Perhaps I should have called it my Sample Weaving Weekend. First up yesterday I decided to try out another yarn I was considering for baby blankets: Patons Washed Haze Aran. This yarn is soft and squidgy, and quite happy to snuggle up to itself, which will make it an excellent baby blanket yarn.

I wove them on the small loom. First I experimented with my push-down method of manipulating the warp ends, trying to produce a heart shape. I suspect this method is best used for angular patterns. Next I tried something new. After about twelve picks of plain weave, I decided to see if I could make a square of basket weave in the centre.

First I held the shuttle six ends in:

Then I changed the heddle position and pushed the shuttle through until it was six ends from the far side.

Then I changed the heddle position again and pulled the shuttle through. It wasn’t too hard because the yarn is cotton and fairly slippery. I then repeated the method again from the opposite side, followed by two rows of plain weave.

I was rather chuffed at the result. The samplers will probably be used as face washers, or I’ll sew on straps to make them into bibs.

What I really wanted to do was get a project going on the table loom. I considered the tea towels again, but I’d lost enthusiasm for them. I considered the multi-coloured blanket, but I don’t yet have a weft yarn. I considered sampling for the denim rag rug, but I’d have to cut up a pair of jeans, which produces a lot of dust, and it was cold and wet outside.

Finally, I decided on another project that had waiting in the sidelines for a while. I’d made this earlier this year on the small loom, but it was too narrow for the cabinet I wanted to put it. I’d intended to make a wider runner out of the rest of the yarn. I did some measuring up and calculations and got the warping board set up really to wind. Then I thought I’d better check if I had enough weft yarn to make a runner that big. And it turned out I had only enough to make another runner the same size.

So I dismantled the warping board, went back to the small loom, and started another narrow runner.

I figure either I’ll sew then together, or I’ll felt them a bit and use them as fabric for something.

This meant the table loom remained untouched all weekend. But both sampling projects I did on the small loom will lead to full-scale projects on the table loom eventually. They’ll just have to fit in with our busy schedule over the next few months.