The Rhubarb Blanket is underway.  The stripes are working well with the rosepath weave. I plan to weave all of the warp first, then separate into three equal pieces, and join together for a blanket about 75 inches by 110 inches. The cones of cotton on the floor in the background are 11/2 Fox Fiber naturally colored cotton. The 11/2 cotton, wound double on the bobbins, will be used for the weft in this blanket.

Since I am combining cotton and wool yarns in the warp I am paying particular attention to winding the warp on the sectioned back beam.

The rhubarb warp on the warping board; chained and sitting on the loom bench waiting to be threaded in Rosepath, and wound onto the back beam of my Gilmore loom.

Here is the entire lot of Deren Bader’s mountain merino yardage. Dyed with rhubarb extract, and wound from her skeins of both 2 ply worsted and 3 ply dk combed.  I am combining these with some yellow wool from my stash and Maysville 8/4 rug cotton to wind a warp of 11 yards in length.  280 ends, total.

Here’s the latest from my studio today. I have used two skeins from Daren Bader’s yarn collection to create this almost-plaid. 13 inches wide, 80 inches long, this handwoven beauty will be in the shop at EWE Fibers to see and touch. Join the April 1 Cricket Class and learn how to do this kind of work!

Spring and summer weaving: cotton and flax the perfect choice. These hanks of cotton and flax yarns at EWE fibers are well-priced, generous in size, and ready for weaving today. Experimenting with colors in warp and weft might look like this:

This is Deren Bader’s hand dyed yarn, Emerald City. Colors from rhubarb and indigo; fibers are merino, silk and alpaca. Weaving on a 15-inch Cricket Loom with a slim, closed bottom boat shuttle. Both warp and weft show the colors as they are coming off the skeins. Something new. And good.