weaving Archives - sweetstitchingcrafts

Restoring My Floor Loom: An Update!

by sweetstitchingcraftsHandweaving, Uncategorized February 28, 2025February 28, 20252 Comments

The start of 2025 has been a busy one as I work to catch up on some of the projects I started last year—projects I had optimistically hoped to finish before the year ended. The biggest and most important of them all? Refurbishing the floor loom I acquired early last year.

The Restoration Process

During the summer months, I sanded the loom down to bare wood using a combination of a Black & Decker Mouse sander and good old-fashioned hand sanding. It was a big job, and I completely underestimated how long it would take. My initial goal was to complete the sanding by late fall, but thankfully, the weather held up long enough for me to continue working outdoors.
When it came time to varnish, I opted for Osmo PolyX Oil—a product I had never used before but discovered through Felicia Lo’s YouTube video on refurbishing her Fanny loom. I was drawn to this finish because of its low fumes (since I’m sensitive to strong scents) and its ability to enhance the natural beauty of the maple wood without an overly glossy finish.

Finding the Right Varnish

Osmo PolyX Oil wasn’t readily available at my local hardware stores, so I had to do some searching. I found it on Amazon and Lee Valley Tools, with the latter offering a better price—so that’s where I made my purchase. They had two sizes available: 125ml and 750ml. Estimating how much I’d need was tricky since, unlike flooring, I couldn’t easily calculate the square footage of wood I’d be covering.

The Application Process

Applying the oil has been much easier than expected! The varnishing process is moving along quickly, as a little bit of PolyX Oil goes a long way. I purchased staining pads from my local hardware store to ensure an even, thin coat. To make application easier, I cut the pads into small rectangular pieces that fit inside the container. So far, I believe the small container will be enough to complete the project, but I’m considering getting another one—just in case. I’d rather not risk running out when I’m so close to the finish line!
The oil requires two coats with an eight-hour drying time between applications, but thankfully, no sanding between coats is necessary—definitely a plus in my book.

How It’s Coming Together

I’m loving how the loom is turning out! It doesn’t look brand new, but that was never my intention. Instead, it looks refreshed and beautiful. Once varnishing is complete, I’ll apply a wood conditioner to enhance the sheen, give it a smoother feel, and provide extra protection against dry conditions.
At this point, I have just a few more pieces to varnish. After that, I’ll assemble the loom and make sure everything fits together properly. The last major task is removing some rust from one of the reeds—then I’ll officially be done!

What’s Next?

I can’t wait to see this loom in action. My biggest motivation for completing this project is getting it up and running with a weaving project. Plus, I’m excited to update Grace, the loom’s original owner, on its transformation.
If you missed Part 1 of this restoration, you can check it out [link here]. Stay tuned for a future blog post where I’ll share the final reveal!

Have you ever restored a floor loom or considered taking on a similar project? I’d love to hear about your experiences—feel free to leave a comment below.
Until next time, happy crafting!

Creating with Handspun Yarn: Endless Possibilities

by sweetstitchingcraftsHandspinning, Handweaving, Knitting, Uncategorized December 5, 2024December 5, 2024No Comments

If you’ve ever worked with handspun yarn—or are thinking about it—you’ve probably wondered: Is there a plan for what this fluff will become? The truth? Sometimes yes, but often no.

For me, spinning yarn is more about the process than the product. The rhythmic hum of the spinning wheel, the tactile pleasure of the fiber slipping through my fingers, and the anticipation of how the colors will blend together are the reasons I spin. Sure, I love seeing the final product—whether it’s a cozy sweater or a woven scarf—but by the time the yarn is finished, I’m often already dreaming about the next fleece or hand-dyed fiber I’ll spin.

Still, the magic doesn’t stop at spinning. The real adventure begins when you start working with your handspun yarn. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way, which might help you as you embark on your own handspun projects.

1. Understanding Your Yarn’s Structure

When using commercial yarn, we often choose based on its thickness or weight, categorized as lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, aran, or bulky. With handspun yarn, determining the weight is a bit more hands-on.

I use a wraps per inch (WPI) tool—a simple ruler will do! Wrap the yarn around the ruler for one inch, count the wraps, and compare it to a WPI chart to find its weight.

The number of plies also affects the yarn’s thickness and structure. A two-ply yarn is versatile and works well for most projects, offering a balanced feel and good stitch definition. For sturdier projects, like socks or outerwear, a three-ply yarn provides more roundness and strength. Even the way you ply matters—traditional plies versus chain plies can change the drape, durability, and overall look of the finished project.

2. Swatching: Your Yarn’s Test Drive

Swatching might feel optional, but it’s incredibly informative, especially with handspun yarn.

A small swatch can reveal:

Color changes: How do the hues transition from one to the next?
Stitch definition: Will the yarn’s texture shine in cables or lacework?
Drape: How does the fabric feel and move?

For knitters and crocheters, swatching helps you decide on patterns that highlight the yarn’s unique qualities. For weavers, a sampling step can help determine the fabric’s density (ends per inch) and ensure your yarn is suitable for the weave structure you have in mind.

3. Choosing Patterns or Weave Structures

When it comes to handspun yarn, the possibilities are endless. You can work with nearly any pattern—as long as you can match the required gauge.

Personally, I gravitate toward simple designs that let the yarn take center stage:

Knitting: Garter stitch and stockinette stitch allow the natural variations in handspun yarn to shine.
Crocheting: Simple, repetitive patterns enhance the yarn’s beauty without overwhelming it.
Weaving: I’ve found that using handspun yarn as weft yarn in overshot patterns adds stunning texture and depth. For single-ply yarns, plain weave structures beautifully highlight the yarn’s natural striping, especially when it’s multicolored.

A great resource for selecting knitting or crochet patterns is Ravelry’s pattern browser. You can filter by yarn weight, yardage, and even specific attributes to find a project that fits your handspun perfectly.

The Journey of Handspun Yarn

Working with handspun yarn is more than just crafting—it’s an exploration of creativity and texture. Each skein holds a story, from the fiber it once was to the fabric it will become. And as much as I love the finished products, it’s the journey—the hours spent spinning, swatching, and creating—that brings me the most joy.

So, if you’ve been hesitant to use your handspun yarn, don’t wait! Embrace the process, experiment with patterns, and discover the magic hidden within each handmade skein.

Happy spinning—and even happier creating!

What’s your favorite way to use handspun yarn? Share your experience in the comments below!

Restoration Journey of a Weaving Floor Loom: Part #1

by sweetstitchingcraftsHandweaving, Uncategorized August 31, 2024August 31, 2024No Comments

Where do I begin? How did I end up with this loom? I wasn’t searching for a floor loom since I already have a 1920s 36-inch Leclerc Mira that works well for me. But when I found out that a 45-inch Leclerc Fanny was available for free, I couldn’t resist. I saw pictures of it and imagined what might happen if I didn’t save it. The loom was a bit worn out, but nothing that hard work couldn’t fix. The important parts were intact; it just had some cosmetic issues like scratches and dents. While I don’t mind a few scratches, there were too many for my liking, especially since this loom will be in a prominent spot in my home. So, I decided to take you along on my journey of refurbishing this 45-inch Leclerc Fanny.

Step 1: Identify what needs fixing and make a list of tasks to complete.

Here is the list I have to date. This list may change over time during the process of refurbishing this loom.

Remove the scratches and minor dings by sanding the old varnish.
Varnish wood with 2 coats.
Replace the rusty heddles with new wire heddles or possibly texsolv heddles (made from polyester and lightweight in comparison to wire heddles)
Scour and clean rusty reeds
Replace friction brake (metal circular band)

Step 2- Tackle the most important and biggest job first!

At this stage, I’m focused on sanding. With the summer weather, it’s perfect to do this messy work outside. I’m not new to sanding, having started a coffee table project before, though I didn’t finish it. I learned from a Sweet Georgia YouTube video that I need three grades of sandpaper: 60 grit to remove old varnish, 120 to smooth the wood, and 220 to sand between coats. I’m using a Black and Decker mouse hand sander for larger areas and sanding by hand in tighter spots. Ideally, I would remove all the hardware first, but I didn’t want to fully disassemble the loom, so I’m doing more hand sanding. As I strip the old varnish, the original light wood color is revealed, while areas like the logo will keep the darker aged wood color. I’m not aiming to make the loom look brand new, just cleaner and more polished. I’ll see if my approach was the right one once the project is complete!

I’m still sanding and haven’t kept track of the hours spent, but I know it’s taken a lot of time. My next task will be scouring and removing rust from the reeds or varnishing the loom, which I’ll cover in another blog post. As you can see, there will be a series of posts about refurbishing the Leclerc Fanny, and I’m excited to share this journey. If you’ve ever refurbished a loom, feel free to comment below!

Harvesting Creativity: Crafting This Fall Season

by sweetstitchingcraftsHandquilting, Handspinning, Handweaving, Knitting, Needlework November 21, 2023November 21, 20232 Comments

Music: Passage by Jakob Ahlbom & Trust in You by AK Silla

Nature is my go-to source of inspiration, regardless of the season. However, I must admit that the changing colors of leaves, the bright autumn afternoon sun, and the pine needles covering the forest grounds rekindle my imagination. I have a strong desire to recreate the mood of comfort, stillness, and crispness that I experience during my woodland walks in the fall. What crafts am I gravitating towards this fall to reflect this change of pace?

Rug Hooking

My current rug hooking project is from an older Buttermilk Basin pattern called Patriotic Sheep. Using primitive cut wool strips (1/4 inch wide strips of wool) in rustic colours such as burgundy, mossy greens and burnt yellows. As you can see, I still have the main body to work on. I have a variety of creams and white wool fabric waiting to be felted and cut into strips. The final project will be a 3-dimensional sheep that will hopefully decorate my craft room.

Weaving

Weaving with my multicolored handspun using a crackle weaving structure. The pattern is called the French pattern, and it is from Marguerite Porter Davidson’s book, A Handweaver’s Pattern Book. This book has a great compilation of older weaving patterns, but using this pattern along with my multicolored handspun is giving this old pattern new life while preserving the vintage feel and look. I will admit my initial choice of a gray color was more subdued, but I am glad I changed my mind. This fall season is bursting with color, and I wanted my current projects to reflect this.

Knitting

Knitting socks during this time of year, I am obsessed with staying warm and what I can make that will keep me warm. Naturally, my feet are the first part of my body that get cold quickly, and it is not even below 0 degrees. I start rummaging through my yarn stash to find the perfect yarn that is sturdy and warm enough to start a new pair of socks. Then, I finish all the last year’s sock projects by closing the toes and weaving all the loose ends.

Punch needle

It is not a craft that I often work on, but I do enjoy it immensely when I do. This pattern is a Michelle Palmer original punch needle design, and of course, I was drawn to it because of the cute sheep design. It was featured in a summer 2019 issue of the Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine, but I felt the color selections in this design reminded me more of fall leaves that decorate the forest floor instead of summer flowers in full bloom. I have the pattern stretched on some wooden bars for increased accessibility while I am cuddled under some blankets and sipping on a hot cup of tea.

Quilting

I find binding quilts takes a long time when I make blankets. But it feels good to be under the blanket while doing it. I usually bind quilts in the fall, after piecing them together during the summer when there’s more daylight. It gets too hot to manoeuvre the blanket while hand-sewing the edges. I feel good when I finish because I have a new blanket to keep me cozy during the winter while I work on other crafts.

What crafts are you drawn to when there is a change of season, especially when the weather gets cooler? Please feel free to comment below!