On the weekend I looked over my placemats and asked myself how long it would take before I got over my dislike of sewing long enough to stitch leaves on them, then laughed at myself. And for ever thinking my embroidery skills would live up to my expectations anyway.

So I decided I liked them as they were – apart for one thing.

The first placemat came out too unrandomly random compared to the other ones. So I cut the knotted warp threads at one end and began pulling them out – which probably wouldn’t work if the warp hadn’t been smooth linen thread. I started from the outside edges and worked inward, which produced an interesting ruffled, looped fringe effect I might try to replicate another time:

After which I cut the weft into sections, warped up the loom again and wove the sections in a new order.

After I’d cut it off the loom and tied the ends, all the placemats had a soak, spin and dry on the blocking boards.

And then they were done.

Here’s an arty close up of the wonderful rustic colours and texture:

And in three-dee!

My new 4-shaft loom will arrive some time in the next week. I haven’t been this excited since I bought my car! I keep finding myself reading weaving zines and sites, and flicking through books when I should be working. Ironically, the activity I find most calming and settling is weaving. So I’m going to warp up for a simple tabby project.

The gift yarn and brown Bendy 3ply, to make a manly scarf.