Late for November, but the Auto Knitter took over my life.

Fantasy Weave, adapted by Donna Vanderwekken

Warp Yarn: repeats of 3 - 8/2 blue cotton, 3 – 16/2 lavender mercerized cotton, 1 – white cotton bouclé, 1 – white cotton bouclé with gold thread, 1 – white cotton bouclé, 3 – 16/2 lavender mercerized cotton

Sett: 7 dents per pattern repeat in a 10-dent reed
Sley: 8/2 [2-1],   16/2 [3],  bouclé [1-1-1] , 16/2 [3]
Weft Yarn:  same as warp

I am still working on this Circular Knitting Machine.    After finally getting it apart using some rather smelly engine oil and then cleaning the gunk all off, it still isn’t working.  The cylinder might be slightly warped from poor storage and will not fit into the cam shell properly.  So I have been researching and writing, trying to find someone that might have ideas on how to fix this, if it is indeed fixable.  The long storage and warped cylinder might just mean it needs a new cylinder.  I am working on this project for the Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village Historic Site where I found this machine stored.  I don’t have the funds to buy parts and hope I can make this piece work in order that the local Boundary Weaver’s and Spinners Guild can  demonstrate the making of socks.   I will also be helping to put up some of the old looms  once the restoration is finished and there is a place to put one up.

The first photo is taken right after I released the cylinder from the shell – what a lot of gunk!

It is getting cleaner!  But there is a long way to go.

Here are my pics for The colours of November challenge from Sue at Life Looms Large.   One thinks of November as pretty dull with grey skies and leaves fallen but there are lovely muted colours to be found.  It was difficult to get the turkeys – they were moving pretty fast.  Their tail feathers are an amazing irridescent copper but they didn’t drop any that day.    Thanks Sue for the great idea of linking with many people.

(click on photo to enlarge)