Just a bit of weaving to show you today. I find sitting to make a plain weave belt extremely relaxing – I put on the radio or a podcast (at the moment I’m enjoying the back catalogue of the Listening Service) and work away for a few hours. Often when I’m knitting, I’m thinking ahead to the next shaping or design decision, but plain inkle weaving is now pure process for me – a sequence of gestures in which I completely lose myself – with a belt or strap happily appearing at the end.
The draft to make this particular belt is super simple – 45 threads, and just 2 colours
I wove it over the course of an afternoon. . .
. . . and rather like how its dull, greyed blue sits against the colour of this skirt, which I’m still not sure how I would describe – being neither quite brown, or yellow, or green.
As often seems to be the case right now, I wove my blue belt to accompany a new co-ordinating sweater. But I can’t show you the sweater, because I made it in our new yarn, which we are all looking forward to releasing in a few months time. We’ve developed this yarn to replace the now-discontinued coloured shades of Buachaille and I’m pleased to say that we are well ahead of schedule planning for its big reveal. We were able to complete production before the mills with whom we work ceased operating, and Mel and I are really enjoying working with it. The new yarn’s palette is rather different from Buachaille, but it does have wonderful deep dull blue in it, which might certainly act as a substitute for Buachaille’s much-missed Moonlicht Nicht shade – used in my Oa design. That’s probably as much as I can say about the new yarn right now. But I suppose I can add that I love the first sweater I’ve made with it, and I also like this simple belt, which I imagine will see frequent wear in coming months.
Today Tom and I are painting the decking, and getting some more garden planting done. What are your weekend plans?
KDD & Co 
I have been waiting with baited breath for you to announce the replacement to Buchaille – I felt sure there would be one coming! And also having rather resisted the belt weaving I’m thinking what wonderful gifts they would make for nieces and nephews. Keep up the inspiration!
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Again a nice belt and more inspiration to have ago. To help us who would like to have ago please could you tell us the gauge of the cotton used.
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It’s a 3/2 cotton
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I would call the colour of that skirt mustard.
You’ve now got me thinking about digging out my daughter’s old inkle loom, somewhere behind the dye pots and spare spinning wheels!
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Here on the west coast of Canada we had rain last night after a week of glorious sun. This morning everything is looking and smelling refreshed. Knitting on the patio in the retuned sun for me today, and a walk along the beach later. I’m working away slowly on Marie Wallin’s Daffodil, a slow and contemplative knit for times of isolation. For fun I am also making this year’s Shetland Wool Week hat, Katie’s Kep, using John Arbon Textiles’ lovely merino, in a colourway I am calling Prairie Flowers.
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Love the blue belt and I also love the buckle. I didn’t see any comments or questions regarding the buckle. Is it available for purchase?
Thanks for posting so frequently these last few weeks. It’s bright spot in my day!
Barbara
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I love the simplicity of your belt. I have been wanting to start weaving on my inkle loom and you have inspired me to start today! I haven’t used wool yet, but I will try it. Nice edges! You are an inspiration to me. Stay well.
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Oh what a delight it is to open my inbox each morning and find a post from KDD. Each day a surprise but always a feast for the senses. Beautiful handcrafts, photographs of stunning scenery, perhaps a recipe to make the mouth water or a poem to delight the mind. Now this morning another gem that will have me lost in listening pleasure for many hours. I am referring to the link to the podcast Listening Service. Thank you all at KDD
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Thank you for your daily blogs. I too, look forward to reading them and seeing your wonderful projects.
I’m working on your shawl, the Observatory. It took me a while and some patience to get into it, but I’ve got it now. Sadly the wedding that it is intended for, has been postponed or ‘furloughed’, to use current vocabulary! It will now take place next July so I have plenty of time to finish it.
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I think the skirt is Ochre coloured.
The belt is awesome. I have an inkle loom but sadly it is the lap one and I will never have a waist small enough to make a belt.
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I would not have thought of putting the blue with the skirt colour but would now! Right now I am making the Cairngorm plaid brooch/pin that is in Buachaille – At home in the Highlands . I am finding it a very simple , relaxing form of weaving and my combination of dark brown spokes and middle with rings of mustard(similar to your skirt), light green, vibrant orange look great. Russet ring next and then hopefully finish off with the dark brown . I have a dark cherry red wrap that my spinning teacher wove and it will be used to pin that.
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You are the dearest lady… Your messages are a joy… Thank you x.
Even though I am not a crafts woman in any way, I hope you don’t mind me listening – looking – in.
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You’re doing some really amazing things with colour right now, using these super brights almost like neutrals… it’s very intriguing! I cannot wait to see the new yarn. I never got to work with buachaille so I’ve been hoping for a substitute of some kind.
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What a beautiful blue, and perfect with your skirt. This afternoon I will be writing thank you letters, as the glorious weather we’ve had during the past week has vanished leaving a very wintry-feeling wind – so no gardening for me today. One of my birthday gifts was the kit to knit your Brilliant Corners hat, which was cast on last night and I’m finding it a very relaxing, rythmic knit. I love the new Asphodel colour with Tarbet. Thank you for your daily posts.
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I really enjoy reading your blog posts and even more so at the moment. Thank you
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Very neat edges too! I don’t habitually wear belts, I think possibly because the leather ones I have are a bit dull . I’m loving how you’re adding to your garments with these decorative elements. Almost like adding trim, but infinitely changeable.
Sorely tempted to give it a go, but already have toooooooooooo much crafting going on.
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At least by how it shows up on my monitor, I’d say the color of your skirt is turmeric (curcuma in italiano), a color that has sneaked its way into all sorts of foodstuffs of late! It really makes your lovely belt pop.
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I love the shade of blue in your belt. Like another commenter I think your skirt could be described as mustard. Looking forward very much to the release of your new yarn. We have had a spell of glorious weather in Portpatrick and have spent most of the week painting garden furniture and a very long fence. We are planning our walk today along the cliffs from our house towards Killantringan Lighthouse. Enjoy your day in your garden.
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Lovely. Reminds me of snake clasp belts.
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The prospect of your new blue yarn makes me happy! And the blue and white belt is beautiful.
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It’s not a day for heading out to the plot but I’ve some leggy seedlings here at home that I’ll pot up today or tomorrow. I’m planning to read and write a fair bit over the weekend while the weather is dull.
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Yes, in the South it rained most of yesterday and is set to do the same today, so not the intensive gardening I did last week. I shall be getting on with my OU degree course, finals for the year in six weeks, and I’ve lost the plot a bit… and clearing out my larder. How exciting!!!
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I do so love reading your words Kate and am very much inspired by all that you and the KDD team do. Today I am continuing to mulch some beds in the garden with one remaining bag of leaf mould and spent compost from last summer’s window boxes. It’s cold here in Lancashire but I’ll wear multiple layers and a Fairisle hat. Later my husband and I are joining friends online for a virtual cocktail party-now a weekly event and a great way to see faces. I feel the lack of interaction with others quite strongly and this helps enormously. Thanks for your great daily blogs. X
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Oh your one of those people who have access to another dimension so you can fit in all the amazing things you do! 😄 That really is a beautiful blue. Would the skirt be a mustard? It’s lovely and earthy again too. We actually, finally after weeks, have rain again right down here. Everything smells amazing and the garden is schlurping and expanding quietly.
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You have better weather up there today than we do. But the much-needed rain here will pass. Knitting for me and pricking out seedlings. Have a productive day yourselves.
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