A Michigan Summer of Traveling and Teaching

This summer in Michigan has been a full summer teaching weaving at yarn stores and quilt shops in Western Michigan. And the back roads aren't boring either.



Summer Storm somewhere between Newaygo and Muskegon



Scarf Class at Apple Knits & Purls in Muskegon

Beautiful scarf and a happy new weaver

Shabby Chic Table Runner Class at The New Ewe, Newaygo



I taught a version of my Fringy Cowl using Sari Silk at The Michigan Fibre Studio in Grand Rapids.

 

I traveled to Albia, Iowa to The Fiber Arts Shoppe where I taught a weekend of workshops. One of which was my "Weave A Rainbow/Color Theory for Weavers Workshop."

Warp for the Color Gamp Scarf

Weave A Rainbow Color Gamp Scarf

 

I made them work for the Chocolate they found in their packet

I stayed with my hostess, Sherri, in her beautiful country home. She gave me a tour of their natural pasture land for the deer to feed, and introduced me to their alpacas and homing pigeons.

 

 

I took a week to travel to Pittsburgh to be with my grandkids.

Last day of school and a ride in the Grandmom bus
otherwise known as the old Volvo Station Wagon.

An afternoon craft activity with my yarn thrums

Moon rising over the neighborhood my last night in Pittsburgh

And finally I traveled to Mississippi for a family reunion with my six siblings, their children and grandchildren at the campground of my childhood.

And all of this travel was just me, alone in my good old trusty Volvo station wagon. I wish Carl could have joined me, but he had family responsibilities to attend to.

In spite of my busy schedule of teaching and traveling, I was able to work in a bit of weaving for me and some local activities and time with Carl and Jujube my dog.

  

New Bonsai Vest made on my 15" Rigid Heddle Loom

Muskegon Farmer's Market. Just Amazing!

July 4th hike through the sand dunes to Lake Michigan

 Lots of morning and evening walks on the bike path

 

And so much beauty in nature

But our main reason for spending this summer in Michigan was so we could be here with my Mother-in-Law as she was in failing health and in hospice. She left us in July. We will always be grateful that we were here with the family this summer.

One of the last blooms on my Mother-in-Law's Bird of Paradise Plant

Zoom Loom Garments using Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns

It was just last summer that I designed the Harlequin Vest using Zoom Loom squares.  I attended The National Needle Arts Trade Show in Phoenix in January of this year wearing my vest, you can imagine my surprise when I was stopped by none other than Stacy Charles himself of Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns asking me if my vest was made using their Filatura di Crosa Tempo yarn. Well of course it was!

So he challenged me to design more garments made with the Schacht Zoom Loom using TSC yarns. There's nothing I love better than a challenge. And trying out new yarn is always a welcome treat. Before long I had four new designs ready. Currently they are all in my Etsy store available as PDF downloadable patterns and most of them are also available as a kit packaged with full color printed pattern and yarn; or a kit which also includes the Zoom Loom.

Harlequin Vest with Filatura Di Crosa Tempo Yarn

 

 Lacy Vest with Stella and Flora Yarns

 

 

  Tabbard Vest with Nina Yarn

 Spring Jacket with Portofino Yarn

Since most everything I weave ends up as something to wear. I imagine there will be more to come in the future. But in the meantime, check out these patterns and kits. They will be perfect to pack along on a summer vacation or an ideal way to while away those upcoming hot summer days sitting on the porch with a glass of ice tea and your Zoom Loom.

So Zoom away . . .

Photos by Stephanie DeFranco Photography

Zoom Loom Harlequin Vest

You know how sometimes things just fall into place as if there's magic fairy dust in the air? I love it when that happens. And that's how my newest design came about this summer.

Schacht Spindle Company really outdid themselves when they introduced their version of a pin loom, called the Zoom Loom. It's a 4-inch loom so handy to just stick in your bag and go. It has a sloping interior edge which helps to guide your weaving needle, a slot to hold your starting yarn while you weave, and it all fits nicely into it's own little carrying case for transport. AND it only take about 10 minutes to make a square.

I was already in love with the yarn shown in these images, Tempo by Filatura de Crosa, a blend of  mostly cotton with acrylic and polymide binders, that it was a natural choice for my next project. As I began to weave the squares, I loved watching the subtle color changes and textural quality of this yarn emerge. This was not boring. I couldn't stop weaving squares until I had made enough for a garment. It was so much fun when I started putting the different shades together and before I knew it, there it was, my Harlequin Vest.

I loved designing this garment so much, I have created a pattern so others can make it too. This Harlequin Vest Pattern is full of helpful hints, step-by-step illustrations and photographs on how to weave, construct and finish this vest design.

example of pattern illustrations

Included in the pattern are:

1. Diagrams for two sizes, Small/Medium and Medium/Large
2. Two Lengths: Short Version or Long Version

And now I'm pleased to announce that Zoom Looms and ZoZo FiberArts Harlequin Vest Kits are available in several different colorways from Cotton Clouds.

Or you can download a PDF version of the pattern at ZoZo FiberArts Etsy Store

Have fun zooming . . .