Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom

Christmas has come very early to my house, with the arrival of this weaving loom.  Ryan very kindly put it together, not as easy as it first appeared and then I was straight into using it.  This is my first piece, a small table runner.   I used natural Galway yarn and then over dyed natural grey yarn that is a little too scratchy to wear.  Delighted with the effect and now to get more items made and to become more skilled

A Flecked Yarn

I am always trying out new ideas and this is the latest.  I have been asked to produce a 'flecked' yarn and after a few different ideas this is the best I can do.  This is natural black Zwartbles wool and the coloured batts are hand dyed silk noil.  I dyed the silk in a steamer a bright turquoise and pale brown.  It is difficult to get the dye to saturate the silk because the silk is like a blop of papier mache.   When it was dry I then carded it several times to separate the fibres. 

Then carded it into the Zwartbles fibre to make this yarn.

Hopefully I will improve it with practice.