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A few days ago I started getting serious about weaving and buying a table top loom. I've been thinking about for ages (I think it was Abi who got me hooked on the idea a few years ago). My grandmother was a weaver and pumping out bolts of fabric seems like the kind of thing that I'd enjoy. Last year I was inspired by Mel's awesome green and black scarf I emailed her to ask about her table loom. This year my uncle and cousin dropped off my aunt's 45" Leclerc Nilus jack loom. I should clarify the time line. When I say, "last year" I mean December 31 and when I say, "this year" I mean January 2nd.

Tucked against the wall (not in use)

In use (it takes up about 2/3 of the doorway):

The loom is in need of some TLC, but it came pre-warped (the warp is likely 15-20 years old). There's also a warping reel which is not shown here. It's big and in my office right now while I try to figure a permanent home for it. On the loom itself there's a lot of rust on moving parts (although the warp doesn't seem to be exposed to any rust). They've been doused with a lubricant. The cardboard at the back will need to be replaced from mouse damage, but ultimately the loom is in working condition. I know this because I was weaving tonight. My first time ever and this is what I did:

The bottom of the fabric is a bit of a disaster. Even though I'm lifting all four heddles over a four-peddle sequence, not all of the warp is being incorporated into the fabric on a regular basis. I assume it's just because the warp is old and I'm still working out the kinks. We'll see as time goes on if it gets any better. I'm looking forward to learning more!

Aside: All looms should come pre-warped. It was genius to be able to just sit down and start playing.

New Year's Eve was, by my usual standards, a bit of a failure. usually I spend the evening quilting. But my sewing machine started acting up and it's now been packaged up to take into the shop for repairs. And then CBC was playing something awful so I had to turn it off. I chose a DVD to play instead, but Time Bandits didn't want to play on my laptop. It was just one thing after the next after the next. A bit of a failed evening compared to what I had planned.

But on the other hand, I made huge progress on some of my knitting projects. In fact, at the rate I'm going, I'll likely have finished my Hay-on-Wye sweater within a week of starting it. The pattern is loosely based on this variation of Mr. Greenjeans. I'm using the logic from Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. As well as a heavy dose of imagination. In four days I've gone from the photo on the left, to the one on the right.

In my variation there are no cables, multiple colours and a hem along the bottom (my first time doing a hem). On 6.5mm needles this sweater is knitting up VERY quickly. I expect to be done within the week. I'll do the sleeves next while I ponder the button band. I'm contemplating making a double-thickness button band to keep the flat hems throughout. I've got a while before I need to make that decision though.

I'm also making nice progress on a hooded vest that I started shortly before Christmas. This one is a completely fabrication of my own imagination. There is no pattern and only a brief consideration to gauge. I'm getting close to the point where I need to start making decisions about arm holes. Which is sort of too bad as I've really enjoyed the plain stocking stitch with the handmaiden yarn. I'm trying to remember the fiber content for the yarn and I'm completely failing. Maybe it's a wool/seacell blend? Can't remember, no idea where the ball band is. Whoops.

And finally I've got a finished garment to show off. I finished the knitting in mid-December and finally put the zipper in on Christmas morning (after one failed attempt with a too-short zipper). It's all hand-spun and the pattern was vaguely based on something I found online. The sweater is beautiful and delicious and warm and I love wearing it. The pattern, however, sucks. The raglan sleeve is too deep because the neck is too wide. But I learned a lot making this sweater, and wearing it feels like a giant hug. The very bottom stripe of dark brown (around the body) is my first-ever handpsun from 15+ years ago. In the second photo you can see how a raglan that's too deep makes for a sleeve that's too huge.

And that's my knitting update. I also finished a sock and have made progress on a crocheted scarf. But those hardly count. They're waiting-in-grocery-store-line-up projects that will take ages (hopefully) to finish.