Sundry

Switched to a silver/grey pearl cotton when I ran out of the blue for the weft. Ran out of warp finally today, so off it came from the loom. I zigzagged over the ends of the silver/yellow part (~1-1/2 yards) so I could keep all the warp I left open between the two pieces as fringe for the blue/yellow piece (2+ yards). Tomorrow I'll wash both pieces, as all the places I hang things up to dry are currently occupied with drying laundry.

Finished hemming a purple short-sleeve shirt last night - cotton sweatshirt material. Cut out pants and top out of dark navy linen yesterday and started sewing the pants -- think I might be able to finish them tonight. Started cutting out another shirt last night. Had some cotton jersey knit sitting around and decided to try making stuff out of that as well. Yes, I know it's freezing out, but by summer I'll be too busy with other things, so I might as well making some summer clothing now.

Read about a study in Wales where people's blood pressure is lower when sleeping under wool comforters than under down comforters. Something about reflected body heat... body gets too warm and has to work harder to cool, I think. Also, if people are too warm they don't sleep as deeply. Wool wicks away moisture, so a consideration for people who are warm bodies at night. I have some wool, so I might try replacing the comforter and seeing if there's a difference. Not tonight though... I didn't remember to go up to the attic earlier and now it's dark out and I don't feel like freezing.

Wool vs Down and Friday

joyeuse60 asked if the study was with natural or synthetic down, and then answer is, synthetic. It would be interesting if they did a study with natural down as well, since that would behave differently.

Our comforter is filled with white goose down and I've been reasonably happy with it, although sometimes a little uncomfortable, but that might have been the polar fleece blanket. But last night fitzw, who is braver about cold temps than I am, went up into the attic and got down some of the wool. We took off the down comforter and also the polar fleece blanket, but left on the light cotton blanket. We put on three pieces of wool fabric.

Mind you, _natural_ down is probably quite effective, but it wasn't keeping me warm enough without the addition of the fleece layer. All I know is last night I slept more deeply and more continuously than I have in a while. So I think we'll use wool for the rest of the winter. Also, my cat Roselynde might be more willing to stay on the bed now -- she doesn't like the puffiness of the down comforter at all.

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This afternoon we're taking Peredur Mawr in for a checkup and I have to go to the dentist, so I need to be a busy bee before then and get some things done.

With the cold weather my main exercise this week has been moving things up and down stairs and weaving, but today I think I'll do some weight-lifting exercises - small weights, and maybe some shield lifts and drawing the bow. After lots of stretches and warming up, of course.

That should warm me up some, so I can sit still for a bit and sew. I'll spread the exercises out through the day -- sitting for long periods of time is bad for people in general, and bad for my knees/legs in particular. People were designed for movement. We are not mushrooms.