I'm back but from where?

Yes, it has been two months and I could spend the entire page explaining why I haven't posted anything.  Here's the flash version of where I've been and what I've done.  We celebrated Christmas, did a whole lot of cooking, sent the last batch of brownies to Afghanistan, ate lots of good food, enjoyed a brief snow fall and spent a week eating and walking in New Orleans. And now it's time to talk about spring.

I am really excited about spring because I am expecting 2 Schacht Matchless Cherry special edition spinning wheels in April.  These are phenomenal spinning wheels!  I can speak from personal experience.  This is a great opportunity to own a fabulous wheel that is a true one of a kind.  The special edition Matchless Cherry wheel will be the only Matchless with a unique design by the manufacturer, Schacht, which will differentiate this wheel from any other Matchless.

I have ordered 2 wheels and with a deposit of $500 it can be yours.  Feel free to contact me at lotsaknots@msn.com or weaveonstudio@me.com for more information and to schedule a time to try spinning on this wheel.   The remaining payment will be $950.  In addition, I have ordered the matching Spinning wheel cart to make it easier to transport your wheel.  The cart is $65 and if you purchase both you will receive the cart for $55.

Here are all the details on the Special Edition Cherry Matchless double treadle spinning wheel:

The Matchless Spinning Wheel is the most responsive spinning wheel available today. With the double treadle you will appreciate this wheels' matchless capabilities. 

Also included with each wheel: 4 bobbins, threading hook, matching cherry Lazy Kate and a carrying strap. 

The Schacht Matchless Spinning Wheel offers double drive, an updated tension system, and bobbin lead modes of operation. Wheels come with two flyer whorls (medium and fast); four additional flyer whorls offer spinning ratios from 4:1 to 22:1. This limited series run will also have a special marking (though what it will be exactly has not yet been announced). 

The 19 1/2" drive wheel and flyer shaft are supported by self-aligning bronze bearings for precise action. Each flyer is individually balanced and the bobbins and flyer whorls are trued on center for long and superior service.

Treat yourself to the only spinning wheel you will ever need or want, the Matchless special edition cherry wheel.  

I'll be back next week with lots of weaving news.

Lotsaknots on Spin Artiste

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Arlene Ciroula of Spin Artiste.  She is a very dynamic person who is a weaver and a spinner.  She posts weekly articles about different people in the world of spinning and weaving.  Check out her blog here:  http://www.spinartiste.com/  Her current post is about my life since Weavolution and all the work that comprises our ongoing business endeavor, Lotsaknots.

Here I am with my Lotsaknots partner and best friend, Janet.  

Lotsaknots on Etsy

Lotsaknots website

New items in our Etsy store

I'm not a perfectionist but I like to do things the best I possibly can.  It takes time and patience to edit photos, post them in the Etsy shop and add a description.  I know some shop owners who write one description for their hand woven scarves and it serves as the description for every one they list.  I'm not like that.  Each scarf creates a different look and creates a certain look when you wear it.  That's why I like to show scarves and shawls on our favorite model and not just laying on a table.

Jordan is so expressive and makes working with her such fun.  She adds personality to the scarf.

So, check out our Etsy shop by clicking here and you'll see lots of new listings and lots of great pictures of Jordan.  The scarves are available now, she's not.

Winter Show at GPNS Nov 17 & 18

We were invited to sell our hand made items at the Garrett Park Nursery School Crafts Fair.  The show is on Saturday and Sunday, November 17 & 18 from 10am to 5pm.
We are busy finishing several new items which we hope will be big hits.  In addition, we have two of our well loved ponchos for sale.

Scarf poncho

 We have this beautiful white poncho available and another one made using various green yarns.  We use 11 different yarns in each poncho.  The panels are knit by both Janet and Claudia, then Claudia crochets them together and Janet makes the fringe.  A truly joint venture.

Scarves, hats and hand mitts will be available.  Some are hand woven and some hand knit.  We make everything ourselves and they are all one-of-a-kind items.

This year we have a few items for the home.  A lovely hand woven plaid table runner and a set of hand woven placemats.

Have you ever seen a cloth bowl?  They are washable, unbreakable and reversible.  We will bring a few with us.  These are hand sewn and come in a variety of styles.

No show would be complete without our "Lotsaknot".  The scarf that started it all.  It's a unique design that can be worn with anything from suits to jeans.  It's the scarf for the scarf challenged.  Put it on in the morning and it stays tied and looking nice all day.  We have a variety of colors and designs available.

Hope to see you at Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave, Kensington, MD.   See the map at the left side of the page.  

Website Woes

Several months ago we realized we were needlessly running two separate businesses and it was time to combine them.  I had started Weave On Studio to teach weaving and spinning.  For almost 10 years Janet and I have owned Lotsaknots and sell our hand crafted wearables under that name.  Since I was now teaching and selling Schacht spinning and weaving equipment and accessories, it seemed logical to combine all the business efforts as Lotsaknots.

One problem.  Combining the two separate websites proved beyond my abilities.  Well, it was beyond the capabilities of the people working for mydomain.com.  They were polite and did their best, I think.  They just never got the job done.  So, I went the logical route today and cancelled hosting for Weave On Studio and hosted only Lotsaknots.  Simple, direct, straight and easy.  Not so fast.  It took all day to sort things out and now you will see only Lotsaknots where it has always belonged HERE.

In celebration of sorting out the mess, I will be editing our new and improved site.  But not today.  I'm saving that for this weekend when I plan to add many more photos and a better selection of the handmade items we offer for sale.  

For now, it's time to join our friend, Jordan, in a happy dance (wearing a poncho Janet and I made).

From the shameless commerce division, purchase this poncho at our Etsy shop.

Weaving, spinning, knitting and so forth

I fear I may forget how to write so here is a quick review of what I am doing.
On the Cricket I am currently working on a scarf which will serve as a sample for a stash busting project.  The plan is to weave enough yardage for a vest and this is the sample.

The warp is a selection of knitting yarns and the weft is 8/2 tencel. 

 I have been hiding in the basement putting a 10 yard warp on the Glimakra Standard which may soon be christened Big Bertha.  It's very colorful warp and so is the planned weft.  This should yield 5 rugs.

Various colors of carpet warp'in a graduated stripe pattern with log cabin in the center.  The rugs will be various twill patterns and are all sett at 12 epi.

I am hoping to find time this weekend to wind a warp for a double weave project which will be going on the Julia.  This project is for my HalloWeave group on Weavolution.

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!
Happy weaving, spinning and knitting to all.

What's new on the loom

I just finished warping and threading my 10" Cricket loom for a project I am very excited about.  It's another scarf but it's a sample for a vest I'm hoping to weave next.  I love doing different things on my rigid heddle loom.  It's small, lightweight and portable and there is so much weaving you can do on it.  Many weavers who have spent years mastering the craft do not approve of rigid heddle looms.  I have heard some refer to them as child's looms or toys.  Believe me, this is no toy and not easy to master.  Plus, there is tons you can weave on it.

My Cricket loom has only 2 shafts which limits you to plain weave.  Why is it called plain weave?  Is it the simplest weave structure? No, not by a long stretch.  It's plain weave because it is the most basic and it's where weaving begins.  Plain weave is not an easy structure to master.  It is very challenging to weave for 70 or 80" and have the distance between warp threads match EXACTLY the distance between weft threads.  In other words, if the warp is sett at 8 ends or threads per inch you must place/weave the weft or perpendicular threads at the same ratio, 8 picks or threads in each inch.  Not an easy task and one that requires measuring frequently to be certain you have passed the shuttle and pressed the threads into place exactly the same each time.  Something to strive for but not easy to maintain for the 72" of weaving when making a scarf.

So, it's off to complete the placemats on Julia.  Two are done and two to go,  We just added a new show to the line up so it's weave, weave, weave and knit for the next 2 months!!