Goldfinger

Carole suggested I use James Bond’s “Goldfinger” as the title, which I love!! There’s something about combining 007 and weaving that just tickles my funny bone! Could they be any more different? Ha! If you have other gold-related titles to suggest, I’m all ears! And now, on to the show…

All done sleying!

I usually try to take many, many photos during the course of a project. But sometimes, I get caught up the process and forget! This is the case with the “sleying the reed” step this time around! I typically have 10-20 photos of each inch of the reed, and now I have about 2! What can you do, right? (So, imagine I’ve included another handful of delightful images! I’ll make it up to you, I promise!) I have threaded each yarn through a slot (called a dent) in the reed and now, it will all go into the loom!

The beater bar at the front of the loom

In goes the reed!

In an attempt to make life easier, I tied the lease sticks in place so they won’t flop around when I’m threading the heddles. But, I like keeping the lease sticks in the project through this step because they act as a hurdle the yarn has to go through. If there is a knot or twist in the yarn, it will get caught at the lease sticks and I can straighten it out before it gets to the loom! (At least that is how it happens in a perfect world!)

Tying up the lease sticks

Once the stage is set at the front, I come around to the back, drop the weaving bench down to a squat and begin threading the heddles! Heddles are long, skinny, metal pieces with an eye in the middle for holding a yarn. The heddles live on each of the (4) shafts in my loom. (A shaft, or a harness, is a frame in the loom that lifts up – taking yarn with it!) So, I have (4) choices on where each yarn can go. For this project, it’s a simple 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4 pattern, which doesn’t hurt my head too badly.

The view from the back!

A little slip knot will hold it for now!

I recommend tying the yarns together at every inch or whatever makes sense to you. Then, go back when you’re done and check your work. (It sounds like a math problem, doesn’t it – “checking your work”? If that makes you break out in hives thinking of Algebra II from long ago, we’ll just call it “verifying your awesome attention to detail”!)

Bird’s eye view

A fabulous, fiber row!

While threading heddles, I recommend some upbeat music, maybe a re-run of Big Bang Theory, and a cup of tea (hot or cold – doesn’t matter)! It takes some time! So, you might as well be comfortable! Be sure to get up and stretch every so often. Because sitting in a crouch on a stool is more pleasant than leaning over the loom. But, it’s still tough on your body after awhile! No weaving injuries, please!

Can you see the order?

I’m getting there! Next time, I’ll finish threading the heddles and hopefully, tie the project to the back of the loom! It’s getting so good!!! Talk to you soon…