http://www.fibernut.com/blog/ more than 40 years a long time.]]> en-us 2011-08-18T10:43:20-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000544.html New post on my new site! Tying One On Don't forget to update your newsreader. http://fibernutsblog.blogspot.com/... Charleen 2011-08-18T10:43:20-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000543.html New post on the new site. Fiber Muse... weaving Charleen 2011-02-05T11:51:33-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000542.html I'm posting over at here now. I've been having a lot of trouble with spam and my outdated MovableType blogging software and I just don't have the time to upgrade and work with my databases. I was able to move all of my entries over to blogspot and they seamlessly link to the photos on my server so I think this should work out well. I'll post updates here for the next few weeks and then hopefully everyone (if I even have any readers left!) will have updated their readers.... weaving Charleen 2011-01-15T20:03:57-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000541.html It wouldn't be Christmas without these delicious little morsels! Taking out this recipe each year is so heartwarming because the recipe is written in my mother's handwriting. I modified it from it's original Crisco shortening to butter but I've found that using a combination of butter and margarine gives the cookie a more solid base. Peanut Blossoms 1 cup butter or margarine 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons soda 1... cooking Charleen 2010-12-11T12:43:09-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000540.html Seems like there was a short break between getting the loom threaded and actually weaving. I was just about ready to cut off this warp. Not because I didn't like it or that it was too difficult but what I really love about weaving is to be able to sit down and just throw the shuttle. I haven't had time to finish rehabbing the Gallinger loom and I don't get the relaxed, zen feeling when I'm weaving on my table loom. I have the warp wound for some shawls... weaving Charleen 2010-11-01T16:47:56-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000539.html I had a custom order! A little guy I know picked out the designs for both the front and the back Both designs are from Designs by JuJu's Stix Kids Trick or Treat set... Machine Embroidery Charleen 2010-10-31T08:46:31-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000537.html A new toy! I've made a few blocks. Jacobean flowers Birthday blocks These are for a table runner that I'll keep for birthday celebrations. As you can see there is some puckering. I didn't realize that some heavily stitched designs might need more than one layer of stabilizer. Since they will be quilted I'm not going to worry. You can also do cross stitch designs. I wouldn't have stitched this but it was included in the machine's memory and I wanted to see what it looked like. While I never... Machine Embroidery Charleen 2010-08-13T12:41:53-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000536.html "He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." ~Benjamin Franklin So we'll just leave it at that! The last couple posts were about Disappearing Nine Patches and my new machine. Here's the Tranquility quilt: I quilted this using my new Elna with its IAF (Integrated Adjustable Feeding, the same as Janome's Accufeed). Diagonal lines through the blocks and a soft winding figure-eight in each of the borders. I also finished Piper's Hushabye quilt, but never took a picture after the binding was sewn on. I'll... chatter Charleen 2010-08-04T13:51:18-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000533.html I am in love with this Hushabye collection. So is my daughter, Sarah, so keeping these blocks in the house is becoming a problem! I made up six blocks based on Rachel's Christmas Table Topper. Cut the nine patch in half, vertically and horizontally. Rotated two of the blocks. Doesn't look all that appealing, does it? I love the blocks but when I looked at it laid out on the floor it wasn't doing a thing for me. But once I arranged them on the off white (Snow) fabric I... quilting Charleen 2009-08-20T05:20:35-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000532.html The warp is just sitting there waiting for me but I'm having fun playing with this quilt block. After dipping my toes back into the quilting world I found I've collected a nice little collection of charm squares. Searching through the quilting blogs I found this tutorial. I'm using two Moda charm packs Tranquility and Laurel. I didn't have too much time. Workout or piece? I combined them by laying out the blocks on the living room floor and taking them downstairs, one block at a time, to sew. Nothing... quilting Charleen 2009-08-11T14:36:21-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000531.html I've always wanted to try overshot but it was one of those things that was pushed to the back burner. Not anymore! The original idea was sparked by a runner at the Funny Farm. It was the Colonial Rose Runner from Handwoven's Design Collection 11. Looking up the pattern I saw that it was based on a Davison draft, Ancient Rose Design. Checking out my tattered copy of A Handweaver's Pattern Book I found, right above the original draft, A Kutztown Design No. 3. Considering I went to Kutztown University,... weaving Charleen 2009-08-07T06:33:22-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000529.html If you know any preschoolers you know the wig and glasses are from Yo Gabba Gabba. They were actually a present to my son from his MIL but what two-year-old doesn't think all presents, especially on his birthday, belong to him! I knit Claudia's Wee Bigger Aran a long time ago (i.e., 2002, before I was a grandmother). Now that I'm knitting for Jackson the idea of knitting all of those Xs and Os take on a different meaning - hugs and kisses surrounding him. Both sleeves done. Body... knitting Charleen 2009-07-28T11:18:39-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000528.html I thought I'd lash on the cloth beam because my chains were a little uneven and I thought I could save some warp. I've tried it a few times and was not a fan, but, hey!, it's summer, I have a little time, right? That would be wrong! I can't seem to get even tension even when using a very slippery nylon cord. It looks so easy when Tom Knisley does it :-) So back to the tried and true! Plain weave and one color weft. What a joy! I'm... weaving Charleen 2009-07-23T20:27:29-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000527.html So I had these beautiful warps dyed up but I wasn't sure how I was going to warp since the bright fuschia and red/orange needed to be spread out over the width of the warp. So I thought I go back to front to back warping, something I haven't done much of lately. So long ago, actually, that I had to go back to my own tutorial (c. 2002). Sleying the reed. This technique allows me to design in the reed although I actually had it all planned out. It... weaving Charleen 2009-07-22T12:15:15-05:00 http://www.fibernut.com/blog/archives/000525.html Every summer four of us (high school teachers) get together to sit by the pool, talk, eat, drink, and try to figure out how summer can stretch out just a few more weeks! And every summer as I pack up my contribution and get ready to walk out the door I think - "I should have made something special to commemorate our get togethers" but, of course, I don't have anything and it escapes my mind until the following summer. That is, until this spring when I began plotting. I... dyeing Charleen 2009-07-18T20:33:50-05:00