Design

There were so many different “D” projects that came to mind today.  They will come in later posts.  Perhaps because I’m a bit lethargic today (I did heavy rock designing most of the day yesterday, and am oh so tired.) and the fact that the day is slipping by, I have settled upon something I know best – Design.  The idea just struck me after reading someone else’s blog.  It was their “C” word – Crochet.  http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com/2011/04/z-crocheting.html

I’ve always been a student of design in some form or the other.  I started young drawing designs in second grade.  It would dawn on me many decades later that I was doodling future weaving patterns.  I went through a period in middle and high school of designing clothes – strictly on paper.  And to this day I’m always laying out some design for some project, whether it is outdoor gardening or hiking trails in the woods.  On some days just moving around furniture has to suffice.  Frequent visitors to my blog might also note that I have to give it some new fresh look – it’s that designing aspect of my character.  Some fresh new look is always exciting to me.

In the early eighties I taught myself to weave and began creating my own designs.  I’m thankful I had that time in life.  Here is some of my work.

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Bouquet of Fiber on a Snowy Day

24 Table Runners

I love color.  I think it started with my first box of crayons.  I particularly loved the big box of sixty-four – more colors to choose from.

Later I discovered yarn.  I could be content looking at all the rows of yarn arranged like the colors in a Crayola box in the local dime store.  Thus, texture and some knitting needles were added to the equation.

That was my childhood.  Many years later a loom took center stage.  This is now.  These pictures are from table runners I made. They are a combination of different colors, textures, and patterns into an assortment of table runners.

Weaving is slowing down though.  I still like to stay connected with fiber and have returned back to the yarns of my childhood through knitting mostly. (shown in another post)  Still, I linger back to the loom from time to time.

At one point I began Scottish plaid designs, learning a great deal in the process.

Kerr Scottish Plaid Rug

 

 

I’m thankful for all the wonderful friends I’ve met through my work with fiber.

Supporting My Habit

My husband supports my habit, and I’m thankful for that.  On Friday I went into the hobby store for yarn, just one skein, for just one knitting project.  However, the on sale bin was newly loaded with discontinued yarn, which I couldn’t resist.

My thought process was all the knitting that would take place on those cold winter days.  I didn’t have to wait long, as the snow and freezing temperatures began on Sunday night.

I didn’t wait until I got home.  I spent a good portion of the morning at Starbucks working on those handmade Christmas presents.

I’m learning cable and completed the green scarf for my son-in-law.  I also bought some bamboo knitting needles, which I discovered I love.  Although my knitting career has spanned forty-seven years, I’m still just a beginner.  I think it was fate that I was given a whole set of knitting needles complete with case when I was ten.  An experienced knitter in our town died, and for some reason I was given her tapestry case of needles.  I always was attracted to yarn, and the year before my aunt had tried to teach me to crochet.  I both knitted and crocheted simple projects throughout the years, making hats for everyone while in college.  I eventually turned to weaving which became a business.  Now, I’m back to knitting, but as a hobby.