Balingup SFFD

Oopps, I forgot the canopy of my gazebo when I went to the Balingup Small Farm Field Day last Saturday.  I had to use a makeshift roof using one of my side walls and a borrowed small gazebo canopy.  At such functions I call my booth The Woven Warren.

Trade was not good but at least I covered my expenses for the trip.
I am now going on a two-month holiday to Europe returning in time for the June 24 Perth Upmarket event at UWA.  In the meantime you might find my blog deficient of news.

Moda Vera Lucente

I purchased one ball each of four different colours of Moda Vera Lucente yarn at Spotlight last Saturday. This is a 87%nylon/13%polyester yarn. I have now woven the first scarf using colour 11235 as the warp and a grey/blue silk yarn as the weft. Due to the small amount of yarn a very open plain weave was used. Interestingly, upon washing the scarf the weft fibres moved randomly along the warp to make an intriging pattern. The scarf is 1640mm x 170mm and weighs 74g.The scarf will be on my stall at the Balingup Small Farm Field Day this coming Saturday.

Roberta di Camerino

I have woven two scarves using a Roberta di Camerino Murano yarn, colour 06.
The first was using a striped warp from a Patons Totem 8ply premium wool crepe yarn and a Shamwani alpaca light brown yarn. The scarf is 1790mm x 210mm and weighs 204g.

The second used a black 4-ply cashmere yarn from Knitters Addiction as the warp. This scarf is 1800mm x 230mm and weighs 166g. It is interesting to see the effect of the two different coloured warps on the final appearance of the scarves using the same weft yarn.

Apple Festival Stall

Over the Easter weekend (Sat and Sun) this was my stall at the Donnybrook Apple Festival.Sales were bad but I did sell the two scarves woven from the recycled sari silk which I purchased at the V & A waterfront in Cape Town in February. The temperatures on both days were +30C and the public were in short sleeves and shorts, not conducive to buying scarves. Lets hope that my next market at the Balingup Small Farm Field Day on Saturday 21 April will be more successful.

Noro Silk Garden

One more colourful scarf in time for the Donnybrook Apple Festival this weekend. I have used a Noro Silk Garden yarn (45% silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% lambs wool) as the warp and a blue coloured merino yarn as the weft, woven in tabby. The scarf is 1910mm x 185mm and weighs 127g.

Katia Damasco yarn

For something different I have woven a scarf using Katia Damasco yarn which is 86% merino & 14% synthetic. Due to the limited amount of the yarn I supplemented it in the warp with occassional two strands of Patons Totem wool yarn. Then I tied the warps together using a thin green silk thread as the weft. An interesting scarf resulted, being 1540mm x 170mm and weighing 128g.See it on my stall at the Donnybrook Apple Festival this weekend.

Black and white cashmere

This latest cashmere scarf in black and white Kogane 2/23 and 2/20 yarn, respectively, is a gem. It is smart looking in a distinctive pattern and lovely to touch. The scarf is 1760mm x 210mm and weighs 80g. You can see it at the Donnybrook Apple Festival over the Easter weekend.

Sari Silk, not Banana

Following emails between Carole of Spinknits at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town, and myself, it appears that the yarns I thought were from banana fibres are in fact recycled sari silk. Offcuts from making saris are pulled apart to retrieve the individual silk fibres which are then respun by the women of Nepal. The resultant yarns are very colourful and much thicker than the original silk yarns. As shown in my earlier blogs they result in interesting scarves.

Peach silk

One more scarf ready for the Claisebrook Duck Race Carnival tomorrow. It is a hand-dyed, peach coloured, silk scarf in a simple pattern. The scarf is 1730mm x 220mm and weighs 60g.

Indigo blue silk

To replace the indigo blue scarf sold at the March Perth Upmarket I have woven one more. I have used a crinkley silk yarn as the warp and a fine silk yarn as the weft. Both yarns have been hand-dyed. The scarf is 1930mm x 220mm and weighs only 42g. It is a lovely, long, lightweight scarf and will be on my stall at the Claisebrook Duck Carnival this coming Sunday.

Banana and silk yarns

I have now woven the second multi-coloured re-cycled banana fibre purchased recently in Cape Town. Again I have used a silk warp and the banana fibre as the weft. The scarf is 1620mm x 200mm and weighs 213g. An interesting product that I will test on the public at the Claisebrook Duck Festival this Sunday and at the Donnybrook Apple Festival over Easter.

Cashmere in Moss

Have just completed one more cashmere scarf using hand-dyed Kogane 2/20 cashmere yarn. This one is coloured Moss and is 1740mm x 205mm and weighs 78g. It will be on my stall at the Claisebrook Duck Carnivale Sunday 25 March.

Opal and Sky cashmere

To help restore my stock of cashmere scarves after the March Perth Upmarket I have woven two more scarves using hand-dyed Kogane 2/20 cashmere yarn.
The first is coloured Opal and is 1630mm x 210mm and weighs 80g.The second is coloured Sky and is 1760mm x 210mm and weighs 82g.Both scarves will be on my stall at the Claisebrook Duck Festival on Sunday 25 March.

Recycled banana fibre

During the whole of February I was on holiday in Africa. I travelled overland from Livingstone (Zambia) to Cape Town via Botswana and Namibia on a G Adventure tour - fantastic.Whilst in Cape Town I purchased two yarns of recycled banana fibres.
I have now woven the first one using a pink silk yarn as the warp and the banana fibre as the weft. The scarf is 1770mm x 210mm and weighs 207g. Obviously not as soft as my usual cashmere and alpaca, but nevertheless, an interesting colourful scarf.
I intend taking it to the Donnybrook Apple Festival over Easter if not sold beforehand.

March Perth Upmarket

Immediately upon my return from a holiday in Africa I had the Perth Upmarket at UWA on 4 March. It turned out to be a successive market for me despite the hot weather and I show below a couple of views of my stall.

Shamwani Alpaca

After completing my batch of hand-dyed cashmere yarns I have turned to natural coloured yarns sourced from Shamwani Alpaca stud.
The first scarf is using a rose/grey natural coloured yarn and is 1950mm x 185mm and weighs 150g. The second scarf is using a dark brown natural coloured yarn and is 1630mm and 200mm and weighs 161g.You can see both on my stall at Perth Upmarket at UWA on 4 March. Due to an overseas holiday I will not be weaving any more scarves before this event.

Rellana Tivoli yarn

Rellana Tivoli is a 67% polyamid, 33% polyester yarn from Germany. I have used it to weave a long, brightly coloured and interesting scarf 2050mm x 190mm which weighs 139g.It will be on sale on my stall at the Perth Upmarket at UWA on 4 March.

MoMo and Folgore yarns

For something different I have woven two scarves using two different colourful and interesting synthetic yarns.
The first is using MoMo High Sense yarn which is an acrylic yarn. It is 1850mm x185mm and weighs 104g. The second is using Mondial Folgore, colour 944, which is a polyester yarn. It is 1750mm x 220mm and weighs 253g. It is a very bulky and heavy scarf in an unusual fancy yarn. Both scarves will be on my stall at the Perth Upmarket at UWA on 4 March.

Peppercorn Kogane cashmere

I have woven two scarves using 2/20 Kogane cashmere yarns hand-dyed peppercorn. I used the two patterns as used for the previous two scarves, but this time in a single colour. Both scarves are shorter than my recent batches of scarves.
The first is 1470mm x 170mm and weighs 60g. The second is 1540mm x 180mm and weighs 63g.. This means I now have 11 cashmere scarves ready for the Perth Upmarket at UWA on 4 March.

Tailored Strands Alpaca

To make a change I have woven two alpaca scarves in a two-coloured pattern with a difference. Both are using 4-ply Tailored Strands Alpaca yarns.
The first is in Wisteria and Lavender, is 1950mm x 215mm and weighs 157g. The pattern gives an interesting swirling effect and is different on both sides. The second is in Mid Grey and Claret, is 1830mm x 230mm and weighs 170g. Again each side of the scarf is different. The two scarves will be on my stall at the Perth Upmarket on 4 March at UWA.