Start with an eleven inch circle. This is enough to make two masks with a different color for lining, or one mask all the same color. As an alternative, make a quarter circle pattern and place a straight edge on the fold or selvedge of doubled fabric. Cut  the one on the fold into two pieces. Cut to quarter circles for the outer fabric and two quarter circles for the lining, four pieces all together. Cut two more pieces of filter fabric if desired. Place the mask pieces right sides together. Add the filter pieces to either side of one pair. Stitch both pairs together on the c ..read more

About a week ago, I decided to wind a warp to make more Teddy bears for our two youngest grandchildren. I chose this fine yellow wool. I wanted a brown color though, so I prepared for dyeing by loosening the choke and cross ties on the warp so the dye could reach all the yarn. After dyeing and drying the yarn, I could tell it was going to be a difficult warp because it had start to felt slightly and I could see several broken threads. Sticky yarns are never fun to wind on a loom but can be done with some care.  I started by stretching out the full six yards with weights for a couple d ..read more

      About fourteen years ago, I took a weekend rug weaving class from Jason Collingwood.I kept my woven sample and class notes, but never made a rug. I would like to show in this post some of the things I learned and had to relearn from this class. There are techniques I could have done better and others that made me happy that I still remembered. I used a wool area rug in my living room for inspiration. The dark green, navy, dark red and natural colors go well together. One of the first things I learned was to not use waxed linen for the warp. I had a terrible time tying it on ..read more