Little Looms Need Little Benches

Now I know many folks can and do use a regular dining chair for their smaller looms. I'm not one of those folks. Dining chairs are too low for me, and counter height ones obviously too high for anything but sipping an adult beverage.  And while Jack thought the big book and cushion idea brilliant I was less than happy with the arrangement. And who's doing most of the weaving anyway I ask? ;-)

So I started my search online for a bench for Fiona, the Schacht Wolf Pup. OMG! When did loom benches get so expensive? The last bench I bought was a Schacht bench with two side bags. It was $100.00 used, local and a steal. All my other benches came with looms. Harrisville and AVL too were out of the running due to price, but then there is Etsy and a seller many years ago who made a beautiful custom raddle for the Thought Products Barbara V loom.  Handywoman (Janet Fox), makes a great raddle and a fabulous, well priced, well crafted  bench. A perfect fit for the Wolf Pup and my butt! It's quite comfortable with it's generous seat and I love that she has given me some on bench storage underneath and the option of having a tilted seat or straight.



 I'm still deciding how to finish it, but if you need a loom bench this one gets high marks all around. Shipping was reasonable and very fast via FedX ground. Thank you Janet!

It was a busy week package wise. Two new to me fabric store packages arrived. Harts Fabrics had my order wrapped and taped in OOP pattern tissue.



 Both of these fabrics are a cotton linen blend.



These might sit until late summer for fall sewing. The second package came from Fancy Tiger Crafts which might be kind of the Purl Soho of the west. They are in Colorado and also have their own line of patterns. I couldn't resist the Fen Dress and top.

Why YES! Those are badgers! Couldn't resist those either.

 Muslin's have already been cut to try out along with some other items geared more for spring and summer.



Sooner or later the sun will arrive with a vengeance and on it's rays, fire season.  I have to say so far, my experiences with fabric buying online has been good, but nothing makes up for being able to shop in person.

I did up a second make of the Lotta Jansdotter Kiomi top. (There will be more!).

Can you find Hazel photo-bombing this pic?

 This one with inseam pockets.



 The fabric is a Japanese cotton lawn, quite silky and smooth. Completely wearable now with a sweater or linen jacket.

The Merchant & Mills Dress Shirt tunic was completed and made it out for St. Patrick's Day.






And I dug into all that linen for my linen blanket. It was a bugger to make. King sized anything is hard to work on. The linen was stiff and heavy. I did not get the softened fabric. The stiffness helped with keeping things lined up as I worked it through my sewing area. A couple of hours and some pretty tired arms later I had what I wanted. It was washed, tumbled and allowed to finish drying outside Saturday afternoon in the sun. I am very pleased with it.



 Reversible to white.



I might try a lighter weight one some day using a fine handkerchief linen. Oh and I grossly over bought. I have at least 6 yards each of the white and natural to use on other things.....

Parting shot: After the photo shoot real life happens.

The Itchy Scratchy Gang.