Oh! The Insanity!!!

No, I am not sane.  I can't possibly be sane.  Why?  As my husband was kind enough to remind me, I never can do anything easy.  Now if that isn't calling the pot black, but then, I digress.

We, hubby and I, plowed in and constructed my eight foot tri-loom Saturday night.  Lapped the corners, marked, drilled and stained the maple.  We only used 183 brads per side.  Wow!  This AM the loom was ready and so this afternoon I got started.  This is where the insanity kicked in.  So far, I have made ONE tri-loom shaw on my 5 1/2'  loom built from scraps.  For my first project on the 8 foot loom, which looks HUGE, I chose to use Paton's classic wool yarn.   I also thought that this time I should show I can do more than over and under, so I chose to attempt a double diamond twill. 

This is the pattern out of Patricia Herman's Triangle Loom Weaving Twills 'n More

 Within three or four rows, I knew my yarn needed to be doubled.  Off came the yarn and I restarted with a double strand.  (This of course means I must be running back to the store ASAP as I will be short of yarn!)  I am carefully keeping the strands from twisting and all that.  That in itself is a challenge, but as I am not a master weaver, maybe, just maybe, I should not have made my second tri-loom project a double diamond twill.  I have removed probably as much yarn as I have put on by now.  However, I think I have finally made a break through.  My brain has started to grasp the repetition of the pattern and I hope the "do-overs" will now be minimized!

Paton's Classic Wool in Rosewood - Double Diamond Twill Pattern

 
I marked the repeat, 8 rows on a piece of painters tape and I stick one of my picks over the number of the last row I just completed.  So far, that has helped with the errors. 

The finished product should be interesting.  The yarn is wool and I don't want to felt it heavily, but I think I will felt it just enough to give a nice warm shawl.  With work, kids and a blouse I have in process, I dare say it will be a week or two before I get it completed.  At least  I've done enough so far I can start to see the pattern and I think I will like it.

Happy weaving!