Happy New Year!
As I look back and ahead at the same time, I am very thankful for a textile filled year.
Weaving
I started weaving again, which got my brain working in new-ish territories once again. I had learned to weave on a floor loom back in college in 2006-2007. Ever since then, I dreamed of owning my own floor loom. Luckily, a neighbor down the road was selling their vintage Fanny LeClerc. LeClerc is still in operation today, so I was able to also acquire some much needed parts to refurbish it.
Handspun
I did make a couple scarves on the loom, some with my handspun, too! I found this deeply satisfying to work with a fiber that I had a "hand" in, from start to finish. Below is a scarf I hand spun into a 2 ply with cheviot wool, having dyed the fibers before spinning. I did a classic weave (the cheviot was the warp and the weft) and then decided to slightly felt the scarf. I also brushed out the ends of the fringe to make it more rustic-looking.
I also used my hand spun in some knitted scarves, which took me hardly any time as they were chunky! Some of the yarns I had spun over 15 years ago.
My second ever hand spun, a thick and thin wool that was underplied. Knit in a seed stitch pattern (US Size 11 needles, Cast on 15 sts)
I call this one, below, my bohemian scarf. It is recycled fibers, new jersey farm alpaca, and other small amounts of wool. This was core spun, which means the fiber you see was wrapped around a center strand of fiber.
The pattern, which was repeated rows 1-6 throughout. About 120 yards of yarn.
Cast on 14 sts size 11 needle
Rows 1-4 knit
Row 5 (k1 [yo]x2); rep from ( to ) across to last st, k1
Row 6 k and drop all yo
The scarf below is called Tea by the Sea. Who knows how many hours went into this 😆 between Christmas and new years is my special time to make things just to make things.
This is hand dyed fiber I spun a couple years ago, with trinkets and shells I drilled and strung onto a thin yarn. I then spun and plied this on my Ashford jumbo e spinner. I admired it for a couple years after I finished the yarn; sometimes the yarn needs to tell you what it wants to be ! So it called to me yesterday and now we have a Victorian cape May inspired scarf ! I actually have the scarf for sale in my Etsy. I can’t keep all my treasures… and I hope someone who loves the seashore will enjoy it !!
My Last Project of 2025
Jethro by Tanis
I used my merino cashmere silk sport for the main color and leftover hand dyed for the rest. This was my first time doing join as you go crochet. I am sold.
Here are my resolutions / plans for 2026
1) 2 new designs a month but I’m giving myself grace if it doesn’t happen. It has to feel right and ready.
2) make 1 piece of art a month- watercolor, drawing, something maybe non craft
3) use at least 1/2 of my handspun for projects
4) design 1-2 new things on the machine
5) 1-2 crochet things
6) 1-4 woven things
7) new sweater for Tim new sweater for Brennan