An Indian Tapestry

Have just returned from a two-week "Classical Rajasthan" tour of India.
We started in Delhi

Jama Masjid Mosque

Red Fort

India Gate

Qutab Minar Observatory Tower

Then onto Agra

Agra Fort, two moats, outer filled with water and crocodiles, the inner a jungle with tigers, leopards and panthers

The Taj Mahal

Next day on route to Ranthambore National Park

Fatehpur Sikri, deserted Mughal city

Roadside view

Tiger hunting in the park!

Then onto Jaipur

Elephant ride to Amber Fort

Inside Amber Fort

Carpet weaving

Inside Maharaja's City Palace

Then onto Jodhpur

Colourful truck

Herd of goats crossing road

Mehrangarh Fort

Women in colourful sari

Indian women road gang in sari

Onto Rawla Narlai

Historical Bedroom at Rawla Narlai

Dinner at Rawla Narlai

Carving in Ranakpur Jain Temple

Inside Ranakpur Jain Temple

Then to Udaipur

Inside City Palace

Restaurant on Lake Pichola

Sunset over Lake Pichola

Farewell to India

2 Koigu wool scarves

The first two Koigu hand painted merino wool scarves have been completed using the same wool for both warp and weft. One measures 1500mm x 140mm and weighs 86g, whilst the second is 1350mm x 140mm and weighs 84g.

2 orange cashmere scarves

Have just completed two similar hand-dyed orange cashmere scarves, 1730mm x 155mm 50g and 1930mm x 155mm 55g. The dye is not constant so there is a colour striation besides the woven pattern. As you would expect, both scarves are very soft.

Hand painted merino yarn

I have been asked by Debbie at Calico and Ivy to weave her some scarves using some hand painted merino yarn from Canada that she stocks. I have sufficient yarn to weave 12 scarves similar to the previous two. Each bundle will be used for each scarf. The bundles of 4 skeins will produce two scarves.

Black, black/ivory cashmere

My latest scarves are two cashmere ones, one black, 1780mm x 160mm, 60g, and one black and ivory, 1830mm x 150mm, 62g. As you would expect, both are very soft items.

Dyed cashmere

You can imagine my surprise when returning home from my recent Japanese holiday to find the following rack of dyed cashmere awaiting me. Each skein of yarn is sufficient for 2 x 1800mm x 150mm scarves so I will be busy for a few weeks.

In the meantime I have to finish weaving this black cashmere warp. I have completed a solid black cashmere scarf on the first section of the warp and just started the second section using a white cashmere weft which emphasises the pattern.

Japanese holiday

I have just returned from a 2 week holiday in Japan. The first week I stayed with my friend Sugiyami san and we visited the sumo in Tokyo and played four rounds of golf at Izu Yugashima, Sagami and Yokohama golf courses. The second week I used a 7 day Japan Rail Pass to visit Fukuyama, Nagasaki, Beppu, Kochi and Kyoto.

Sumo in Tokyo, Kotooshu preparing for his bout

Golf resort at Izu Yugashima

Golf course at Sagami

Challenging par 3 hole at Yokohama golf course

Fukuyama castle
Peace park at Nagasaki

Entrance to Nishi-Honganji Temple in Kyoto Japanese garden in Nijo Castle, Kyoto

2 Japanese girls wearing kimono and visiting Kyoto for the day
2 Geisha girls in Kyoto

Grey cashmere scarf

This is a lovely soft lightweight charcoal grey cashmere scarf woven in a 1-ply yarn using an eight shaft pattern. However, after washing the pattern is not too clear. It is 1750mm x 160mm and weighs only 46g.

2 hand painted merino scarfs

Two interesting wool yarns have been provided by Calico and Ivy in Mosman Park. They were hand painted merino wools from Canada, called Koigu Wool.

I wound the warp with one of the samples, then used the same wool as the weft of the first scarf, and then the second wool for the second weft. Restricting my weaving to 150g of one sample and 50g of the second sample, I finished up with one scarf 1380mm x 140mm weighing 90g, and a second scarf 1440mm x 140mm weighing 94g. The results are shown below.

Pink cashmere scarf

Have just completed a lightweight salmon pink cashmere scarf in a small diamond eight shaft pattern. It is 1550mm x 150mm and only weighs 46g.

Two silk scarfs

Have just completed two scarfs using a light brown silk as the warp, and then a black silk weft for the first scarf and a red wool weft for the second scarf. The same eight shaft pattern has been used for both scarfs resulting in a different front and back appearance.