Another MSE Wooligan

Herbaholic · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Derby

Hello everyone Smile

I'm Herby (aka Debs) another MSE Wooligan, Kathy got me to join the Wolligans and told me about loving hands and here I am Smile

My first passion in herbs but I love making craft things I sometimes made cards but most often I knit, sew or cross stitch (I can't crochet for toffee though!)

I'm a basic knitter, who will one day learn to do more than knit and purl, but for now that does me fine. I haven't knitted so much recently as I'd run out of people to give the finished articles to! Now I can donate the things I make to loving hands, a win, win situation.

I've also just mastered using the pot holder loom, so I'm weaving a throw with chunky wool for us to keep warm on the sofa in the winter. My DH is going to make me a larger size, so I can weave some bags (handles using a stick weaving technique I learnt at a medieval re-enacment fair last year!) DH copied the equipment the lady demonstrating had and with a ball of string and wool I was away, you can make belts with the finished pieces as well as handles and you can stitch them together to make throws and wall hangings, any questions holler and I'll send some links. Well thats me all waffled out (for now at least! Twisted Evil

) I look forward to getting to know you all.

Herby

Lou · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052 Location: Fife

Welcome Debs - sounds like you will have lots of fun on here with us - we are always delighted to welcome new members and learn new skills too! :0)

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Dorothy · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

Hello Herby (Debs) I was just trying to guess what the herb was in the pic and came up with either lavender or rosemary, but as I am no expert its probably something entirely different Rolling Eyes

What on earth does this equipment look like that you can make all this exciting stuff with Embarassed

you will certainly have to give us some links, sounds fascinating Smile

I am north of the border although originally from the Midlands but enjoying being part of the team here on Loving Hands Dot

Herbaholic · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Derby

Hi Lou & Dot and thanks for the welcome Smile

Dot - It is lavender, you're right, one of my favourite herbs, don't ask me to list them in order though or I'll go into melt down lol! Like you I'm not a native of where I now live, I hail from Manchester originally, hubby kidnapped me about 7 years ago, but I feel like I'm 'home' now.

Re the pot holder looming and stick weaving, I'm a novice, but they're very easy to master. Heres a pic of my pot holder loom with some of the finished squares, not perfect but I have only learnt to do it this week!

The equipment is very basic, my hubby got me the loom for Xmas last year, but I've only just had the time to sit and try to master it. I think they're more an american thing than UK and aimed at children, and were/are used to make dishclothes and the like. Can't recall where I saw them first but I looked on the internet and theres a lady called Noreen Crone Findlay who has 2 tutorial videos on You Tube, I followed her instructions and within a couple of hours I was pot holder looming. I tried to embed the videos on here, but the forum doesn't support embedded objects. But for those interested you can see both videos via these links Pot Holder Loom Tutorial Part 1 and Pot Holder Loom Tutorial Part 2

If you want to know more about weaving using sticks then take a look at this Stick Weaving info page if you want to learn more. If anybody else weaves I'd love to see your finished projects or maybe you have tips? I don't have the space for larger looms or weaving equipment so this mini tools suit me just fine Smile

I love the fact that it's an old technique that is very easy to do (once it stays on the cords lol!) and the fact that the finished items are handmade and have a wonderful rustic look, its a technique that was said to have been brought over to the UK by the Vikings?! There's a link to a photo of what some finished belts and scarves look like using this technique.

The lady in the above photo told me how she stitched her woven lengths together to make rugs, bags and blankets, so they can be turned into lots of things. if you have a creative partner like mine the weaving sticks can be made really easily with 5 lengths of dowel, each sharpened to a point at one end and the other end has a hole drilled in it to take the wool you attach ready to weave through. There is a tutorial video once again on You Tube, so if you want to watch the technique in action have a look at this video. Hopefully the above will be helpful to some peeps?

Herby Smile

Lou · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052 Location: Fife

Our lovely Nancy that comes to the Kirkcaldy meetings has a large loom that she uses to make the amazing 'waffle' blankets she churns out week after week :0) It is a larger version of the wee loom you have there that she got a man to make for her in exchange for a batch of her home made pancakes :0) The pieces she turns out from the loom look just like big woolly waffles and she then sews them together to make very thick and cosy lap rugs and blankets. You will see photos on the Summer Donations pages in General Chat of some of her finished items. :0)

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Lorraine · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 357 Location: East Sussex

Hi Debs - you seem to be a multi-talented lady and have a very good supporting hubby. We have some weavers as well as knitters, crocheters, sewers, cross-stitch and card makers....a number of very interesting crafts - so everyone is pretty creative here....not to mention wonderful.

mrs-moneypenny · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 147 Location: East Midlands

welcome Debs Very Happy

it certainly looks like your crafts keep you busy the squares from your loom look really nice Very Happy

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a wooly wooligan

Dorothy · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all that info Debs and the links to learn how to do it. Perhaps on one of those dark wet days in the middle of winter I will investigate further. Smile

I have just finished off the v neck jumper I was knitting and so I am going to try to do 2 Trag. Teds. before the deadline Rolling Eyes

so must not get sidetracked at the moment Exclamation

Dot

Molly Lawton · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 323 Location: Hampshire

Hi and welcome to all the newcomers

You will find everyone really friendly and helpful.

My husband is from Manchester, Debs. and he has a son and 3 grandchildren living just outside Manchester. I am a Geordie orginally but now we are living in the South.

Have been ill in bed with some kind of virus for the last couple of days so I haven't been around much. Feeling a little better now but my husband has got it so we are like two old crocks!!!!!!

Wish I was 21 again!

Molly

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caroline · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 87

Hi to you Debs and welcome . Hope you're feeling better Molly and got the needles clacking again

Dorothy · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

Now Molly, just get those needles going again, I know what you really want, another cruise Exclamation

The memories soon fade don't they. Good job we have lots of photos to remind us. Dot

Molly Lawton · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 323 Location: Hampshire

Hi Everyone

The cruise memories have certainly faded quickly and I will just have to get the knitting needles out today. It is really wet and miserable here and a good day for knitting. I am feeling much better but my husband is a lot worse so I think I will be spending a lot of time running up and down stairs. Oh well, always wanted to be a nurse!!!!!

Molly

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caroline · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 87

Im a nurse Molly and folk think you have the cures for all ills , it has lots of disadvantages also i find i dont have the same patience with my omn family

Molly Lawton · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 323 Location: Hampshire

Hi Caroline

I am sure it must be a really difficult job, especially these days, and I don't think most of us appreciate just how hard nurses work and what little reward they get for it. I can imagine that when you get home you haven't got the patience to look after anyone else. Keep up your good work as I don't know where we would all be without you.

Molly

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Busy Lizzy · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 96 Location: Bradford

Hi Debs

I have the kniffty knitter looms which I love! I've seen lots of other looms online but I'm apprehensive about things I haven't seen first.

Liz

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http://lizsknitting.blogspot.com/