The Handwoven Blanket is Done // Episode 49 // Taking Back Friday // a fibre arts vlog

[@jedwardchapman]

You asked, "who are your viewers," and I'm probably in the minority on several fronts. I am a weaver who learned 95% of what I can do from Jane Stafford, and purchased my Louet Spring from her 3 years ago. I became frustrated trying to find extremely fine heathered wool yarns suitable for warps (+40wpi) that were against the skin soft, so I taught myself how to spin merino and rambouillet hand -dyed braids to use as warp. Most recently I taught myself how to knit and am making caps from hand-spun Shetland and Cotswold wool blends. I greatly enjoy your energy and thought process. I am 100% intentional in my projects and work to minimize stash overloads, mainly because I lack storage space. Thanks for your posts!

[@quietone748]

I love the way you are holding that blanket as you talk about it with such excitement. This is why I create. It's that feeling of bringing something into existence, talking about it with the excitement you feel whilst also being a little wistful of having to let the project come to its end. The life cycle of a creator's existence. So nice to see you react to the completion of that blanket by wrapping yourself in it and fully experiencing it. I do the same every time I have a crocheted afghan done.

[@lesleycomynlippold8095]

I'm a 'Lesley of all trades' & enjoy knitting daily, crochet, spinning, sewing & textile repair/transformation. I'm Looking forward to more dying and getting my new to me loom set up. My studio space is undergoing a transformation. Gathering all the yarny goodness into one room will free up lost space elsewhere in our home and allow my creativity to flow freely. This blog has inspired me! Thank you, Felicia.

[@pjd2709]

That is a gorgeous blanket, you have a very lucky friend, love the colours, just wow! Thanks for sharing. I knit, crochet, spin with a wheel and spindles, at present I'm not doing any of that, just in a slump, but I'm sure I'll get back to it all soon. Have done some dying of yarn and fabric too, but that was natural dyes, like onion skins etc.

[@juliabrown4072]

I Knit, Crochet, Spin Weave and process raw fiber into yarn. I haven't experienced fiber dying since there are so many natural colors to work with. I have enjoyed your Vlogs, Felicia.

[@smallbug_a]

I love looking at how the colors play together in the blanket!

[@zoyamichel215]

I did all of natural dying, spinning, weaving approximately 30 or more years ago- I intended to make a blanket but that didn't happen because the craft school closed. I understand where you're coming from & to, just enjoy yourself. I'm now back to knitting.

[@jstallings2070]

The blanket is beautiful, I know the lucky recipient will treasure it forever. I started weaving a couple of years ago on a RHL but quickly moved to a floor loom. I have only ever knitted a couple of pairs of socks years ago but would like to learn to knit shawls and loose structured sweaters. I was hoping your school would have this type of lesson as well as crochet. I too am a member of Jane Stafford’s Guild which I highly recommend to anyone new or experienced at weaving. I am hoping your podcast will be back next year!

[@jillc720]

Gorgeous Mohair Blankie! It is on my list of projects for this winter. I am a weaver and a knitter. I now knit more easy stuff while watching TV with my husband and I’m expanding my craft of weaving. I would love to see more Weaving projects because the interplay of your gorgeous Yarns in warp/weft really inspires me!

[@lademac5791]

Why did you present this GLORIOUS blanket when I am contemplating weaving blankets for my 2 grandchildren? Not handspun and, hopefully, not taking a year for each! I need them ro take up less time than knitting them. But what a wonderful result you've achieved. Truly a work of art. You must really love the receiver of this gift!

[@Jess-ix8do]

That blanket is gorgeous!!!! You can definitely tell how much work you put into it

[@Randi19196]

Love the blanket and I’m envisioning a sweater with yarns held together to get a similar effect. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@erindoss269]

Your blanket is so beautiful!! I am primarily a knitter but I love hearing about your weaving and spinning projects and would love to try those out as well. Time is always the issue but I am so inspired by your vlog and the way you are so open about your desire to create even when time is short. Watching your videos is always a highlight of my week. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and the way you share your love of life and craft!!

[@sunnyw4148]

Beautiful blanket. I have not woven or spun in years, since I bought an as is house. I knit mostly these days and I have had the worst knitting energy this year. My goal is to finish a couple of projects and start working on something totally different. Maybe a Carbeth or a cable sweater.

[@teresamock6931]

The blanket looks gorgeous, I love the colour combos!!! And I love the reason for having more than one loom. LOL. BTW, I can always help you use up your purple stash hand spun ;) hehe

[@13Amaya1993]

I started crocheting and a year later I picked up knitting. I fell in love with knitting after learning how to knit continental. I have been fascinated with weaving but I am very scared to try it. watching your beautiful creation inspire me to try, it's just a matter of when I will try. I have also been very interested in dyeing yarn. It just looks so beautiful. Regardless of what you made the most of that week, I love watching you talk about them and the back story of them. I look forward to your videos on Fridays!

[@ckao1011]

It’s a gorgeous blanket! Your giftee is very lucky! I’ll add that I’m one of those that knit, do a bit of crochet, started weaving in 2009 after reading your blog, and now this year has started my spinning journey; just finished Katrina’s spinning class at SweetGeorgia. What a coincidence that I also just added Andrea Mowry’s The Shift cowl to my queue and is planning on making handspun in 2019 for this! Thank you Felicia for being such an inspiration and sharing your adventures in colour! I always look forward to your Friday vlogs! Thank you so much!

[@ngs5733]

Happy to found your channel. Knitting machines can also knit-weave. One for Friday take back.

[@MereteBertLassen]

Beautiful blanket! I have been a knitter for many years and an occasional crocheter. In the past few years I have felt the urge to branch out into other fibre-related crafts. I started naturally dyeing yarn using fungi and plants picked from my garden and surrounding nature, I began to acquire looms and have just this summer started to teach myself to weave (in part inspired by your lovely podcast). Most recently, I bought an old spinning wheel and some fleeces, so for 2019 a goal of mine is to learn how to spin. By the way, you mentioned the shift cowl - I am currently knitting that as well!

[@susanmeyers3956]

I just found this wonderful vlog! So, this (2yr later) comment may be irrelevant but, when I weave with MOHAIR, I brush it WHILE it’s ON the LOOM, under TENSION! It is so much easier because the warp & weft yarns don’t contort. Try it next time, & make your life EASIER! ❤️

[@faeriepabich6414]

Felicia, your blanket is gorgeous! I have never woman anything, but have really gotten intrigued, and your blanket really inspires me. Love your videos...thank you for sharing!

[@kathytincler2446]

Thank blanket is beautiful! You are beautiful! You didn't get much chance to just sit & relax & breathe...just holding & looking at the blanket before gifting it. I would have wanted a little personal private time with it after all that LOL Thanx for sharing :D

[@knittingworkshop]

Your blanket is absolutely spectacular! Congratulations. I'm primarily a knitter and crocheter, but I also spin. I dabbled in weaving in the past, but it's been more than 20 years since I last owned a loom. I've been thinking over the past year that it may be time to find space for a loom and dive back into weaving.

[@speedqueen5964]

I weave, spin, knit, dye, etc... Your colors are gorgeous! You definitely have a gift when it comes to color. I know your friend will treasure that blanket. I'm about to spend the next few months working on an in-depth study of woven shibori.

[@sandygrogg1203]

I could look at that blanket all day!

[@joscott5729]

Your blanket is beautiful and after watching your previous video about your weaving I booked myself a beginners class in weaving and dying yarn and had the best day. I can crochet, but knit mostly now and have sewn for years but I can see how addictive weaving can become as its playing with colour and texture. I am hoping my husband has taken the hint for a Ashford loom for Christmas so I can get started. Your videos are very inspirational so thank you.

[@sooneatyOrchids]

Those colours are marvellous together. Beautiful!

[@klz4377]

Love the finished blanket, definately make one for your family. The colors are so beautiful.

[@rhondacary1035]

Oh my!! The softness of that blanket looks just incredible!! Simply gorgeous!! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the handspun - how it all comes out in the end! As to what crafts I do and my plans for the new year...Well I am primarily a knitter/spinner however I also pick up the occasional crochet project, weave once in a great while and my daughter and I dye yarn as well. I haven't put a lot of time into thoughts of what next year will be yet but every time I watch you or Rachael (Welford Purls) it really makes me want to get the loom going again and finish the project that is on it :)

[@pattykormanik395]

Oh my gosh-the blanket is absolutely gorgeous. Funny how ?once you start working on it-it flows. Love your podcast! Knitter but thinking about weaving.

[@wipqueen715]

Hi Felicia. That is a truly beautiful blanket you’ve woven, and it looks to me like all the thought you put into was well worth it. The colours you’ve chosen are stunning! I wish weaving was a passion for me, but dying is all I’ve been thinking about for 2019. Here in London Ontario, hand dyed yarns are incredibly few and far between. Unless of course I’m happy to apply shipping charges to pretty much every yarn purchase. I’m a fairly new knitter (2years), and I just can’t get enough! I want to learn about ALL things wool! Good luck with your sock pattern.

[@tbryson447]

I just saw the video thumbnail clip (where you see part of the video play) and was stunned at this blanket. It is beautiful! Thank you for showing up here. It is lovely seeing you each week!

[@sweetgeorgia]

T Bryson thank you so much for watching!! I’m glad you liked the blanket!

[@tirowalli]

Wonderful blanket!! My great passion is weaving (since 1984!), but I am also knitting, spinning, crotcheting, sewing and occasionally dying yarn.

[@Beach652]

I love seeing your knitting projects, but I will always fall out of my chair when you show your weaving!! That blanket is so lovely. You should definitely use your ready set up to do another. For sure. I'd love to see photos of the test wefts on your handspun weaving - it's always neat to see how things combine. :)

[@suegairns7647]

I think the only thing I don't do is spin, oh and dye. I want to dye!!! You have inspired me to pull out my samplit loom and experiment with yarns I would never have considered before. Thanks for that!!

[@carolcorcoran9643]

OMG Felicia the blanket is awesome!!! So beautiful n yes make another blanket..go for it!

[@SavvyLikeThat]

I'd definitely keep using the warp and get new weft colours to see how they interplay. Maybe whites, creams and blues :) Gorgeous blanket and such an incredible gift to receive

[@debbygreenlaw]

Hi Felicia! I look forward each week to your 'Taking Back Friday' posts! Love the mohair blanket. It's on my to do list too! I am a weaver, spinner, knitter, and dyer.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Fantastic! Thank you so much. Good luck with your blanket too! It’s a fun project!!

[@denisedejose718]

That blanket is so luscious and soft looking! Totally amazing! The closest I have come to weaving is making a two colour linen stitch scarf from all my fingering wool leftovers. Colour mixing is exciting. Thanks for inspiring me!

[@carriemoore6038]

Beautiful job on your blanket! I am also part of Jane’s Online Guild. I have been weaving along on the projects. Next year I am going to weave a wool blanket with Custom Woolen Mills yarn worsted weight yarns. I have also been doing the Custom Woolen Mills Natural Dye Club. Sewing and knitting were my first loves and knitting is probably still number one. I am trying to make things on the knitting machines that I have “rescued”..... I have tried a bit of spinning, but haven’t had time for that for awhile. A Jill of many things I guess, master of none.....I would say that my one common theme is that I am attracted to natural wools and colours..... thanks for the weaving segment, found it really interesting!

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thank you so much Carrie! That sounds like a beautiful idea to work with the Custom Woolen Mills' yarn! And yes... I feel the same way, always, about being the Jill of many things ;) Good luck to you next year and your projects!

[@triciamcintosh6964]

I am a knitter but fascinated about weaving.

[@CinSpain]

Gorgeous blanket 😍😍😍 WOW!

[@marijedoeleman9083]

The dark purple silk would be beautiful in your new weaving project!

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thats a lovely idea.... I do love that dark purple silk noil :) thanks for watching!

[@marijedoeleman9083]

SweetGeorgia, can’t wait to see it! I really like watching your videos!

[@nashaelindseth8526]

That is a beautiful blanket, my big goal is to have a giant loom to weave on. I would love a rigid loom maybe someday, I’d love to make a blanket like that.

[@rozknitz]

My first love is knitting but I also crochet, weave, spin and dye. My goals for 2019 are to spin and weave more.

[@GinevraMakes]

I don't mind which craft you are working on because I'm actualy just listening to you talk about what it means to be creative, inspired and how your creative work changes over time. Knitting is the easiest for me, sewing the hardest. I am teaching myself to spin without any particular expectations/goals & I'd really love to find an in person weaving class near me (so I can try out weaving before buying a loom)! I also screenprint & quilt

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thank you so much Ginevra!! YES, I love the creative process and love to talk about it with others. Wish you were close to our studio where we could teach you and show you how weaving works :) thank you so much for watching!!

[@margaretcusveller9733]

The blanket is gorgeous! I am really enjoying watching your videos and learning about weaving, have never done any myself, but it intrigues me as a hobby I would like to take up in the future!

[@liztoth9512]

Absolutely beautiful blanket!! I knit & crochet and recently started to weave. Plus I'm teaching myself to spin. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do all I want to make. Lol

[@alicecabral8051]

The blanket is beautiful. Your friend is very lucky

[@margaretwright6677]

I spin, knit, and weave. For the new year I want to start spinning with intention to make something. Right now I'm in the thinking process to spin for a cardigan. It's going to be a DK single from a Finn fleece.

[@lauralineparadis-robert7254]

I knit, and just started spinning & tapestry weaving. Next year I want to use my stash! I just finished listing all I have in an excel file, and next year instead of browsing Ravelry for inspiration and ending up buying new yarn, I will pick something in my stash and browse specific projects for that yarn. We’ll see how that go... I’m not calling it a yarn diet - I’m against diets. I know I will end up buying some yarn, and that’s ok, but I also want to make sure I use a lot from my stash.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Oh fantastic! YES to using your stash!!

[@lizmccoy3045]

Love your blanket. Your yarn and the things you make are so beautiful. I'm a crocheter but I recently started knitting. And for fun the other day I dyed yarn with food coloring. I would like to try dying yarn with food coloring along with my kids. My plan is to crochet them christmas stockings with the yarn they dye. Then I might look into using acid dye eventually (not with my kiddos) I know I would enjoy spinning and weaving but with 4 little kids I don't have the space, but it will definitely be a goal in the future! Thank you! I really enjoy your videos!

[@shllybkwrm]

Your weaving is very inspiring! I have had my Cricket loom for three months now and I'm loving it. After seeing your weaving livestream, I have so many ideas to explore :) I'm actually ordering some boat shuttles right now because of the same issue you mentioned with your ski shuttle - not so much of a problem on a RHL but I'm sure it will speed me up!

[@charlottelee1152]

I want to weave a mohair blanket too!! I think you should definitely make another one for yourself. How about a very deep autumn colour combo?

[@slong7914]

Beautiful blanket! I knit, spin, crochet, kind of weave and kind of dye (have only done it a little), but love all things fiber! We have alpacas and just got 2 BFL sheep and we have angora rabbits. Would love to see more rigid heddle loom info as that’s all I have right now.

[@hayleyholmes1388]

Do another! Love it! Maybe change your weft pattern and play with the color gamp visual effects!!! Love it

[@sabinejahn2572]

Wow, your blanket is absolutely stunning! Really gorgeous. I love it even though I'm more of a blue person. 😍😍😍

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thanks so much Sabine!! I could see this blanket in a million colours... it's truly a blank canvas to put on any colours or design you like! :)

[@sabinejahn2572]

Unfortunately I don't know how to weave, but have been thinking about trying it for a while. I'd make another blanket I think 😉

[@anitramb4500]

Felecia I would love the book and yarn giveaway. My plan for next years garment knitting is to consider for each new project what fit or silhouette I want to achieve and adjust a pattern accordingly

[@ST-sy2ki]

Felicia I love your blanket and your excitement! When you are planning your “sample handspun weaving project” how long do you make your warp?

[@ellenhealey5147]

The blanket is beautiful

[@cindymaag4212]

What a beautiful blanket!!! Absolutely stunning! Felicia - What is the make and model of your loom? I'm new to weaving and seeking to learn as much as I can about it.

[@chrisb868]

Wow. Gorgeous!

[@karenwomack3516]

Your blanket is lovely and enjoy your podcasts. Very interested in the book Top Down Shawls. Into knitting right now. Do all kind of crafts.

[@cmaur811]

Beautiful work. An amazing gift.What weight is yarn? Would you share where you ordered the blanks from?

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thanks Carol. The yarn in the mohair blanket is 980 yards per pound mohair and nylon. It’s pretty readily available. I believe Henry’s Attic makes it too.

[@IslandLady76]

Don't know anything about weaving but instead of taking everything off or having to buy more yarn, could you make 2 smaller ones that could be a shawl? It's really beautiful and I bet it feels wonderful.

[@myphotoworldjeankd4001]

I’m a knitter most of the time and occasionally crochet.

[@danielleboots7032]

Your blanket is gorgeous!

[@gracecollot7071]

That blanket is beautiful.

[@tyedyediva9671]

I really enjoyed this episode! I am a knitter, I crochet, I spin, I do some natural dying and I have a project on my sample in loom that’s been on the loom for over a year. 😖I’m looking forward to tuning in to more episodes of that discuss weaving. I am wondering if there is a way to combine the smaller pieces that I make on my Sample It loom into a larger project such as a blanket or maybe even a garment. Your blanket is beyond beautiful! Keep inspiring!

[@suscharly]

I love the shawl... I don’t know weaving ... wish to learn someday.. love the giveaway too ...

[@jennychow1266]

I love the blanket!!

[@jeanettetungesvik6176]

Gorgeous blanket! How long did that take you?

[@carolcorcoran9643]

Your hand spun looks gorgeous..you spin so good

[@MrsRsBooksandThings]

It's beautiful! You should make another one just like it for yourself

[@carolcorcoran9643]

I say use the silk...will make it shine

[@Adele_YarnCreations]

Felicia your blanket is gorgeous! So inspiring! I knit and crochet but would love to learn how to weave those beautiful wraps and use up some of my stash! Hopefully next year I'll find the opportunity! Adele

[@klz4377]

P.S. Prefer to knit accessories, beginner Riggid Heddle weaver.

[@pasangdolma5693]

Thank million

[@debbief7276]

I just took a blanket off the loom because of tension problems. How do you manage a wide warp and get the tension even?

[@sweetgeorgia]

With other warps, I've used a set of half-full old milk jugs as weights... but for this warp, I just did "crank and yank". I think I was lucky not to get any tension issues... I used sticks to pack the warp beam initially and then switched to sheets of packing paper when I ran out of sticks. I always beam the loom by myself, so I've had to figure out ways of making it work. In the future, I'm going to set up a warping trapeze so I can get better tension, hopefully/

[@reginalloyd5843]

Very pretty!

[@kimsharpzook461]

Great job!

[@dmaxi3816]

What dyes did you use?

[@angelangel1147]

Its gorgeous

[@puddleglum6617]

that looks rad!

[@sharonschenna8865]

I just acquired a bag of mohair and would love to make a mohair blanket, can you provide the draft details please. I'm a new weaver and am just loving it. I have a 42 inch Jack loom and a 48 inch countermarche Cranbrook. Thanks for your creative dialog

[@sweetgeorgia]

Lovely! For my blanket, I used the mohair yarn at 6 ends per inch for the full width of my loom (44”). It’s just plain weave, so very easy, no draft required 😊 good luck! Those sound like wonderful looms!

[@dellaburns7307]

Any regrets giving it away what was your fiber colors is it plain weave or twill

[@sweetgeorgia]

This blanket was plain weave… I don’t regret giving it away at all. I feel like the experience I had of making the blanket was what I needed and I was happy to have someone else enjoy the experience of using the blanket. 💗

[@staceyros]

do a rainbow one..imagine the colours!

[@janemorrow6672]

Hello Felicia. I enjoyed your video very much. I’m a beginner spinner and weaver with a rigid heddle loom. I have about a pillowcase full of my first month of spinning. It goes from super chunky and incredibly uneven down to relatively even and still a bit on the thick side. A fellow weaver suggested making a small blanket with it all on a commercial yarn warp and I wonder what you think of the idea or if you have any other suggestions for what to do with beginners handspun.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Absolutely, you could definitely set up a warp for a blanket with commercial yarn and then use your handspun yarn for weft. That would be lovely! Good luck with it! How wide is your rigid heddle loom? What kind is it?

[@janemorrow6672]

Thanks for your reply. I have a 10” SampleIt loom and a 32” rigid Heddle loom. I’m thinking of a small lap blanket.

[@sweetgeorgia]

@@janemorrow6672 Lovely. A lap blanket would definitely work on the 32" rigid heddle! Would love to hear about it as you work on it!

[@janemorrow6672]

Thanks, I’m nearly finished with the spinning. Just need to ply the last couple of bobbins.

[@janemorrow6672]

I made up a small swatch with commercial yarn and didn’t like the contrast with the hand spun yarn so decided to use my best spinning for the warp. I saw a picture of a blanket made with hand spun that I really liked so I tried to figure out what it was that I liked about it. It has quite a strong vertical pattern that seems to balance the mainly horizontal random chunkiness. So I found a Jane Patrick pattern to do with pick up sticks that would give this vertical element. I started weaving in the middle of the night and so far I am very pleased with how it’s going. It’s the widest thing I have tried so far and with a size 5 heddle is weaving up relatively fast. Meanwhile I’m spinning finer and finer thread and planning on trying this out on my sample loom.

[@nhw8906]

Beautiful Video. I have hand loomed king size cotton blanket that I'm thinking of cutting it into crib size blanket. Could you tell if I could that without risking of ruining it? If so, could you let me how to accomplish that? Best Regards

[@susanmeyers3956]

OMG, WHY would U go thru all of the time & trouble of weaving a BEAUTIFUL KINGSIZE blanket, just to CUT IT DOWN to CRIBSIZE⁉️😱🤯 Sorry, but that seems sacrilegious to me! 😳😢😩😱🤯 But, if that’s Ur choice & nobody is holding you HOSTAGE, & forcing U to do this, it is POSSIBLE: Figure out WHERE you want to CUT, then (BEFORE U get anywhere near it w/ SCISSORS) using a SEWING MACHINE: STITCH TWO LINES on each side of the CUTTING LINE! (If U have a SERGER, use that to secure the weaving. Or, on a regular sewing machine, use a zig-zag stitch; or, on a straight stitch only machine: stitch the line 2-3 times.) Then, take a DEEP BREATH😬, & using SHARP SCISSORS: CUT BETWEEN the TWO ROWS of stitching‼️😰😅 AFTER you have cut the blanket to size: Turn the cut line over TWICE, & stitch it once or twice. But, my advice is: KEEP your beautiful KING-SIZE BLANKET, & WEAVE a NEW CRIB-size blanket‼️🙏❤️🤗😊

[@rleegee1761]

What would it cost to have 10 -. Pieces very similar to the blanket you made only 42" x 42" same fringed ends.. I could supply the yarn because the yarn of my choice is only made in 3 ply so I'd have to separate it to single ply . It like it to the blanket to be very thin . Reply if your interested. Or anyone else for that matter.

[@ATBMRAKITAN-1984]

Good job👍👍👍

[@lovecraftwithme]

Bravo, it's stunning

[@chrisdarry-roseelrod4481]

I want to learn how to use a spinning wheel I bought.

[@shandechris2758]

The blanket is lovely. Would not mind getting one in a giveaway 😛 jk.

[@-ANDREA--]

Your blanket is beyond gorgeous, Make another blanket right now Felicia.Everything is set up, do it :).. Ill pm you my address ;)

[@lisasternenkind6467]

About 5% shrink ;-)

[@carolcorcoran9643]

Oops not shiney ha i should finish listening lol

[@ricolopez4258]

this hurts, I'm color-dumb. i see them...i just cant understand the harmony of them... yet?