Double Duty

I just love it when things are dual purpose which is why I was attracted to a couple of tutorials making pattern weights. They seemed useful and used up scraps AND with the addition of a small loop, could be re purposed for use hanging off the back of the loom to weight a pesky thread or two.

I had to make some. Easy as pie to sew, a real pain in the neck to fill! I used rice, but you can use any dry dense substance like beans say. I chose rice because it seemed heaviest and I had a lot of it on hand.

I've also discovered the joys of using a tailor's ham. No not Taylor's Ham (which is a company in New Jersey I believe, that makes pork roll). You wouldn't want to eat this, it's filled with sawdust. Of course it might resemble my mother's Tuna Casserole, but we won't go there. It is nice to have a hard curved surface to iron curved seams on. Makes a huge difference top stitching to have had the curve nicely pressed, which is hard to do on a flat surface.

You can also see an emery strawberry, which wasn't easy to find. The emery keeps pins and needles sharp and this one is large enough to be used as a cushion without getting lost. The most recent pattern in process is next to it all. Red sleeveless tunic version.

The towels are washed and pressed. I've added a little linen loop to each one for hanging.

Two will go into my kitchen the balance to be tucked away for gifting.

The silk warp is sleyed and waiting to be tied on. I remembered again why I try to avoid that 15 dent reed but this fine silk really needs a fine reed and that's what I've got. I would like to say I have the hemp warp started for the overshot, but I got no further than checking what sett I had used previously (16) and I think I'm going to go up to 18 or 20epi on this piece. I have to sit down and put it all together with the chosen pattern. Monday house cleaning and a quick trip to town Tuesday (in advance of a predicted big snow storm) have all conspired against me. I'll be honest, I'm not a whirlwind most of the time. I putz through my day, balancing what I have to do, what I need to do and what I want to do in small increments here and there. Oh, and it would appear the storm has hit judging by the white backs that came in the door for breakfast after their morning out. The wet floor was another clear indicator! ;)

I did get a pair of pillowcases made, using some vintage fabric I've had forever, at least 20 years. It's the old standard of 36" wide and showing some fading along the creases, but I've loved it and dang, it was time to use it somehow.

Long ago it was going to be a quilt, but I couldn't bear to cut into it at the time. I still have a fair amount left too since I used it only for the deep hem part.

Well, it's about time to go out and do my best Nanook of the North routine, get Bob loaded with hay and grain buckets and fire him up for the delivery run. Feed the chubby barn cats and check on the goatie girls. To think I was considering shearing them down a few weeks ago. The horses are just starting to shed as are the goats, which means they will blow the fleece long before I dare shear it off. Compost anyone?

Parting shot: Blue Dog Imitation with Ghost Ears...ooooooow Spooky!