Nutfield Weaver

New farmhouse plaid table runner

2012-02-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. The loom has been dressed for some Nutfield Weaver custom table runner requests this week. Yesterday I cut off runners made from a lovely, nutty/adobe brown & unbleached cottons. I'm really pleased with how the colors married each other in the plaid:

While making this particular piece I had a warp thread that was very uncooperative. The best part of this happy accident was the way that I weighted the new thread that was not part of the original warp: a HEMOSTAT!
Yes, a hemostat, just like the surgeons use. Not being a surgeon, my hemostats are part of my flyfishing toolkit. Here's a picture of hemostats, in case you're not familiar:

The little teeth grab the yarn and the weight of the device seems to be perfect for up to 2 strands of 5/2 mercerized cotton that need to be draped over the back beam of the loom. I much prefer the hemostats to an old film canister stuffed with pennies or wingnuts.

Have a most lovely day. I'll be watching the New England Patriots tomorrow - they have a quarterback who made an highly intelligent choice about where to attend college.
Be well,
Kate

Too much of a good thing - storage solution for weaving cones

2012-01-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. Here is a little secret: I love cones of weaving yarn. I find them to be so inspiring that I often just line them up and stare at them and think about what a fabric might look or feel like or how a certain fabric might be used.

But here's the kicker...I had so many cones of weaving yarn "stored" on the floor that the other day I took a misstep, had a cone roll under my right foot, and did a sort of weaver's skateboarding move onto my rear end. (I was half glad that no one was home at the time). Time to clean up!

Here is my solution for storing cones in a small space:

We had these easy to assemble wire mesh storage bins in a closet. (We originally purchased them to house toys and stuffed animals for our kids --and there aren't too many stuffed animals on display these days). My son, Andrew, put together 4 cubes for me and lined them up against a wall in the corner. (It is a tight space - you can see the corner of the back beam of the loom in the photo).

I am tickled pink with this simple solution. Here's why I like it:

a) this arrangement has a small footprint (30" long x 15" deep x 30" tall).
b) I can see the cones that I've got due to the wire mesh.
c) It houses 60 (SIXTY!) cones of yarn.

It is probably pretty affordable, too, although we bought these gizmos so long ago that I am hesitant to estimate a price.

I hope that my fiber friends will share their storage solutions, too! What works for you?
Be well,
Kate

Guilt-free chocolate muffin mix

2012-01-21T08:35:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. After our family's slight inclination to overindulge on Christmas cookies and our son's outstanding Marshmellow Fluff fudge in December, we have reduced our consumption of desserts and other sweets this month. But, hey, sometimes you have to have a little treat now and then. And one that is easy to prepare is even better. Here is my recipe for "Guilt free chocolate muffin mix."

Guilt-free chocolate muffins

Ingredients
1.5 cups flour (I have been using King Arthur's "white whole wheat")
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. orange juice
1/2 c. water
3 T. vegetable oil
1 T. vinegar
1 t. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper muffin cups or spray cooking tin with cooking spray. Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together all of the wet ingredients. Then pour wet ingredients in with the dry and mix thoroughly. Spoon batter into the muffin cups. Bake for 12-ish minutes. Yum.

Here's something I do to make these even easier. Mix your first 6 (dry) ingredients together and then store in a quart-sized canning jar. You'll have your own muffin mix! Perfect on a busy day when there is a loom to be warped.

Be well,
Kate

Playing with color

2012-01-19T08:29:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. There are a lot of fancy-schmantzy weaving/drafting software programs available for handweavers, but with college tuition looming on the horizon for two kids, this is a luxury that I cannot justify at this point in my weaving career. Like all weavers, I do like to get an idea of how color combinations might shape up before going to all of the time, effort, and expense of weaving a new fabric that might turn out (horrors!) ghastly.

What's a girl to do? Well, I do have a scanner, graphing paper, and plenty of colored pencils. Here's what I do:

a) I make a fairly accurate grid of the fabric I envision (often based on one of my popular dishtowels). Here's an example:

b) This is my master copy. I scan the copy & save it as a PDF.

c) I can print out as many copies of the master design that I would like and scribble to my heart's content!

Maybe some of my weaving friends can adapt this concept to their own needs and designs. It works for me! (And if you're lucky enough to have one of those software programs, I am insanely jealous).

Be well,
Kate

Handwoven Valentine

2012-01-15T11:40:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. We have sub-zero temperatures here in New Hampshire, but the sun is shining so it is a lovely day to dress the loom. I'm putting more "zigzag" dishtowel fabric on the old girl today.

Valentine's Day is just about a month away and while I haven't woven fabric specific for this holiday, I did put together a little, pretty Valentine for someone's sweetheart:

I used a small remnant of ivory huck lace for the fabric insert and a rich burgundy ribbon to hold it all together.

My sweetheart gave me a gift certificate to Harrisville Designs for Christmas this year, and I purchased a copy of Marguerite Davidson's famous 4 harness pattern book. What a treat.

Stay warm & be well,
Kate

Burlap chair cone for rustic weddings

2012-01-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. I have been doing a lot of Nutfield Weaver custom work lately for spring weddings. My new ribbon carousel has proven to be invaluable!

Here is a photograph of one of the custom orders that I'm working on this week. This burlap cone can be tied around a chair and filled with botanicals. Simple and sweet!

This particular cone will one of sixteen that will be part of the decor at a barn wedding this spring. (The venue is lovely - I saw pictures!).

Next on the loom will be some more zigzag towels. The warp is wound and patiently waiting her turn to be turned into cloth.

Be well,
Kate

Lime green love at Nutfield Weaver

2012-01-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. The weather is frigid here in New Hampshire but it is positively tropical on the loom today:

This fabric is woven from cotton threads in white & lime green (kiwi, peridot, chartreuse, etc...) and it worked its way into a practical, perky dishtowel this afternoon:

I'm still weaving this cloth and then have plans for a few more towels in this same pattern using natural/ivory and barn red for the narrow warp and weft stripes that to create the plaid.

Hoping you are all staying warm!
Be well,
Kate

Nutfield Weaver's spiffy new studio

2012-01-01T08:22:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. Happy New Year! My work area got a makeover for Christmas! My husband and son, Andrew, worked diligently to make some new, wonderful organizational tools for my work space. Here are some photos!

My new pegboard organizer is not just ANY pegboard organizer -- it even has a nice looking framed edge. It is practically a work of art.

Here is a close-up:

And here is the wonderful ribbon carousel that my husband and son, Andrew, designed & made together (the four post ribbon holder spins and everything and even has a sweet decorative knob on the top - with a sheep, of course).

There was actually a table underneath all of the clutter that I'd accumulated over the past year.

It is all very exciting, and I'm sure that many of you who spend time in their homes working and crafting can understand how important it is to be organized.

How lucky am I?

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and propserous 2012.
Be well,
Kate

Cast iron skillet almond coffee cake

2011-12-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. It has been some time since I posted a recipe, so I thought I would share one of our Christmas breakfast favorites. I obtained the recipe from my mother. I believe that my mother received the recipe from a member of Westmont Presbyterian Church (Johnstown, PA), where my family lived for a short while in the mid-1980s. My husband and I started making this almond coffee cake when our boys were very small and up at a ridiculously early hour on Christmas morning. Being weary parents, we would make this the night before so that breakfast preparations didn't require quite so much effort. It is perfect with a serving of fresh fruit and a strong cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea.

Note: You MUST have a cast iron skillet measuring between 9-11" in diameter.
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Cast iron skillet almond coffee cake

Ingredients
3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour
pinch of salt
1 T. almond extract
a few whole almonds for decorating (optional)
a bit more sugar for dusting the top

Melt butter and add to sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Add flour, salt, and almond extract & mix well (batter will be very thick). Pour batter into cast iron skillet which has been lined with foil. Cover top with almonds & sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake 30-40 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Remove cake from the pan with the foil & when cool wrap tightly in the foil to store.
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This cake is rich, sweet, and has a lovely almond flavor. (We really love almonds in our house).

I hope that you try this recipe! Also, what are your holiday meal traditions? Do you have a recipe that you make just about every year? Please share!

Hoping that you all have a peaceful holiday season - however you celebrate.
Be well,
Kate

Vintage lace and burlap flower girl basket

2011-12-13T13:17:00.001-05:00

Hello, friends. I have been receiving more and more queries regarding lace trims and my burlap wedding items these days. The combination of the rustic-looking burlap and delicate, airy lace has a definite appeal. So, I've decided to do some experimenting!

Here is a new burlap flower girl basket:

What do you think? I love this vintage lace, which I found from Heather via her Etsy shop, ForsytheCompanyStore. The lovely larkspur is, as you may have seen from some of my previous posts, Cindy's, from Etsy shop LarkspurHill.

And thanks to my grandmother, Mickey Tanner, for your wonderfully re-caned antique chair. (It is becoming my favorite go-to photo prop!)
Be well,
Kate

Handwoven lunchbox napkins

2011-12-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. I have been doing a lot of weaving lately (no surprise there) in addition to making some holiday gifts for family. I'd like to share some photos of some of my gift-giving projects, but since a few of my readers happen to be relatives, I think I will hold off until after December 25th!

My husband's "Secret Santa" gift exchange at work was an inspiration for a new item for Nutfield Weaver. My handwoven lunchbox napkins would be a nice gift for an officemate, don't you think? They're reasonably priced, too. Here are some photos of two that I made this week:

I've been reading up on cheesemaking. How fun does this sound? Since I've pretty much figured out how to make a good batch of yogurt, graduating to cheese seems like a natural next step. I'll let you know when (and if) I finally take the plunge and mix up some homemade chevre.

Stay warm & be well,
Kate

Moss green table runner & pillow cover

2011-12-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. It has been unseasonably warm around here. Today I ran through Mack's Apple Orchards and given the calendar date it seemed as though I should have been wearing skis instead of running shoes. The orchard still smelled very apple-y (actually, it smelled more like hard cider).

The moss green fabric is off of the loom and I have two new items for my shop that I've made from the cloth. Here is the moss green table runner:

and here is a moss green pillow cover:

The loom is being warped right now for some more ivory dishcloths. They are fun to weave and one of the most popular items for Nutfield Weaver. I may throw in a few picks of color here and there, too -- just to keep it fresh.

Be well,
Kate

A new green plaid

2011-11-30T15:42:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. My jumble of moss green threads has found her way onto the loom, and I really like the way the fabric is shaping up. Here is a teaser photo:

I plan to use this run of fabric for table runners and pillow covers. I'm thinking that the "inverse" of the color arrangement with the green and ivory might look nice, too. So much fun!

Hope you all are enjoying your day.
Be well,
Kate

PS Did you hear anything today? I loaded a short playlist of some of my favorite musical selections -- if you turn on your speakers, you'll be treated to a lovely serenade (albeit an eclectic one).

In love with moss green

2011-11-28T15:43:00.001-05:00

Hello, friends. I hope that you all had a pleasant Thanksgiving! We managed to avoid the malls and shopping in general on Black Friday. (Actually, my husband did go to the grocery store and scored some Black Friday priced sweet potatoes at $.49 per pound).

I have a short run of farmhouse plaid dishtowels on the loom:

The background color is white and the contrasting color is a nice mocha brown. It reminds me of hot chocolate. :)

I think that I have a new favorite color. It is a lovely mossy green - not as dark as a hunter green and definitely not a lime:

The warp of moss green and cream will eventually turn into table runners and pillow covers. I am so anxious to see how these colors work up that I secretly wish that I had a second (little) floor loom. (But really, one floor loom is enough).

Be well,
Kate

A pretty little thing

2011-11-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. Happy Thanksgiving to my friends here in the United States! I love to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.

Two Nutfield Weaver items have found their way to Etsy's Front Page recently. I am always grateful for a feature there because it usually means that new visitors stop by my shop. My farmhouse plaid table runner and pillow cover had cameos this past week. Hooray!

Today I put together a new handwoven huck lace eye pillow. I am really pleased with how she turned out. Here is a photograph:

I think that I'll make one of these little pillows out of some spot weave lace, too.

The next few days will be busy with preparations for the holiday and for our son's 16th birthday. Wishing you all well and thanks for checking in.

Be well,
Kate

A hint of robins egg blue

2011-11-17T15:11:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. Snow flurries are in the forecast for tonight! It certainly "feels" like snow. You just develop at sense for these things after a while.

I had a nice snowy-white warp on the loom this week with a hint of robins egg blue. Here is a picture of the fabric on the loom:

and here is a photograph of a finished kitchen towel made from this cloth:

Now my supply of robins egg blue cotton is completely exhausted. Ah well...I have a new warp of sage and ivory ready to put on the loom today.

I was so excited to issue my first electronic newsletter earlier in the week, and I have scheduled my next one already. I would love to include you among my readers! If you'd like to sign up for one, please follow the link to the Nutfield Weaver Chronicle here. I'm still learning about designing the newsletter - thank goodness for templates and (relatively) easy-to-follow directions!

Be well,
Kate

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

2011-11-15T08:08:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. I have a recipe that I'd like to share today for a very New England-y dessert. It features fresh cranberries, and it is a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Ingredients:
2 c. chopped fresh cranberries
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use walnuts)
3/4 c. melted & cooled butter
2 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. almond extract (don't use the fake stuff)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cranberries & nuts together and place in a buttered pie plate. Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, mix eggs, butter, sugar, flour, salt and almond extract together. Stir until smooth & pour over cranberry mixture. Bake for 40 minutes.

The "pie" has a topping that is really more of a cake. It is one of our favorite recipes; I think I've made it for at least 16 Thanksgivings so far!

Please let me know if you try it & if you like it!
Be well,
Kate

Newsletter launch!

2011-11-13T15:18:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver celebrated her 3rd year this week. It has been hard work trying to learn the ropes of selling handmade work online, but it has had its share of rewards as well. I have been fortunate to have had the support from many people - from just about everywhere! - who value handmade work.

In an effort to market my shop and my pieces just a bit more, I have decided to start issuing a monthly email newsletter. MailChimp is the provider I have been working with, and so far the templates and help that is available online has been great! There is a little box to the right side of the blog page here if you'd like to sign up for it. (I am following all of the anti-spamming rules!)

There is a new dishtowel this week, and I am really pleased with how she turned out. The rich cranberry red is so pretty. What do you think?

Here's to a happy week for all of you.
Be well,
Kate

Windowpane plaid kitchen towels

2011-11-10T08:15:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends. The loom has been humming away this week, and this makes me very happy. I have been experimenting with some new designs and colors. When looking through my past projects, I realized that I tend to use a lot of ivory/white as the main color, especially in the plaid designs. Well, I've taken a leap and have added a splash of color here and there!

Here is a picture of a robins egg blue towel on the loom:

and here is a picture of the towel when she is all finished:

I am working out a new recipe for an easy New England-style clam chowder that is busy-day friendly. If my food testers here at home give my efforts a thumbs-up at dinnertime tonight, I will post the recipe here tomorrow.

Be well,
Kate

Some new handwoven pieces

2011-11-04T14:57:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. While I love to weave fabrics for practical (read: kitchen duty) purposes, this week I took a small step in a new direction. Here are two new handwoven items: one for the table and one for your favorite chair:

A table runner in rust & natural cottons is shown in the above picture, and just below is a new pillow cover in cranberry red:

There is also a table runner in cranberry & natural that is just about ready. How about that little chair in the photo with the pillow cover? The chair is very old and was re-caned by my grandmother ("Grannie," to my boys). My grandmother has been caning chairs for years and will be teaching my father this important craft next week. Maybe I will learn some day, too.

Be well,
Kate

Waffleweave dishcloth draft for handweavers

2011-10-31T15:13:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. We have almost 12 inches of snow but are very thankful that our power has been restored and that despite many downed limbs on our property, our house was spared from serious damage. Weather is no laughing matter!

I have had such fun weaving cotton waffleweave dishcloths. They make such nice little gifts that I'd like to share my version of these very useful kitchen textiles. Disclaimer: I'm leaving out some details (i.e. warping instructions, weaving headers, etc...) because you weavers out there will already know to do these things.

Materials:
8/2 unmercerized cotton - 298 ends, 5 yards long (tip: wind 2 strands from 2 different cones simultaneously to save time)

Spacing: 20 ends per inch (2 per dent in a 10 dent reed)

Allow for 15" in reed or 7.5" from center.

Threading & treadling:

Note: the point twill repeat will create the waffle pattern.

Weaving:
Weave 1" tabby for first hem; weave 15" waffleweave; finish with 1" more of tabby. Using a contrasting yarn, weave 2 picks tabby to separate your first cloth from the one you will weave next.

Finishing:
Cut the fabric from the loom. Using zigzag stitch, machine-stitch the ends of the fabric. Machine wash warm; machine dry. Cut the cloths apart along the contrasting yarn tabby picks. Hem the cloths & machine stitch.

A 5 yard warp usually gets me around 10 cloths. It is fun to use a different 8/2 cotton in the weft, too, just to make things really exciting. If you decide to make any of these, I hope that you will share your waffleweave adventures here!

Be well,
Kate

Very pretty flowers in a very simple basket

2011-10-29T06:28:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. One of the nicest parts of my job is being able to work with brides-to-be. They are so excited about planning their weddings, take such care with the details and are in general so happy that their enthusiasm is just plain infectious. It is especially gratifying when I hear from a bride after her wedding and get to see pictures from her big day. I had the good fortune of receiving a note from one such young lady this week, and she was kind enough to send along some photographs of the flower girl baskets that I made for her wedding recently.

The beautiful arrangements were crafted by florist Kate Dawes of Queensland, Australia. The pale pinks and soft greens are so lovely (the little flower girls wore pale pink dresses). The photographer was Studio 60, also of Queensland.

It just makes you smile, doesn't it?
Be well,
Kate

Sneaky mother muffins

2011-10-26T12:03:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Many of you know that my husband & I have two teenaged boys. They eat A LOT. Actually, they shovel. There are days when they can't seem to stop eating. To make things even more interesting, they are pretty lazy when it comes to "finding" something to eat. So I make a lot of muffins.

Here is my latest recipe. I snuck in leftover roasted butternut squash (we grew squash this year in the garden & had a pretty good haul) & whole wheat flour & also paid attention to the amount of sugar I put in the batter. (I'm not sure that this trick will fool their tastebuds, but it is worth a try, right?)

Sneaky Mother Muffins
2 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. mashed, cooked squash (1 c. of any sweet squash will do)
1 c. white flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. dried cranberries (or raisins or dried cherries...)

Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray & preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix eggs, oil, brown sugar, vanilla & squash together in a bowl. Next, add the flours, baking powder & salt. Fold in the cranberries or other dried fruit. Spoon batter in muffin cups. I usually get 10-12 muffins. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Easy peasy, right? I suppose you could throw in some chocolate chips, too, to make things very fun and exciting. (Making a mental note here.)

Be well,
Kate

Lace Christmas ornaments

2011-10-24T14:21:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. There is a definite chill in the air these days, but that is to be expected. We picked pumpkins this weekend at the local farm (and I bought more squash).

Here are some new pretties for my shop just in time for the holidays:

Spot weave lace Christmas ornament

Huck lace Christmas ornament

I like to offer a few Christmas ornaments at Nutfield Weaver
during this time of year and this is what I came up with for 2011. It is nice to have a few extra things ready for gift-giving, too. (We do have the world's nicest postal carriers here in Londonderry).

My farmhouse plaid table runner is ready to go on the loom. I'll start the warping process today and am keeping my fingers crossed that my thread counts are accurate! (It is a wonderful thing to have a mannerly warp).

Would you like to make your own fabric heart ornaments similar to mine? Let me know...If there is a bit of interest I'll post a tutorial in the near future. (Handwoven fabric is certainly not necessary to use -- the possibilities here are endless and enticing!)

Be well,
Kate

Tastes-like-pie winter squash soup

2011-10-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Jenny at TheLittleRagamuffin

Hello, friends. We have an abundance of winter squash this year. We grew butternut squash, which performed well. I have a habit of being unable to resist the sugar pumpkins and sunshine squashes at the farmstand and always end up buying a curcubit or two who seemed to need a home. (It is a good thing that winter squashes keep well).

Here is a soup that I made the other day. I started working with a recipe from a cookbook, but didn't have all of the listed ingredients. So I took a leap and devised my own concoction. It turned out wicked good.

"Taste-like-pie Winter Squash Soup"

Ingredients:
About 2 pounds winter squash (roasted, peeled and mashed) (I used "sunshine squash" but a sugar pumpkin or butternut would work)
1 stick butter (cut it in half)
1/3 c. onion (diced)
1/3 c. sweet pepper (diced - red peppers look nice)
1/4 white wine
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cloves
4 c. chicken stock (vegetable stock will probably work, too)
1/4 c. flour
2-4 T. real maple syrup (put in as much as you see fit)

1) Saute onions and peppers in 1/4 c. butter (half of your stick) until the vegetables soften. Add 1/4 c. white wine and the spices. Simmer for a few minutes.

2) Add chicken stock. Then add the squash. Simmer for about 10 minutes. I pureed the soup with an immersion blender to break up the squash a little bit more.

3) Make a simple roux: melt 1/4 c. butter. Blend melted butter and flour in a small dish. Add the roux to the soup, stirring to make sure the roux is incorporated. Simmer for a few more minutes.

4) Blend maple syrup into the soup. Simmer for a minute or two more. Serve! Add salt & pepper to taste.

We will definitely be growing more winter squash next year! Be sure to visit Jenny's seed shop at The Little Ragamuffin if you're thinking about growing winter squash. Jenny's seeds are wonderful. The calendulas that we grew from her seed supply are STILL blooming!

Something for baby

2011-10-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Waffleweave is one of my favorite weaving structures. It is so useful in the kitchen. Several of my clients have told me that they have reassigned their "dishcloths" to the bathtub since they are so soft. Between this feedback and the birth of a friend's new baby, I was inspired to use my fluffy waffleweave fabric for a bib.

Here's a picture of the first one:

I lined the bib with cotton batting and backed it with quilter's cotton in a leafy, autumn motif. I like the sage fabric - it would suit boys or girls.

Isn't it sweet? I seem to remember never having quite enough bibs on hand when the boys were babies. I'd love to hear your feedback on this new item -- it is a bit of a leap for me. I'm thinking about making one or two in some brighter colors as well -- when time permits, of course. (And there's NEVER enough of THAT, is there?)

Be well,
Kate

Apple maple jam receipe

2011-10-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Martha, who is a handweaver from Utah, expressed an interest in my apple maple jam recipe. If you haven't visited Martha's Etsy shop yet, you really should do so. Just click here to see TandRHandweaving. Martha's skill at weaving overshot is particularly evident in her table runners and other housewares. Here is a sneak peek at some of her work:

I love the look of overshot -- but unfortunately I always seem to be at odds with two shuttles that need to be used simultaneously!

And for those of you with a sweet tooth and access to orchard-fresh apples, here is a yummy recipe.

Apple Maple Jam
6 pounds apples (chopped, peeled & cored)
6 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. allspice
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 c. maple syrup (the real thing - don't use that corn syrup-y stuff)

Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring SLOWLY to a boil (this will take a while). Cook rapidly to gelling point. As mixture thickens, stir frequently and vigorously (if you don't, the mess will scorch and you will be sad). Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust 2 piece caps. Process 10 min. in a boiling water canner. Makes about 8 half-pint (I usually get 9 half pints).
Adapted from Ball Blue Book Guide to Home Canning, Freezing & Dehydration, 1995, Alltrista Corporation.

This jam is perfect with toast, and I also add a generous spoonful to our homemade yogurt. Yum.

Be well,
Kate

Hostess gift idea

2011-10-17T10:36:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends. I had an interesting discussion with a friend on Friday afternoon. My friend inquired how business was going at Nutfield Weaver, and I replied that sales of my handwoven housewares - particularly dishtowels - were starting to pick up. I mentioned that several of my customers have told me that they intended to give my dishtowels as gifts. My friend replied that she would "NEVER" give a dishtowel as a gift. Well, I couldn't let this opinion go unanswered!

Here is an idea for a hostess or housewarming gift:

Isn't this cute? It's an easy gift to give, too. I folded one of my handwoven dishtowels into quarters lengthwise to make a "band," which I then wrapped around a jar of my homemade apple maple jam. The decorative canning label really dresses up the jar. I bought these labels from Alison's Etsy shop, "Canning Crafts." (I've purchased several sheets from Canning Crafts since our garden was so productive this year!) I tied the towel with a 36 inch length of ribbon and VOILA! Gift-giving made simple - and useful. I suppose you could even include the recipe for your jam or relish or whatever you decide to include.

See? Dishtowels can be lovely and are definitely appropriate for gifts! And have you ever met anyone who didn't like jam?

Be well,
Kate

Waffleweave kitchen textiles

2011-10-12T15:59:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. It is very waffle-y here at Nutfield Weaver. My first run of yellow waffleweave dishcloths was (finally) cut from the loom this week. I hemmed up the first set and here is how they turned out:

This morning I finished tying on a new warp for orange dishcloths:

So that's all for now! Our orchestra has a big concert coming up on Saturday night, so I am spending a lot of time with my cello, too. Here's more information on the New Hampshire Philharmonic, in case you're free on Saturday night!

Be well,
Kate

Handwoven lace eye pillow

2011-10-09T06:42:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends. We have had a taste of summer here in New Hampshire, which was been a real treat. Even so, my thoughts are leaning toward the holiday season, which always seems to spring upon us suddenly!

With the holidays in mind (and I hope that not TOO many of my relatives are reading this post), I designed a special gift for the secret someones in my life. It is a handwoven huck lace eye pillow:

It turned out so nicely and I am so pleased with my design that I decided to offer this in my Etsy shop, too. And I may have to make one of these for myself. I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it!

Handwoven dishcloths are still underway - yellow, orange, and teal!

Be well,
Kate

Sunny waffleweave dishcloths

2011-10-06T05:48:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. After weaving twelve yards of zigzag dishtowel fabric, I have mixed things up on the loom and am making some short runs of cheerful, brightly colored dishcloths. Yellow is on the loom right now!

Next up is bright orange, and possibly some teal. Cheerful colors make kitchen clean-up less of a chore, don't you think?

Be well,
Kate

Teaching an old weaver new tricks

2011-10-04T15:47:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. My husband has returned to graduate studies this fall, and in the spirit of higher learning, I have decided to teach myself how to use our SLR camera. My Nikon point & shoot is a beloved friend, but I decided that it was time to try to improve my photographs, especially before the holiday shopping season approaches.

So here are some of my latest attempts...

I am learning about things like "depth of field" and "white balance." And in the meantime, I am warping the loom for dishcloths. It is nice to have something familiar, too.

Be well,
Kate :)

Zigzag twill kitchen towels

2011-09-30T13:57:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. After coercing a long warp onto the loom, I have starting to weave more of my popular zigzag twill kitchen dishtowels. I love the pattern, and it is a good fit for both brightly colored weft yarns and for neutral yarns. Here is a new mocha and white towel:

There are orange, turquoise, and slate colored towels all set to go. I got a yummy cranberry red cotton this fall, too, but I think I'm going to pair this up with some ivory.

Happy Fall, everyone.
Be well,
Kate

Windowsill visitor

2011-09-27T09:35:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. One of the best things about living by the conservation area is the abundance of wildlife that lives around our home. Here is one of our marshy neighbors. He looks like he wants to come inside for a spell:

My son, Andrew, held a quarter up to the inside of the window so that you can see how tiny this little fellow is:

Isn't he sweet?

I have some 600 8/2 unmercerized cotton threads destined for the loom today. It takes a long time to wind twelve yards of warp when using fine yarn! I'm excited, though. I haven't had a run of zigzag towels on the loom for a while now, and the time is right.

Be well,
Kate

Zigzag twill coasters

2011-09-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I am taking a short break from weaving with fine threads and trying to work through my yarn stash. I decided on handwoven coasters made from mercerized cottons:

I really like this twill; it is the same pattern that I use on my zigzag dishtowels, which, indicidentally are next in the queue for the loom!

Hoping you are enjoying your first day of Fall...
Be well,
Kate

New handwoven table napkins

2011-09-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. What a busy week! I am so excited about my new table napkins. I am thinking about keeping these for our family (or at least making a new set for the four of us). Here is a picture:

These are made from unmercerized cotton in crepe weave. I am very fond of this weave structure -- it has an interesting pattern that creates a nice drape.

I'm winding a very long warp for more zigzag towels and have some new coasters in the works. (I needed a break from fine threads and close setts!).

Happy Fall.
Be well,
Kate

New Hampshire in September

2011-09-14T15:56:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. September is lovely in New Hampshire. Our gardens are producing well. Today I'm just sharing a few photos of some of our plants (and an animal).

Rosa rugosa. My husband is the rosarian at our house.

Our dog, Ingrid, looking very guilty as she licks her chops next to the tomato bed.

Concord grapes. Yummy.

Off to work on a new warp for zigzag twill dishtowels in orange and turquoise.
Be well,
Kate

The case for keeping a tree stump

2011-09-12T06:51:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. September activities are ramping up. We watched our son play his first soccer game of the season on Saturday, and the boys are knee-deep in homework. The dehydrator has been whirring away steadily, and my herb garden looks so terrible that I've already sketched out plans for improvements.

My husband and my Dad took down a dead oak tree in the Fall of 2007. The tree was too close to the house to take any chances, and after a series of ice storms and high winds through the years, we have not been sorry that the tree became firewood. The stump has remained and is an occasional nuisance. Now, however, it seems that the stump will have to stay since there is a new homeowner:

Isn't he cute?

Be well,
Kate

Garden delights

2011-09-09T16:38:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I've been tinkering with my photos again for my Etsy shop. Some of my favorite props to use for my handwoven kitchen items come right from our own backyard. I've been re-tooling the photo for one of my handwoven farmhouse plaid dishtowels. We enjoy gardening in our family. Here is sampling of what we've been doing this summer:

very yummy Concord grapes and...

Roma tomatoes and herbs.

How many people can say that they get to eat their photo props? Tomato and goat cheese tart tonight. And I have to pick more grapes before dinnertime.

Be well,
Kate

A garden visitor

2011-09-06T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Just wanted to share some of the photographs that I took on Monday (Labor Day). Don & I were gardening in the morning, and these monarch butterflies kept us company.

Life is good.

Be well,
Kate

New handwoven table napkins

2011-09-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I've been tinkering on a new table napkins for my autumn line at Nutfield Weaver. Today I took the first sample piece from the loom, and I am very excited about how the cloth is shaping up. Here is a sneak peek:

These are about 12 inches square and are made of easy-care unmercerized cotton. The weaving structure here is crepe weave, which utilizes all 8 shafts of the loom. I will be offering these in sets of four and have warp chains ready for sets in ivory/natural and red. What fun!

Happy Labor Day, everyone!
Be well,
Kate :)

New burlap pew cones

2011-08-31T10:47:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. We came through Hurricane Irene unscathed; we didn't even lose power! I don't really mind it too much when the lights go out -- at least in the summertime.

Here is a new item that I've created for Nutfield Weaver:

The beautiful purple larkspur was expertly grown and preserved by my Etsy friend, Cindy. Her beautiful botanicals are lovely for weddings as well as your home. Her shop, PleasantHedges, is a visual treat. Here is some eye candy for you:

Just plain pretty!
Be well,
Kate

Little khaki burlap petal cone

2011-08-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver's roses have had a late summer resurgence, and so I have taken the opportunity to combine our lovely blooms with a new addition to my shop. Here is my little khaki burlap petal cone, just photographed this morning:

Isn't she sweet? My little cones have been found in quite a few late summer and early fall weddings this year. And on at least one occasion the petite cones have even been carried by some very little flower girls in lieu of a traditional basket -- the handle can be looped around the wrist. Perfect for the little ones. :)

Be well,
Kate

Handspinning at Londonderry Old Home Days

2011-08-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. What a fun and busy weekend we had here in Londonderry. On Saturday, I took my wheel to the Morrison House to demonstrate handspinning. It was nice to meet lots of friendly people and kids and I even spun up a nice skein of yarn to boot. The roving I was working with was sheared from New Hampshire sheep.

Here are a few pictures:

Vincent Rojo took the photo above. Visit Heather Rojo's fascinating genealogy and history blog, Nutfield Genealogy -- I always learn something interesting after reading Heather's posts.

Here I am chatting with two future fiber enthusiasts and their mother:

What fun! And now for some weaving...
Be well,
Kate

Handwoven lace stationery

2011-08-12T14:31:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. In the true Yankee spirit of "waste not, want not," I've been using up little pieces of my handwoven lace fabric to make little note cards. I was very excited that my first set found a new home recently, and Nutfield Weaver has received inquiries for additional sets. Here are a couple of photographs:

Hoping that your days are sunny where you are!
Be well,
Kate

New burlap wedding decor

2011-08-09T13:14:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver is excited to share a new item with you today. This new burlap cone is perfect for decoratings chairs at a wedding:

and here's another snapshot:

Tell me what you think! I have one hanging around a door handle right now - and the lavender smells heavenly.

Be well,
Kate

Hinting at Fall

2011-08-02T09:16:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. It's hot in New Hampshire! Even so, we spotted the sign at one of our local apple orchards which simply read, "SOON," which means that the fruit is almost ready for picking. As much as I love our pretty New England summers, my favorite season in autumn.

So here is a new farmhouse plaid dishtowel that hints at fall:

The dark yellow color goes by many names: ochre, goldenrod, mustard, bamboo, amber. Whatever you may call it, it just seems to work. :)

Be well,
Kate

Staying organized!

2011-07-29T11:28:00.004-04:00

I watched an "Etsy Success" livestream video yesterday. It was hosted by Michelle Ward. It was the first livestream video I'd ever watched. :)

Something really resonated with me and it was about index cards.

Just index cards.

Here's why:
I've been fortunate to watch my Etsy shop receive more traffic. The downside to this is that I frequently have too many irons in the fire.

Am I disorganized? I didn't think so. I have Excel spreadsheets and online calendars and several spiral-bound notebooks floating around between my loom and sewing machine. My problem was this: I wasn't organizing my work in a way that suits me. I am a paper and pen person. I did not grow up with a home computer. I took handwritten notes all the way through graduate school.

I realized yesterday after watching the video discussion that it was OK to rely on an organizational method (paper/pen) that suits my style and abilities. I'm a tactile and visual person and it is no longer enough for me to rely upon a keyboard stroke - or worse - my memory to complete the work that I have in the queue.

So here's the PDF worksheet I came up with to help organize my custom order requests

It is just a simple worksheet. But I think that it will work better for me. In fact, I know it will work better for me. Maybe it will work for you, too.

Tweak as necessary for your own shop.
Be well,
Kate ;)

Yellow and white farmhouse plaid

2011-07-27T17:28:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. There is a new addition to Nutfield Weaver this week:

More yellow! I love this yellow cotton and it is perfect for a sunny kitchen towel, don't you think?

You may have noticed the watermark on the above photograph. I am going through the painstaking process of placing the little copyright symbol and my shop name on each new picture and also all of my older ones. I have unfortunately discovered several of my pictures here and there on the internet; in the worst cases credit for my photos was given to the wrong party (i.e. not me). Nuts. Heavy sigh.

Ah well. The internet is an experiment in anarchy, is it not?
Be well,
Kate

Little ivory burlap petal cone

2011-07-23T13:45:00.000-04:00

Pretty petite burlap cone for your autumn wedding. Isn't she sweet?

Be well,
Kate

Honeybees and Black-Eyed Susans

2011-07-22T17:03:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver has been continuing her love affair with yellow. There is a new dishtowel in my Etsy shop today. Here is a photograph:

My husband thought that the yellow weft emphasis in the cloth is somewhat reminiscent of a honeybee. While this next towel reminded me of a fried egg, it seemed more appropriate to name the colorway after a the black-eyed susan flower instead:

More yellow is in the works - a lovely warp in sunny yellow and white is being put into the reed as of today and a new warp in ochre (goldenrod, harvest gold) and natural cottons is all set. Now all I need is the time to weave!

Be well,
Kate

Garden inspired wedding decor part 2

2011-07-19T17:27:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. My hands still smell faintly of sage, which I snipped out of my herb garden today. I used the sage along with some of my other herbs to photograph a burlap petal cone that will be making her way to Australia this week. Here is a peek...

I have a new warp ready for the loom - my yellow and white threads will eventually become farmhouse plaid towels. I love yellow and white for a kitchen!

Be well,
Kate

Garden inspired wedding decor

2011-07-18T14:01:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends.

How does your garden grow this summer? Ours is doing quite nicely, despite the presence of guilty-looking chipmunks and other garden-loving critters. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to photograph my Nutfield Weaver creations with our fresh flowers.

Here are some photos of a khaki burlap flower girl cone with moss green ribbon:

The flowers used here in the burlap cone are our "Apart" rose, French lavender, and calendula. The calendula was grown from seed which I purchased from a lovely Etsy shop, TheLittleRagamuffin. Be sure to stop in at this Etsy store -- it is enchanting!

Be well, Kate

Yellow

2011-07-07T09:20:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Wedding season is in full swing, and I have had the opportunity to work with some lovely brides-to-be recently. Pale yellow seems to be a popular color this summer. Here are some photographs of some pieces I put together for a bride recently:

And here is a new kitchen dishtowel, also with yellow! I am calling this "Bumblebee plaid." (Actually, I can't decide what to name it - maybe it is more of a "lemon pepper plaid.")

What do you think? Bumblebee plaid? Lemon pepper plaid? Iowa Hawkeyes Plaid? (Wink, wink).

Be well,
Kate

English lavender plaid kitchen towel

2011-06-23T16:34:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends.

Nutfield Weaver may have to keep one or two of these lavender-inspired dishtowels for herself. They're pretty enough for the powder room, don't you think?

I received 10 pounds of unmercerized cottons today; lots of lovely fall colors included!

Cheers & be well,
Kate

Lavender is in bloom on the loom

2011-06-21T10:05:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver's lavender plants are in full bloom in the garden and on the loom! I love the grey-ish hue of the flower and, of course, the intoxicating aroma of lavender is unsurpassed.

Here is my homage to one of my favorite plants:

Next up: bumblebee-inspired kitchen textiles.

Be well,
Kate

Patriotic plaid dishtowel fabric

2011-06-14T12:03:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Summer is almost here in New Hampshire, but your friendly Nutfield Weaver was wearing a winter coat and mittens at her son's baseball game last night. Egad!

But this fabric is making me think of warmer days ahead -- let's hope that July 4th is a bit less chilly than it is right now:

Technically the fabric is not "red, white and blue," it is more of a "red, natural, and blue." My design gives a nod to "stripes," but I have yet to figure out how to weave "stars" into the cloth. But who knows? Stars might be in a future piece.

Be well, Kate

Chive blossom purple farmhouse plaid towels

2011-06-08T21:08:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. I finally finished my latest run of farmhouse plaid kitchen dishtowels and have my latest addition to the series. Here is Nutfield Weaver's new Farmhouse plaid kitchen towel in this very pretty purple:

Next up on the loom are some red, white and blue plaid towels, and then a new colorway in white, sage, and lavender.
Be well,
Kate

Burlap & fresh flowers

2011-06-06T16:52:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends.

I have been spending a lot of time with burlap lately for my Nutfield Weaver shop and also with our fresh flowers, which are enjoying the slightly warmer temperatures. Burlap is a simple, somewhat rustic fabric but couples beautifully with flowers, fresh or dried.

Time to water the garden!
Be well,
Kate

DIY Burlap Ring Bearer Pillow Tutorial

2011-06-05T20:05:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends. I enjoy working with brides and their families who are planning rustic or country-themed weddings. I also enjoy writing sewing patterns. Today I am putting one of my patterns here for you! Here are directions for making your own burlap ring bearer pillow for your wedding. Do give it a try -- and if you are not partial to burlap, try sewing your own using a fabric of your choice: linen, re-purposed denim, or a piece of country calico that coordinates with your color palette.

Click on the highlighted link here to get your free Burlap Ring Pillow PDF pattern.

Happy stitching & be well,
Kate

Garden inspired handwovens

2011-06-03T14:44:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. Our peonies and rugosa roses have opened up this week. Early June is one of the loveliest times of year here in New Hampshire. The colors of the garden are certainly inspiring and very useful when it comes to staging photographs!

Here is my handwoven lace petal cone. This item has been one of Nutfield Weaver's signature pieces, and I thought I would shoot some pictures of it with some of our fresh flowers:

I can't decide how I want to title the farmhouse plaid towel that I am weaving here:

The color is called "grey mauve" by the manufacturer, but to me it looks more like a dusty rose or "purple cow," the color of one of my favorite summer ice cream flavors.

I think that "purple cow" might win. What's your vote?

Be well,
Kate

Farmhouse plaid kitchen towels

2011-05-31T08:57:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. There were a couple of new additions to Nutfield Weaver this weekend. I finished weaving the run of orange and white "farmhouse plaid" kitchen towels. I am really pleased with how they turned out:

I'm warping the loom right now for more of these towels in ivory and antique rose (mauve). There are also some new tissue holders in the shop, and here is one:

She is a dainty little thing, no?
Be well,
Kate

Our gardens

2011-05-27T07:48:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Things are pretty much par for the course for Nutfield Weaver this week. I am continuing to work on burlap pew cone requests for weddings and (this is new) for a late summer garden party. There is also a new farmhouse plaid towel colorway on the loom - white and orange!

When our free time permits, my husband and I work in our gardens. Since we live in the Land of Granite, raised beds help us combat the presence of very large rocks in our soil.

Flowers:

Edibles:

Now I am off to soak my morning glory seeds and get a few inches of those farmhouse plaid kitchen towels woven.
Be well,
Kate

Fiddlehead and Goat Cheese Quiche

2011-05-24T16:06:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Nutfield Weaver is taking a bit of a detour with this post to share a recipe that features a seasonal New England treat. My husband and I concocted "Fiddlehead & Goat Cheese Quiche" together on Saturday night. Fresh fiddleheads are found in our New Hampshire markets this time of year, and they are truly a delicacy. Buy them when you see them as their harvest time is just not long enough -- use the fiddleheads within a day or two of purchase.

Here are the fiddleheads I got today:

And here is our recipe for quiche.

Fiddlehead & Goat Cheese Quiche

Ingredients:
1 single crust pie crust (homemade is best, but purchased is fine, too)
1.5-2 cups fresh fiddleheads
3/4 c. heavy cream
6 eggs
3/4 c goat cheese
4 slices cooked, crispy bacon
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place the pie crust in a pie plate and prick with fork. Bake for 5 minutes to dry out the crust a bit. Remove from oven and decrease oven heat to 350 degrees.

While the pie crust is baking, cook your fiddleheads. (We boiled ours in salted water for about 5 minutes - you should boil them - we've heard talk about toxins/bacteria that can be found in these foraged veggies). Drain the fiddleheads. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, cream, and goat cheese (we gently crumbled our goat cheese into the eggs). Add the crispy bacon pieces and black pepper, and then fold in the cooked fiddleheads.

Pour the egg mixture in the pre-cooked pie crust. Place in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the eggs have set.

Share nicely. Serves 4.

What do YOU do with fiddleheads? I'd love to know!
Be well,
Kate

New handwoven table napkins

2011-05-18T15:35:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I just finished my first set of stepping stone twill table napkins and am tickled pink with the results. Here is a photo!

I have plans to make more of these in different colorways; the turquoise and white table napkins shown here are for a custom order.

I'd love to know what you think so please drop me a line!
Be well,
Kate

Burlap wedding decor and a busy loom

2011-05-10T11:57:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. I've been away from my blog for a while. My family took a trip to New York City recently. We took in a Broadway show, visited two museums, and strolled through Central Park and the Bronx Zoo. I enjoyed NYC a great deal, but was anxious to return home to our little corner of Eden here in the Granite State.

Wedding season is in full swing. I've been putting together pew cones, flower girl baskets, and the occasional ring bearer pillow for brides. Here are a few pictures of my latest efforts:

The loom is busy, too, and the queue for new warps is continuing to grow. The "stepping stone twill" pattern is still on the loom. Here are some new color combinations for kitchen textiles:

Robins egg blue is definitely one of my favorite shades with which to weave. And the honey yellow is a close second.

Be well,
Kate

Stepping stones and fiddleheads

2011-04-21T15:42:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I've finished weaving my first run of "stepping stone twill" kitchen towels. Here are just a couple of pictures!

Spring has gotten me to thinking about fiddleheads, which should show up at our local market soon. I put together an Etsy Treasury today, which features some fern and fiddlehead inspired pieces. Just click on the link to check it out!

Be well, Kate ;)

Stepping stone handwoven fabric

2011-04-16T16:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. There is a new fabric on the loom at Nutfield Weaver, and I am really excited about it. This fabric is a point twill design, and the design reminded me of a stepping stone path. The loom is warped in ivory cotton, and I'm using a variety of different colors for the weft. Here it is!

Colonial blue:

Cinnamon:

Black:

I'd love to hear what you think of the colors and the design. Next up are some table napkins!

Be well, Kate ;)

Living with handwovens

2011-04-14T18:43:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. It's been a busy week here at Nutfield Weaver! The loom is just about warped with a new kitchen towel design. It is always exciting to throw the shuttle for those first few inches of weaving. Look for a picture of the new fabric soon!

There were discussions in the Etsy team forums today about "why" people should bother to support handmade work. For me, a lot of it has to do with supporting traditional craft. It is also about making a connection with the person who worked to create an item. I really like hearing from my clients about how they use their pieces. I was tickled pink when a customer told me that she uses my waffleweave dishcloths in her bath (they're that soft!). Here is just one of the many ways I use handwoven textiles in our house:

Rosemary olive bread. Yum. Time for dinner!

Be well,
Kate :)

Plain and simple cloth

2011-04-07T08:39:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I was reading in Robert LeClerc's book, Warp & Weave (the author is also a prominent loom manufacturer from Quebec) that plain weave is a true measure of a weaver's skill. When one examines plain weave (or "tabby") work, a weaver's selvedges are examined, and variations in beat and shuttle manipulation are made perfectly clear. So, I figured it was time to practice my plain weave!

Here is my latest run of plain weave. This is woven from 10/2 mercerized cotton, sett at 30 ends per inch. As a weaver, I tend not a beat very hard, so my "picks per inch" are very often not balanced with my "ends per inch." I suppose if I were to weight my beater on the loom, I may get a different result. My selvedges aren't so bad, though (selvedges are the outer edges of the cloth - weaver's don't like to see dangling threads or wobbly edges here.)

After I practiced my plain weave, I moved on to lace. This is "spot weave," one of my very favorite patterns.

I will use the lace to make little handwoven pretties. :)

Be well, Kate :)

Spring cleaning

2011-04-04T18:20:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. More snow fell today in Londonderry, but I am willing spring to arrive by weaving up some fresh new kitchen textiles here at Nutfield Weaver!

I'm warping the loom for spot weave lace tomorrow. Threaded at a sett of 30 threads per inch, I will be busy preparing the loom for a while -- but it is so worth it. :)

be well,
Kate

New colorways and a tiny addition to Nutfield

2011-03-31T17:42:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. We are preparing for another winter storm to hit Thursday night and Friday. Power outages are threatening, which meant that I spent a lot of time sewing today in case we are powerless. The beauty of handweaving, though, is that I can weave any time!

I have a waffleweave warp on the loom and am excited to get some new kitchen textiles into my shop:

I also found a little way of using up my scraps of handwoven fabric. (I really hate throwing this stuff away - it just takes too much time and effort to end up in the trash!). So here is my "Weaver's greeting card"...

These little greeting cards might look nice with a lace fabric insert as well, don't you think?

Stay warm & be well,
Kate :)

Building my brand

2011-03-29T17:24:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends. I was tickled pink to reach a milestone sale for Nutfield Weaver this week--over 500 sales for my Etsy shop and counting!

After I stopped crowing about the number, I realized that I still have a lot of work to do to help my little venture to grow. Most of these areas have to do with "branding" my work (I've been reading, can you tell?). While I don't have the time or the finances to have a professional logo made or anything of that nature, I have decided to start small.

I'm reworking some of my photographs for my shop. Here are some examples:

With getting the zigzag towels ready for photographing in this way, I accomplish two things: I show potential buyers how their item is "packaged" (and I went for a minimalist, "eco-friendly" presentation here, even re-purposing leftover warp threads to bundle the towels); and I hope to unify the appearance of the items that are listed in my shop. Getting all of my items photographed in this way will take time, but eventually Nutfield Weaver will have a more cohesive appearance.

Aside from tweaking pictures, I'm busy with burlap and working on some new waffleweave dishcloths. Look at this festive turquoise fabric that is on the loom today:

There is always something to do!
Be well, Kate :)

Burlap wedding pretties

2011-03-24T19:36:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. Along with handweaving kitchen textiles, I spend a lot of time designing and customizing burlap wedding accessories for brides. My little burlap business is bustling, and I thought I would share a few photographs of some of the custom items I have created recently!

A basket for a little flower girl

Pew cones for a wedding in Galway, Ireland

A ring bearer pillow for a Texas bride

Be well,
Kate ;)

D.I.S.H.T.O.W.E.L.

2011-03-23T13:40:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. The loom is humming away, as is my warping reel. I've woven 10 zigzag towels so far, and am winding a warp for an additional 8. I love this pattern, although I have plans for a new design that keep niggling me. It will be another point twill variation, and if my sketches are correct, I think that it will resemble stepping stones or a brick walkway. "Stepping stone twill" has kind of a nice ring to it, eh?

Our chives made an appearance only to be buried by additional snow. My boys insist upon wearing shorts despite temperatures that dip into the 20s. I think that this is their way of demanding that winter goes away.

Be well,
Kate :)

Handwoven zigzag dishtowels!

2011-03-19T15:49:00.001-04:00

Hello, friends. I am having so much fun working on my latest run of zigzag twill kitchen towels. The purple is coming along nicely:

and so is the turquoise:

I hope to have this run of towels completed before the end of this week. Nutfield Weaver's shop "shelves" are nearly empty!

Be well, Kate :)

Napperons d'ivoire

2011-03-16T15:47:00.000-04:00

Bonjour, mon amis! Well, this is about the extent of my French, although having an international client base has made it necessary to re-learn some of my high school French basics and to make friends with online foreign language translators. I learned recently that "to weave" is "tisser" en Francais, and that "placemats" are "napperons" en Francais. These "napperons" will be making their way to France:

More zigzag towels are underway. I've finished two so far, and am working on one right now in a very exciting shade of purple. Sometimes these warps just seem to disappear when the weaver finds her rhythm. :)

I'd love to hear what you think of "les napperon!"
Merci beaucoup! Kate ;)

An old gent and organized chaos

2011-03-14T17:28:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I've been warping away at the loom. More zigzag towels are finally in the works! Getting the loom ready to handle 600+ fine threads is an exercise in patience, and one has to be willing to accept a certain amount of chaos. Case in point:

The threading should be finished within a day or two from now and then weaving can begin!

This afternoon, instead of messing with heddles, I spent about 15 minutes watching an old gentleman beaver. It really is amazing how big these beautiful creatures are! Old Mr. Beaver was very cooperative, and allowed me to get about 15 feet away. I was able to see him blink. His tail was most impressive. Have a look at two pictures that I got:

and here he is making his way back into the water (look for that silky, wet coat toward the center of the photo):

What a treat to have seen him. I hope to have the opportunity to see him again.

Be well,
Kate :)

Beavers and blue...

2011-03-09T14:01:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. While Spring is definitely several weeks away in New Hampshire, there are signs that the tide is turning. I saw the beavers swimming around on Monday in the marsh. Ingrid, our dog, saw them also and offered her customary noisy greeting.

I've been weaving robins egg blue placemats in a huck lace design this week. I had a small amount of warp leftover and so decided to weave a table square. Here it is:

Next up is another short run of placemats, and then I can finally start weaving more zigzag twill towels. My new cones of cotton have been waiting patiently to be used. I can't wait to see the purple on the loom in this pattern. And the orange. And the algiers blue...

Be well,
Kate :)

Aquamarine and turquoise

2011-03-03T16:36:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. Many of you know that Nutfield Weaver is a Pisces, so my birthstone is aquamarine. Maybe that is why I seem to be so drawn to this color!

Here is a wee burlap basket that I put together today (note the aqua or robin's egg blue ribbon!).

I finished weaving the turquoise bold plaid towels yesterday, and hemmed up the edges this morning:

and my first set of robin's egg blue dishcloths have found a new home and will be en route to Japan tomorrow!

Busy, busy! But this is a good thing. :)
Be well,
Kate

Sage bold plaid towels!

2011-02-27T15:11:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. We have more snow. It is still February in New England, so I guess that this is not really news.

There is new color combination on the loom for my bold plaid towels. These are woven from cream/ivory/natural and sage cottons. I like the way that they're shaping up. Here's a picture:

And here is a new warp chain that is underway. I'm using a bright turquoise (called "Algiers blue" by the yarn folks) and white. The chain is still on the reel here:

Which is your favorite? I can't really choose. :)

Other than weaving, I learned how to play Seven Card Stud Poker with my family this weekend. My betting skills are not terribly good, but it is all in good fun.

Be well,
kate :)

Rustic burlap petal cone pattern!

2011-02-21T17:09:00.004-05:00

Hello, friends. My boys are on school vacation this week, which means that they tend to sleep in late. Since I am a very nice mother, I do not bang away on the loom while they sleep (up to a point). So, this morning I spent some time putting together another PDF sewing pattern for my shop!

My Rustic Burlap Petal Cone for Flower Girls sewing pattern is all set to go! The construction of the cone is similar to the pew cone, but the burlap & ribbon handle is a bit tricky. Hopefully the pattern will appeal to some DIY brides out there. I also think that it would make a pretty sweet Easter basket, especially if you were to use a nice Easter-y colored ribbon . :)

Off to wash up my robins egg blue waffleweave fabric and think about dinner.
Be well, Kate :)

Robins egg blue on the loom!

2011-02-20T16:06:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. One of my very favorite colors is on the loom right now -- robins egg blue. Some people call it aqua, some call it turquoise, some call it teal (although I think this is a stretch). It is being used in some waffleweave fabric right now in both warp & weft. It is a great color for spring:

My burlap pew cone ePattern has gotten some very nice reviews from people who have purchased the directions, and this has been gratifying. I'm toying with the idea of putting together directions for the rustic flower girl burlap cone, but we will see. First things first! Time to finish these robins egg blue waffleweave dishcloths and then warp the loom for some bold plaid towels.

Be well, Kate :)

A lovely feature & raspberry dishcloths

2011-02-17T17:37:00.004-05:00

Hello, friends! I have had the good fortune of getting to know a fellow New Hampshire artisan who also has an Etsy shop. Erin of Alle05 has graciously featured Nutfield Weaver on her blog, which is very nicely done. Her blog is called "Alle's Corner of the World". (Click on the links!) Be sure to stop in at Erin's shop and blog. You'll be treated to some pretty things!

The raspberry colored fabric is off of the loom, and these are the new dishcloths that I made:

Next up is a warp in robin's egg blue and then some more bold plaid dishtowels in sage & ivory. I can't wait!
Be well,
Kate :)

Hints of Spring

2011-02-15T12:29:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. It was nice enough here in Londonderry to get outside for a short run, and today it is absolutely awful, with frigid winds and icy temps. It was nice to have that little tiny taste of nicer weather that is sure to come!

And Spring has definitely found its way onto Nutfield Weaver's loom. Here are some pictures...

Today there is a lovely raspberry colored warp going onto the loom. Yummy! I'm slowly but surely making headway on my custom weaving requests. :)
Be well,
kate :)

Friday weaving fun

2011-02-11T08:12:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. The loom has been humming away here in chilly New Hampshire! I have been playing with color, too, as much as my finances will allow. :) (It is hard to resist all of the yummy yarns out there, but I do try).

Here are some new sage dishcloths I finished up this week:

and this very cheerful lemon yellow fabric is on the loom today:

The UPS lady brought me a treat this week too: a shipment of new cottons in purple, turquoise, and raspberry. I can't wait to weave with these!

Stay warm & be well,
Kate :)

Waffles on the loom

2011-02-08T16:02:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. Yikes! This winter weather is getting to be tedious. More snow removal today. The time I've been spending behind the snowblower or the shovel is putting a crimp in my blogging time! Oh well, that's life in New England, right?

I've been weaving waffleweave dishcloths and towels this week. Here is a picture of some new orange fabric:

I like this orange from Valley Yarns. It is a nice, mango-ish orange. There are also some new sage colored waffles, too, but I forgot to take a picture of that while it was on the loom and right now the yardage is in the washing machine!

Stay warm and be well,
Kate :)

Kiwi green!

2011-01-27T14:36:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. I have a new favorite color this week -- kiwi green! Lime green? Peridot? Chartreuse? Well, whatever you call it, I really like it. Here is how it is shaping up on the loom:

and here is another view of the same fabric:

The bright color is a visual treat while weaving, especially on days like yesterday when the skies were grey and unfriendly. I may have to keep one of these dishtowels for our own kitchen. A dishtowel is kind of a fun - but useful - way to add an unexpected splash of color to your surroundings.

Next up: white + sage + pink! I'll keep you posted!
Stay warm & be well,
Kate ;)

Sage and cream fabric on the loom

2011-01-24T11:56:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. We woke up to balmy sub-zero temperatures today. More snow is in the forecast, too. Yikes! Makes one appreciate a warm home...

Yesterday I posted pictures of a sage & cream colored warp chain. Today I began weaving this fabric and am very pleased with how things are coming together:

There is a new design in process, too. I started doodling/graphing this morning and began winding a (gasp!) lime green and white warp. I'm going for warm, citrus-y colors on these cold days!

And here is one last thing....this is a picture of a lace covered guest book that I put together for a client's beach home in California:

Today is a soup and hot tea day!
Stay warm & be well,
Kate :)

Warp chains

2011-01-23T15:37:00.004-05:00

Hello, friends. I have a "thing" for warp chains. What is a warp chain, you ask? Well, a warp chain refers to a collection of measured threads that are destined to be placed on the loom. I measure and maintain the number of threads on the warping reel, and then make a "chain" of the threads in an effort to keep them from becoming a disorderly mess. Here is a picture of a warp chain:

I've got this chain on the loom and just about ready for weaving. I'm very excited to see how this fabric will look; the sage and natural cottons look pretty together. Very kitchen-y!

There is a new addition to my shop as of yesterday: Nutfield Weaver's burlap pew cone design is now available as a PDF ePattern! I am hoping that there are a few DIY brides that might like to give these a whirl. Burlap continues to be quite popular with brides-to-be this year!

Stay warm and be well,
Kate

My first ePattern for Little Burlap Petal Cone!

2011-01-20T06:11:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. Lots of weaving and stitching going on here in Londonderry! And I tried something new yesterday - I put together my first "ePattern" for my little burlap petal cone. It took me a long, long time to figure out how to put this together; photographing pictures of the work in progress to help illustrate the instructions, writing clear and helpful directions, and (most challenging for me) understanding the world of PDF files.

If my clients find my pattern to be user-friendly, and if it performs well for my shop, I may put another one out there. We will see...

Lots of warp winding and knot-tying in store for me! My lemon yellow towels turned out nicely. Here is a picture of the finished striped towel:

and this towel is on its way to sunny California today:

Stay warm & be well,
Kate ;)

Thinking of spring while the snow flies

2011-01-18T13:53:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. We're getting another wicked snow storm here in New Hampshire today. How are you doing? I need to snowblow the driveway, but since it is still snowing, I figured I would make brownies for the kids, who are home again due to school cancellations, and post some new pictures here on the blog, thereby stalling the inevitable for just a few more minutes.

Try as I might, I cannot seem to leave a striped warp alone without criss-crossing it and turning it into a sort of plaid. I'm hopeless. Here is my "Spring Daffodil" towel:

and here, things are warming up even more with my "Summer Picnic" towel:

Aside from feeding the boys and weaving - both of which are time-consuming activities - I finished winding a warp today for a client in Australia. I love the colors in this warp!

Okay. Now it is time to engage and get that snowblower running before I'm pelted with sleet.
Be well,
Kate ;)

Lemony fresh twill fabric

2011-01-17T14:40:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. Today I finished up warping the loom for new kitchen towels. I graphed out a new design for a simple striped twill. What do you think so far?

I've always been fond of yellow and white in a kitchen; the two colors combine to make such a classic, clean, cheerful look. I tend to favor the twill weaving structure because it ends up having such a nice drape.

Ready for a picture of controlled chaos?
This is what the back of the loom looked like for these towels:

That's a lotta threads, eh?

I was pleased to learn that my spruce waffleweave dishcloths are currently being featured on DIY Network Marketplace! How exciting for the little guys. This is what they look like:

It would be lovely to hear from you, readers!
Enjoy your day and be well,
Kate :)

Saturday reflection

2011-01-15T18:18:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends. Here is a wee peek into my world.

A good loom and a sunny window makes for happy weaving:

a new color that makes me think of warmer days ahead:

New Hampshire snow!

And more snow continues to fall. I believe that I have a date with my xc skis tomorrow!
Be well,
kate :)

Purple, red, and green, oh my!

2011-01-13T12:57:00.008-05:00

Hello, friends. I'm staring at 18 inches of snow right out my kitchen window and watching wind gusts in excess of 20 mph swirl more flakes around. Even so, it is very springtime-ish on the loom today!

New colorful dishtowels were woven this morning. Here is one in violet:

and here is a shamrock green towel:

and I can't seem to weave towels without including at least one in red:

What's next? Well, if my latest yarn order arrives before Monday, there may be a lime green in the works. Or tangerine, or algiers blue, or lemon yellow...

Be well,
Kate ;)

Wednesday Nor'Easter

2011-01-12T13:43:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. So, we are getting snow. A lot of snow. We estimate about 16" of fluffy stuff on our deck right now, and it is still coming down in earnest.

Fortunately, our power is still working (for now) and so I was able to do some sewing and finish threading my loom with the lights on. Here is a picture of a new towel, which has a pretty forget-me-not blue as the weft yarn:

And I am continually working on my pictures. Here is a re-do of a bold plaid towel from this morning:

If the power does go out, I'll use that as an excuse to spend more time working on my hat, which is coming together nicely. This yarn is really great - a merino/silk blend - and is kettle dyed, so it has some slight variations in color throughout. I have a "thing" for cables:

Be warm & be well,
Kate :)

Tweaking those pictures

2011-01-11T06:26:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. I spent a lot of time at the sewing machine yesterday working on lace petal cones and finishing some more dishcloths. Here is a photo of the petal cone, which is made from my handwoven spot weave fabric:

and here is one of my new set of dishcloths, which is woven from natural/ivory and rust/hazelnut cottons:

When I have my camera out, I have hard time putting it away! Part of selling successfully online (some people would say "ALL of selling successfully online...") is having good pictures. My photographs are often hit or miss! I keep fussing with this towel:

Back at it today, right?
Be well,
kate :)

HGTV Marketplace feature

2011-01-08T18:30:00.004-05:00

Hello, friends. I was going to take a wee break from my blog over the weekend, but today I stumbled across a very exciting feature for Nutfield Weaver that I just had to share.

My brown burlap pew cone has been chosen as a featured item on HGTV Marketplace. Woo hoo!

Here is a photo of my brown pew cone:

I'm not sure how long my little cone will get to stay on the site, but I am just tickled pink to have this opportunity.

The reed of my loom is sleyed with threads for more zigzag towels, and I'm going to start threading the heddles soon.
Be well,
Kate

Spruce green dishcloths & a field trip to Concord

2011-01-07T17:18:00.007-05:00

Hello, friends. TGIF! I was treated to a morning in Concord, NH, today, where I got to shop at my favorite knitting/spinning establishment, The Elegant Ewe. Yummy yarn, new patterns, and lunch with my husband. A perfect day.

My red dishcloths, which I posted pictures of yesterday, found a new home today. Here is another set of dishcloths in spruce/pine green:

I'm winding a warp for towels in a really bright lemon yellow. I tend to go for those citrus-y, tropical colors in the winter. I'm looking forward to putting this warp on the loom (eventually) since I tend to warp the loom with neutral shades.

Have a lovely weekend, folks. Between my new knitting needles and an empty loom, I am completely prepared for any sort of winter storm that may head our way this weekend.
Be well,
Kate :)

New dishcloths!

2011-01-06T12:21:00.006-05:00

Hello, friends. Cutting off a warp from the loom is a bit like crossing the finish line of a race - a cause for celebration!

However, instead of ingesting bagels and bananas and drinking lots of water, I got to wash up my fabric and begin hemming my dishcloths. I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Here is some eye candy for you:

And now for more warping! Dishtowels are next!
Be well & stay warm. It is wicked cold here in New Hampshire today.
Kate ;)