it’s still in the back of my car here!!   I need to learn so much about it!  Any suggestions about good, informative books out there, designed with a beginner in mind?