Category: weaving

I have hearing aids; they are marvellous; but it’s been quite a journey falling in love with sound again.

Not hearing talk on the radio was my first sign that I wasn’t quite catching everything and I ignored it for a couple of years. Further noticing that my right and left ear were different, my GP suggested a scan, which was all clear.  Further procrastination followed, the TV was louder, home communication was increasingly comical or frustrating. I can  hear but not quite as well as before. But I didn’t want to acknowledge it.  However, last October, I had a hearing test; the recommendation, two hearing aids.  Bother. I’m not old enough!!  Memories of shouting at my mum when she refused to wear them sent me into a slough of despond this winter.  So what changed?

I researched hearing aids … the technology now is wonderful.  You can link them to your phone, your music, to podcasts even to Radio 4, wow. I started to notice lots of people wearing them and they looked fine. At home, frustration was rising and I was missing jokes and key bits of conversation.  Then, during a teaching session I realised I couldn’t hear everyone clearly. Enough.

I found a brilliant local audiologist who explained all about hearing loss and began. Did you know that with sound your brain is a like muscle working hard to process whatever sound it can get. Less sound = more work and it’s exhausting.  Two trial behind my ears aids were programmed for me to try.  It’s a challenging process getting used to them with everything loud and overwhelming at first including my own voice. The tiny buds linking to four microphones in my ears were uncomfortable and itchy at first.  But the bird song, clear conversation, sensational music wow… I was hearing stuff I just didn’t know I was missing.  I had surround sound again.

After 2 weeks I decided that I would get my own. They are brilliant. So I’m over it. I’m over the internalised prejudice, I’ve spat that out.  I feel happier and more relaxed too. It’s just made life fuller, more relaxed and a joy again.

Also, I can now hear birdsongs again.  Have a listen here: Bird songs and calls

© sue orton 2017

I have returned to practising Taiji Quigong this week thanks to the brilliant DVD The Road to Health and Vitality with Chris Jarmey and sold for just £5.00 + pp in aid of The Bubble Foundation. He explains the benefits of the practise and then takes you through the 18 movements (about 25 mins) gently and clearly; I love it.  If you want one,  send a cheque to the foundation + a donation if you wish and they will send you one.

© sue orton

After a busy summer term mentoring, weaving is now centre stage. Phew I have missed it.  Yesterday I finished 612 #2 at last. I have realised that taking weaving in short burst of a day here or an hour or two there plays havoc with my weaving rhythm and confidence.  The last few days have been all about settling into the weave and relaxing. I’m really noticing the stress fall away.  After a great day with a weaving pal I am now excited about further designs and colour explorations. So here are the results:

@ sue orton 2016

This time I had a much better warping process; learnings from #1 settling in.  This will be quite a technical post for weavers amongst you.   Two warps this time.  Raddle and sorting crosses a little further away from the ends of the warp; there is still fine tuning to be had here.  I have also used 4 threads for counting and for the raddle cross corresponding the sett [8 ends per cm].  The main change has been to winding on, thanks to my weaving pal Julia.  She suggested putting the raddle cross sticks closest to the back beam and then suspending the raddle just in front of it, brilliant.  The wind on just completed.  Tomorrow threading and sleying then weaving.

© sue orton

Yesterday I finished weaving #1 of my 612 design. It came off the loom at tea time, washing and drying took the rest of the day; I’m quite pleased with it.  Technically the size, base pattern and the weave structure work, although I wonder if a little wider selvedge might improve things.  The big twill pattern I like, it works with some colours better than others.  As for the sett (for knitters, this is like the tension) I might try it a little looser although the drape of the merino wool is fine now it’s finished.  Then to the colour: it does reflect my design source but I’m thinking that some combinations are a bit flat, especially the citrus band. Colour combinations to be explored in #2 on. Let me know what you think.

© sue orton

February often feels to me like a more positive ‘looking forward’ sort of month. Celebrating Imbolc resonates more for me than the material overload of Christmas. With seeds moving and turning in the ground, early spring flowers appearing and getting to 4.30pm in the light! My weaving too has been moving below the radar for a while as I look, think, play with colour and ideas. This week I bought new wool colours to explore.  I’m making a scarf for me.  So…..  using my warping board (not the mill) I have wound 3 warps, 612 threads on the back beam now and I’m threading and sleying today.

© sue orton