Next!

 

Yesterday I finished the warp I put into the loom in January.  It doesn't always happen that I get the knots this close to the heddles, but it is quite satisfying when it happens.

Because I never (usually) make just one thing, but several items per warp, and I tend to allow a little 'extra' in case I need to weave more samples, or if the loom is misbehaving, or...whatever...I sometimes have more than a yard left when I'm 'done' weaving.

I have been struggling (for so long, so so long) that I have not done the things I intended to do at the end of December.

That said, I am beginning to see 'changes' in my pain levels.  It seems like healing is beginning (for one of my pain sources) and that feeds my tiny sprig of hope.  Maybe *this* year will be 'better'.

Otoh, speaking of misbehaving looms, my Megado is not happy about something.  I am getting floats on the back side of the cloth which will be suboptimal when I begin the silk and cashmere scarves.  I may get Doug's help to re-align the dobby.  The sensor is ever so slightly out of alignment.  OTOH it's winter and wood shrinks when the relative humidity drops, so perhaps it will begin to 'fix' itself?

But I really don't want silk and cashmere scarves 'ruined' with treadling errors not of my doing.  

I am going to take the rest of this week and try to get the samples for the next WEFT article woven so I can begin writing the text.  On breaks I might begin beaming the silk warp.  The threading draft is ready, to be tested to see if the structure is going to work.  Again I'm working with two sets of yarn of different grists, so a sample will be absolutely necessary.  

We are having unseasonal weather.  It has been raining (in January!) and the snow is nearly completely melted away.  If it doesn't snow some more to build the snow pack in the bush, this year's 'wildfire season' is going to be...not great.  

Someone asked why it was a problem?  Partly it is because when it melts at this time of year it doesn't get absorbed by the ground, which is still frozen.  It runs straight 'downhill' and down the rivers to the ocean.  Nothing gets stored in the ground for use later in the year.  If the rains don't come in the spring, the ground water doesn't get built up, the ground itself becomes parched and any little spark, be it lightning or campfire, can set up a blaze that devastates the forests and ultimately animals AND human lives.

We desperately need to recognize climate change and DO SOMETHING to mitigate the problems.  There is no Planet B.