Invitation to Torrance for SCHG Nov.1st.

In the mail the other day I received and invitation to the SCHG annual Christmas sale in Torrance.
I am planning on going and also plan to bring more of my handspun in larger amounts for projects for Christmas gifts, since a homemade Christmas seems to mean more these days. So if you are looking for a special type of yarn or color, please let me know so I will come prepared with possibilities for you. I will also have reasonably priced handspun jewelry for gifts if you haven't time to make them.

For those spinners out there, I will also have batts of Alpaca fiber combed and ready to spin. I will be demonstrating spinning this very special but inexpensive fiber that will make your knitted or crocheted items softer than wool, easier for some people to wear, who are sensitive to wool, such as myself. This I have received from a local Alpaca Rancher. She raises Huaycaya and I have three color options with rich black, a few shades of white, and several shades of brown available in large quantities. So if Alpaca is what you are looking for to add to your spinning stasch, I may just have what you are looking for. Since I have a large amount of the white I may also bring handdyed colors because I have learned to dye this summmer and it is such fun. There will also be blends available.

If any of these finds tickle your fancy, please join me in Torrance at the annual Christmas Craft Fair, November 1, 2009 at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Torrance, CA.

This has been a busy summer so I am looking forward to working on spinning for a break as soon as school starts. It seems crazy to me that things slow down during school. Hope you are staying cool in this heatwave. Happy weaving, spinning, knitting and crocheting!!!

Liana
Liana's LoomEssence
lianasloom.com

Well, I finally did what I've read about respinning. I knew that my singles were not strong enough to hold up to the weaving tension once they were plied. I finally reread the information about energized singles and the fact that they make great collapsible fabric when used as weft. I then learned that those same over twisted yarns when cabled or plied make for a very strong warp. If you are cabling (4 strands, 2 plied and 2 plied, then spun the opposite direction of the plying to get all 4 strands in a strong cabled yarn.), the only advice I can offer is that the strands be very thin and over energized as singles. This makes for a light weight cabled yarn. If you want a yarn that is thicker, then increase the twist and the size of each strand. This makes for a very knit-able yarn. I haven't made cabled yarn for quite some time. I turned all that I made into necklaces with natural pendants and they have all been sold. I was surprised to find I am all out of that yarn. I need to make more and now is the perfect opportunity as I am spinning the silk and camel. I really like the consistency of the blend after I respun it. Photos of the single are below. I will post the one yarn once it is cabled as well so keep in touch if you'd like to see the finished yarn.
May we all find time in our busy lives to enjoy the art of spinning!!!

This is what the single looks like when I let go. The one below is with tension on the end of the string to keep it from plying. And the final photo is of a close-up of my cabled yarn with the ribbon for a necklace. Happy Spinning and Weaving! Liana

Life runs in the fast lane for a short while.

This little blog is because it has been far to long since my last blog. We've have a house full of guests and events. Fun with relatives like a Dodger came. Busy with enrolling our youngest son into a school leaving me feeling like an end of homeschooling is both a blessing and a sorrow. But he assures me that he will see me every day!!! He's 10 and very kind, I pray school doesn't change his sweet spirit. His Daddy is also very kind so there is hope.

I also have been driving a lot for the boys regular actives. Time in between has been spent at a book store and I have found a few good books and magazines to recommend. "Contemporary Loom Beading by Sharon Bateman" is very useful. I have woven many items on several different sizes of looms; a tapestry loom, a Ashford Rigid Heddle, and a Jack Loom from Tom Golding.

However, never have I woven on a beading loom. This book is in depth about the process of weaving on an inexpensive loom from a craft store and it has the appeal of being very portable. I plan to take it with me on these trips and weave a guitar strap for my oldest son. He is taking lessons in school and really enjoys it, he even practices! I will probably blog about this process more once school starts. Here is a picture of the loom I bought for this purpose.