New Inkle and Knitting

I got a new inkle loom a few weeks ago from Frank Trozzo on Ebay and I'm loving it. The loom is well made and easy to use. This is the latest weaving band on this new loom. I have lost my loom room for a little while one of the kidlets needed to come stay with us for a while. Needless to say I was depressed that I can't weave for a bit on the big loom ;( But since I also knit, I decided to tackle a new sweater. The pattern is Checker Lace V-neck Sweater . It's a great knit challenging to keep me on my toes but interesting enough to keep it from being too boring.

It's been a while since I've graced the blogosphere, amazing how quickly time flies when you're all caught up in your tiny world.

I've been busy with some knitting projects and my inkle loom and I are the best of friends lately. I finished the Sky Wrap Shawl it was a really easy knit and went rather quickly.

I also finished this Panda Silk Shawl

which was also easy but had a lot of pick ups through out, each shell is knit separately through that method. My knit club did this one as a group project once everyone gets done we're planning on taking a picture of all the shawls together.

Last but definitely not least are my inkle bands and their respective fabrics. I'm still working on some more bands and once I'm finished I plan to start designs the bags that will go with each one. I have a few more to weave and am really enjoying the process of matching the yarn to fabric.

Didn't Work Out

I made the bag and started to sew the beaded embellishment on, but the warp thread began to give wan and the beads came loose. To say that I was disappointed would lack definition of what I was really feeling. I haven't touched it in over a week and I can't save it so... I have to think of a way to keep it from unravelling before I cut it off the bead loom. I'll be experimenting with a small piece and see if I can hemstitch a border or weave thread between each bead pass. Not sure, but it's a new challenge to figure out.

Oh well it's a learning experience no matter how annoyed I am for the fact that it didn't work.

I finished the bead piece and inkle weaving this past week and am in love with it. I want to work on a prototype bag to use with these materials this week. I'll have to figure out how to attach and secure the beaded work to the bag and the basic design of the bag itself. In the mean time I'm hunting for some more cross stitch patterns to make a new beaded project.
I really excited with this work but feel guilty for ignoring my Macomber. Ah, so many looms so little time.. yet I keep hearing people tell me they can't retire cause they'll be bored to death. I'm really looking forward to having enough time to play around although I don't want to wish my life away, I do know that when the time comes I'll be ready and willing.

New Project

I started a new inkle band with inspiration from another piece of cloth. I'm in a blue stage this summer and being reminded of the ocean.

Along with the inkle weaving I also started a new bead loom project that will be incorporated with this inkle band. I haven't really worked out all the details, but I'd like to make the beaded portion the focal point of the bag.
I changed the colors of the flowers to compliment the inkle strap's and interior coloring and am having a ton of fun with it. Hopefully the vision I have in my head will work out into something tangible.