Something that has proven a most absorbing and entertaining activity during the two-week winter break which my school gives everyone.

My SH of 30 years gave me (per a request submitted by a secret unknown informant) a 15-inch rigid heddle Schacht loom. Like I did not have enough hobbies to occupy myself when not teaching English. He is quite indulgent.

First it was unpacked from the box and I had to set it up. This required reading the enclosed directions, consulting my new bible, Syne Mitchell’s Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom, and viewing the Schacht video about threading apron strings.

Side note: Looking for a link to post for Mitchell’s book, I discovered she has a blog and that she has written science fiction as well as lots of articles, etc about weaving. Check out her blog: Syne Mitchell: Writer, weaver and all-round curious person.

Then it was time to dive into the stash and find some yarn to use for the first experiment.

Nothing was labeled, but it was all wool.

I found a ball of forest green fingering weight wool, some left-over handspun brown wool, and then a skein of a knobbly thick and thin multicolored wool.

Let’s go!

After a good bit of patience, the 10 sett heddle was threaded and after consulting Mitchell’s book again, it was time to start weaving. To finish the ends, I twisted 4 ends together and tied a knot at the bottom and then at the top very close to the last weft thread.