GAAA/Weaving Struggles

I haven't posted to my blog in way too long! But I've not been idle - I've been working steadily on the Great American Aran Afghan! I have completed a few more squares. Here is the Cat from the Great American Afghan (I am combining the two:)

The other two squares that I have completed are the Ann Strong square with its pomegranate display and the Janet Martin square of the fish. I found the Janet Martin square to be quite the challenge and it took me awhile to finish it.

I am currently working on the Julie H. Levy square. I am particularly enjoying it because she is from Stuart, FL. I am getting the hang of doing needle-less cables and this afghan is certainly adding to my knitting knowledge!

In case I didn't have enough to do to keep me busy and off the streets, I signed up for the Secret of the Stole III. I have never done a KAL and am looking forward to the experience. Here is my swatch:

If you look really closely, you can just see the beads... The yarn I am using is from my stash and it may not be a true laceweight. Goodness knows the beads are difficult to get on it using a size 13 crochet hook! I am going to a bead shop shortly to see if a size 6 seed bead would look better.

My weaving teacher, J, came over yesterday and brought me a new warping reel and a new tapestry loom! The warping reel is worth it's weight in gold! It really helps on a large warp:

It is really beautiful with the warp on it. I'll have to take a picture the next time I use it. Apparently the tapestry loom is missing parts - I have no idea which ones - but it is a beautiful piece of furniture. I also received boxes and boxes of tapestry yarn. I told J that I would really like to figure out the table loom before I go gallivanting off in another direction!

We did manage to get a warp on the loom for my kitchen towel exchange with my weaving class. My job was to bring the yarn through the heddles and then through the reed and attach it to the front of the loom. I may have miscounted the heddles and may need to start over from scratch... This is very distressing :( Here is the warp almost on the loom - look at all the work I will have to re-do:

I have signed up for a weaving class at John C. Campbell Folk School in September. It should be a lot of fun!