December | 2014 | SHUTTLE WORKS STUDIO

Most of December was spent cranking socks, successfully getting all but two pairs done and either mailed or delivered before Christmas. I estimate between those socks, the ones tossed, and those sitting on a counter that have small issues where I won’t sell them, I made somewhere around 140 socks in November & December, a record for me!

In the midst of the sock machine problems (see the previous post), I had an email requesting a woven shibori scarf. I had developed severe pain in my right wrist and hand from all the cranking, In December, and had to stop working on socks for four days, but by day 3 figured I could last on the warp, tie up the treadles, and see if I could weave without causing additional pain. I could! So I spent two days weaving the scarf, and doing the gather/tie preparation, and making up a new indigo vat.

New indigo dye vat, working in my kitchen near the woodburning range.

The vat was ready quickly, lots of good “flower,” and the dyeing went smoothly, putting the scarf into the vat twice. It was then rinsed and allowed to air-dry. When nearly dry I started clipping the tight knots and opening it up.

Woven Shibori scarf, 100% cotton, indigo dyed. (SOLD)

It was a beauty!!! After washing it twice, rinsing well, air-dry, pressing, hand-twisting the fringe, and taking a few photos, I had to package it up and get it in the mail to hopefully arrive before Dec. 24th.

Starting Christmas Day, I took five days off for family and rest. Now, it’s time to get back into the studio and create more.

2014 is nearly over, it was a very busy fall, and unfortunately, blog posts fell by the wayside. It is time for a two-part update, starting with October & November.

October was a busy month with Spinzilla, Oct. 6-12. This was the first time I participated and wouldn’t you know, it was the same week as the fall art tour! Still, I managed to get some spinning done.

While preparing for art tour visitors, I managed to spin 965 yards, two full bobbins plied together, and the remainder as a smaller singles skein, for a total of 0.548 mile. I ended most days with some late night quiet spinning or plying.

In the middle of Spinzilla week came the Northwoods Art Tour – Fall, Oct. 10-12, with approximately 125 visitors over 3 days. Most stayed quite awhile, visiting, asking questions, ordering, and being fascinated by this unique studio and home.

Looms and spinning wheel ready for demonstrations.

Sock machine also ready for demo as was woven shibori on loom at right. — Sock machine also ready for demo and woven shibori being set up on loom at right..

By the end of the art tour I had a lot of sock orders, and more came in via phone calls and emails, In the end around 50 pairs!

Sock colors pulled for an order of 8 pairs.

I began work on the socks and things went fairly well, but then the sock machine developed a problem and I had no idea what it was or how to fix it. I was throwing away more half-to-nearly completed socks than I was keeping to fill orders. Disaster!

Taking he CSM apart, needles and spring out for cleaning.

Needles being cleaned and latches oiled at the little hinges.

The needles and spring were removed, cylinder slots cleaned out, and reassembled, and the problem persisted. Then we took it all apart, removed the crank and cylinder, cleaned it thoroughly, greased and oiled parts and reassembled again, and still the problem persisted. Then Char said if you have another 72 slot cylinder, let’s put that in and see what happens. So again, remove needles and spring, substitute a different cylinder and reassemble.

Let me tell you, changing to a cylinder that had not been used in perhaps 30 years or so, it was STIFF CRANKING!!! After a couple days, it was better, and SUCCESS!!! I was making socks again. I was also a month behind, so now cranked by day, closed toes and washed by night, and managed to get all but two pairs to my customers before Christmas. And she was fine with waiting for those two pair. I still have seven pairs to make this week.