Loom repair

B. and I worked on replacing solenoid #23 last night, following which I did a full test of the solenoids.  After discovering 4(!) other solenoids in various shades of misbehavior, I decided to call AVL.  After talking to Lucinda, I decided that the best thing to do would be to ship the compudobby box off to AVL for repairs.  So it was shipped out today at lunchtime, they’ll get it tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll receive it back before next weekend.  I hope this eliminates my loom woes!

So now I have a week before the compudobby box comes back.  The logical thing to do is to pick a pattern that will take awhile to beam and thread, so I can work on that while waiting for the box to come back.  So I think I may spend the week beaming on and threading a 12″ sample warp in 60/2 silk, doing the small eternity-knot pattern, only spaced more widely.  That should take me through this weekend to beam and thread.  Then, after the dobby box is back and that sample warp is woven off, I can weave the double-happiness ribbon.  That should be quick and easy – 8 yards long and about 2″ wide.  And how wonderful it’ll be to see it actually DONE!  I can hardly wait.

Saturday I’m meeting with the couture sewing teacher that I’m hoping will help me on this dress.  We’ll see how it goes…!  I’m really looking forward to taking my sewing to the next level.

And now, off to a guild study group meeting.  Black Sheep Handweavers is starting an advanced weaver study group (modeled after the beginning weavers’ study group), and the first meeting is tonight.  Looking forward to it!