Three for Three!
Thus, I have become a copious note taker.
Actually, I have always been a note taker, but instead of making mental notes, I now commit my thoughts to a more organized written form, either pen to paper or digitally on the computer.
With craft related things, 85% of the time, I create a project page for things on Ravelry. Each of the looms has a page dedicated to it with pertinent information regarding model and serial number, a count of heddles on each shaft, and any outstanding orders for parts or upgrades.
For the other 15%, I have a binder with patterns and drafts with two sections.
The first contains projects on deck that are simply waiting for the appropriate loom to become available. There are rarely more than two or three in the queue at a time, as I have found any more than that makes it feel like a job, instead of pleasure.
The ready-to-go items have the drafts printed, a warp prepared, if I am beaming plainly, and all the math worked out, including the number of heddles per shaft, how the pattern will be centered, weaving width, length, estimated objects to be completed, etc. Often there is a list of would-be recipients, if everything goes well.
The second section contains potential projects that interest me. I study them and think about them. I weigh difficulty of execution with length of warp. If it is a relatively simple treadling pattern using only one shuttle, I am more likely to consider a 16 or 20-yard warp; however, it it is an overshot pattern or a summer-winter where two shuttles are alternatively thrown, I may not prepare more than a 9 or 10-yard warp. While I appreciate a challenge, I have no desire to become a slave to it.
My process also takes into consider what is going on in life around me. Is the day job ramped up and particularly stressful? Are there life or health challenges affecting family or friends? Are their social commitments pending? Are there special life events (first house, milestone birthdays, babies, marriage) requiring special handwoven items? How many days are there until Christmas?
This process is the same system I have always applied to each area of my life.
If something interests me, I research it. I acquire all the information I can to understand the how and why.
Once I have a solid, working knowledge and can mentally walk myself through each step without doubt or hesitation, I execute.
I am not always successful with the initial attempt, as there are unanticipated snags along the way, but I usually have a good idea of how to deal with them. Even if the fix I did not choose was the optimal one, there are varying degrees of success.
To anyone watching, it may appear that I am fairly good at everything I do, but what may not be readily apparent is all the work I put into the process prior to the attempt.
I say "work," as I am unsure how else to frame it, but it is what I enjoy. Solving puzzles is fun. Thus, the approach with my system is to identify the issues, thoroughly understand them, and manipulate or tweak the variables to achieve the desired results.
When I had a single loom, the 56" Beast, I felt the need to only put relatively short warps on him because there were so many different things I wanted to try and to do. I erred on the side of simpler patterns because more complicated ones required more mental energy than I had at times, depending on what else was going on in life.
The upside to that line of thought was an economy of effort. Simple patterns required less thought and could be knocked out relatively quickly.
The downside was no-brainer patterns can be mind numbing, if not flat boring.
One solution to balance the weaving options was to get a second loom.
For the prior eighteen months, I have had great success with moving from the big loom to a smaller 32" one and back. I have generally kept the more complicated weaves on the larger loom and used the other for more production-style weaving.
However, when I studied potential patterns, I kept thinking how nice it would be if I could find a 24" loom to dedicate to tea towels, as they were the easiest to use and gift, and these were the items in the greatest demand.
Fortune smiled upon me, and I was blessed to find and obtain the little 24" Meg.
Yesterday afternoon, the aprons, treadle hooks, heel rest, bumpers, and other items I ordered the first few days of August, arrived! I was so surprised, as I had not yet been charged or given a shipping notice, but I was not going to complain.
The only items I now need are the sectional beam and friction brake set up; however, I knew those would take longer.
As soon as I was done with the day job, I set about updating Meg. She was without a heel rest, and the casings, which held the rest in place and were an old design with tines too short to keep it steady under use. Those were the first to be removed and replaced.
The new maple is bright and light. Macomber had warned me the original loom (dated 1960) had been stained walnut, something they no longer did and any new pieces would not match. I briefly considered asking them not to finish the wood and stain it myself, but decided the difference was part of her story.
Now that the piece is in place, I think it speaks to the new bench the husband made, and it all works for me. I like the quirkiness of it all.
More importantly, the new pieces fit perfectly.
This amazes me about Macomber. This is the third loom we have restored and upgraded. Each time, whether it is adding more harnesses and treadles or swapping out end pieces to convert from a ratchet to a friction brake, the pieces all fit. Brand new pieces for looms from 1960, 1968, and 1976 all fit. It is a testament to the design of the looms and the craftsmanship of construction.
The only issue the husband had, I believe, was on the last set of four pulleys for the 32" loom. The hole was just a hair too tight for the rod on which they rested. He had to ream them out just a bit to get them to slide on.
Sixty-five treadle hooks were in the order. As they are a different size for the smaller looms, I painted a band to separate them from the longer ones for the larger loom.
I tacked on the aprons to the front and rear beams, then did the tie ups.
As it was still early, I decided to go ahead and beam the warp I had prepared a couple weeks ago.
On an aside, I have been preparing my plain warps differently these days. Instead of pulling directly from cones on a cone holder onto the warping mill, I have been filling spools and pulling the threads from a spool rack. The threads come off the spools much easier, which, in turn, has made beaming the warp exponentially easier and smoother. Thank goodness.
By the time the husband came home for dinner, I was almost finished beaming the warp.
Flush with continued excitement over getting this loom up and going, I counted out the heddles and began threading them.
An early riser, I like to be in bed no later than ten, but I was so close to finishing the threading of all 524 ends, I continued.
I should have gone to bed then, but I felt fine. Besides, I was only going to sley just a few ends...
When I next looked up, the reed was sleyed and it was just after eleven.
Finally, I called it a night, thrilled and thoroughly pleased with my efforts.
These, of course, will be tea towels!
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