When I was posting about sprang recently... did I mention the density issue?

Really, really high density of some threads in a system seems to be a recurring topic for me. Brocades when tablet weaving is one of these things. The Lengberg sprang piece is another example.

Obviously, you will need to have the right size of threads (and the first piece I made had a little too thick threads, I think). But then, still, you have to achieve that really, really high density.

So just for my own personal fun, I made another trial piece setup, this time with slightly thinner threads. They are not as densely plied as the original, but I wanted to get going and not do some yarn hunting and plying first. First try with these was also a non-success, wit hthe rows running too wide. But now, I might be getting there: 

In the original, ten rows are about 1.3 cm. This is not just ten rows yet, but it's also under one centimetre wide. Which makes me hopeful, actually.

The trick was to work with very, very little tension on the threads for a start. After each row, I press in really, really hard with either a weaving sword or a c 1 cm diameter dowel. Both seem to work similarly well, with a little difference in how it feels when handling. 

I'm about 8 rows in on this piece from about 190, so it will definitely take a while longer to see if the results are consistent. But for now, I am quite amazed in how tight it is at the moment!

One of the things I've learned recently (of the category "oh, well, yes, seems logical, but I never really thought about it") is: Earwigs have wings. Some varieties use their pincers to help stretch out the wings, some varieties almost never fly, but they do have them, very neatly tucked up and folded under their tiny wing covers.

So if you're curious now, here's a video (with some more bonus flying critters):

... was done today, though I don't have nice photos to show yet. I've finished securing all open ends of all braided structures, and finished hemming all parts, and got started on the needle lace for the front.

And otherwise, there was a checkup to take care of, and a cat to cuddle (on the desk), and mails to send - so the usual, apart from one very weird paypal occurrence that actually needed a call to customer service. (With a very nice and helpful lady at the other end.)

And now I'd be ready for the weekend, if only that Friday worktime did not stand in the way ;) 

The sprang caps are progressing - the sprang middle part is finished, and is currently drying after getting a little soak. Pictures will follow tomorrow - and then, once it's dry, I can start on getting the first of the sprang panels stitched into the cap parts.

It's always very nice and exciting when something like this comes together! 

Finally! No, not only finally Friday (though that is welcome as well), but also I finally have... The Needle.

Years ago now. I was shown a needle found in Lorsch (which is an early medieval monastery). The idea, straight away, was to find someone who would make these for me so I could have them in my shop.

And as so often in the field, getting to the point took... longer. In that case, I think it was about 7 years. The process usually starts with getting enough information about the object (which was not the big thing in this case), then try and find someone able to do it, figure out if they are also willing to do it. Quite often, this is where you go back to square one because things don't work out due to whatever reason (don't want to do this, would do this but has no time, would do it but the price would be too high, would do it but cannot get the materials, or reason unknown because at one point I just don't get any answer back on my mails). 

Repeat from "try and find someone able to do it" as often as necessary. Then, once someone is found, you need to settle on a price, then I put in the actual order, and then... eventually... it's in the shop. 

As are these now: 

And if you're interested, you can find it here. (There's not much more information, but the magical button, in case you need one of them now...)

Taxes are, finally, about done - it's always weird to do them, somehow. I have all the stuff I need collected, and the book-keeping is complete or finished anyways, with standing notes to check for some items that have to be checked or added as they're no regular bills.

So basically it's just opening up the software and hacking in all those numbers (where things are not imported automatically anyways). And still I have the strong desire to let everything rest for a day or two once it's finished, and only send it off once it has ripened for a bit. Although there have been times when I remembered something that was forgotten, or should be re-checked, during that ripening phase, so it's not completely without merit, it still feels weird.

Now the stuff is finally in the ripening phase, with plans to send it off on Monday. Hooray! And that means another year all done and dealt with, finally. The deadline for handing the stuff in used to be a good bit earlier in the year, and that actually felt less weird - because now it somehow seems like the current year has been so long already that the last one is ages ago. 

As I said: Weird.

And because the heat outside has probably stolen my brain, you're getting a random photo of a box being made (or more precisely, getting the lid pressed after glueing on the papers to cover both inside and outside): 

I'm always quite amused by the constructions that get created to have everything nice and straight and all bits that should be weighted down nicely weighted down. It's always fun, this stage.