Lighting a Weaving Studio

Well, I've done a fair amount of shopping for supplies in the past week. Last week I mentioned the new table loom and warping board. I've been hard at work dressing the loom for MTSU scarves and will soon have some new woven projects to share with you. Until then, I've got a couple of in-progress photographs for you. This new table loom is a much less daunting task to prepare for weaving, so I'm able to work on it even when I'm at home alone.

Warping board full of threads for MTSU warp.

My new table loom. I think I'm going to name it Webstuhl (German for weaving loom).

Yarn for the MTSU scarves.

New lighting materials.

I have been struggling with lighting when I photograph my work, both in-progress and when I complete it. I used to really enjoy photography, but I would often take photographs outside of wildlife and nature. I was never comfortable with setting up lighting and posing items/people. However, I'm finding that a lot of those skills are extremely important for introducing others to my artwork through the internet so I am re-learning that skill set. Today we went to the store and bought some lamps and a few light bulbs to try to improve the lighting in my studio. I should be able to set them up this afternoon and be more open to sharing my WIPs (works in progress) with you.

Headband Photo Tutorial and Store News

Okay. I promised that I would make a photo tutorial of the shell headband pattern. This is happening today. Before I work on that though, I need to update you on a special offer on our Online Store. In an attempt to keep a larger stock of items, I invited my close friend Kelly to post items she has made. I bring this up to inform you that she is raising money for the American Cancer Society through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and is offering her handmade items for donations to this cause. She has several items in the online store with "Made by Kelly" in the description and I have marked them with an "On Sale" tag to make them easier to find. The proceeds from the sale of these items between now and the walk this October will be donated. If you live nearby and can pick up the item, then you can also choose to donate the shipping price, or we can refund that back to you. Whichever you prefer. Storenvy does not allow us to list free shipping on our items.

I have kept this post in draft form and updated it throughout the day as I worked. Instructions for the pattern are in the captions for each photograph.

Easy Shell Headband

Photo Tutorial

First you will need some worsted weight yarn and a size H crochet hook.

Chain 5

Yarn over twice (this starts the treble crochet stitch)

Insert hook in the 5th chain from your hook

Treble crochet (End of Row 1)

This is where you will work the stitch when the pattern says to tc in same st.

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, tc (End of Row 2)

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, tc in next stitch and top of ch from previous row (End of Row 3)

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, 2tc, tc in next stitch and top of ch from previous row (End of Row 4)

Close up of the end of Row 4

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, tc in next 5 sts (End of Row 5)

Close up of the end of Row 5

Stitch where you will work your first shell

Ch 4, turn, sk 3 tc, shell (3 tc, ch 2, 3 tc) in 4th tc tc in ch 4 (End of Row 6)

Close up of the end of Row 6

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, shell in top of shell (the ch 2 space), 2 tc in ch 4 (End of Row 7)

Close up of the end of Row 7

Ch 4, turn, tc in same st, tc, shell in top of shell, tc, 2 tc inch 4 (Close up of the end of Row 8)

Ch 4, turn, tc in next 2 sts, shell in top of shell, (tc)3. Repeat. (End of Rows 9 & 10)

Close up of the end of Row 10

 How to make a treble decrease (tc dec):

Yarn over (YO) twice, insert hook in st and pull up a loop. (4 loops on hook)

YO and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)

YO and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)

YO twice, insert hook in next stitch and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)

YO and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook)

YO and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)

YO and pull through all 3 loops (End of tc dec)

Continuation of Pattern:

Ch 4, turn, tc dec, shell in top of shell, tc dec, tc (End of Row 11)

Ch 4, turn, shell in top of shell, tc in top of ch 4 (End of Row 12)

 Placement for stitches of Row 13

1st Stitch

2nd Stitch

3rd Stitch (top of shell)

4th Stitch

5th Stitch

6th (Last) Stitch in top of ch 4

Continuation of Pattern:

Ch 4, turn, tc in next 5 sts and in top of ch 4 (End of Row 13)

Ch 4, turn, tc, tc dec, tc in next 3 sts and top of ch 4 (End of Row 14)

Ch 4, turn, (tc dec) 2, tc in top of ch 4 (End of Row 15)

Ch 4, turn, tc dec, tc in top of ch 4 (End of Row 16)

Ch 4, tc in top of ch 4 (End of Row 17)

Ch 14

Bring both ends together

Here is where you will slip stitch

Insert hook

Slip stitch (End of Row 18)

Enjoy your new headband!