I am not one to ever weave things such as even width stripes; it just strikes me as way too "perfect"...
As part of my Weaving Circle Workshop Series I have students design & weave an amulet. For me as a teacher, it is an important part of the process to encourage my students to not only learn the weaving technique, but to truly make the project their own by designing the amulet themselves. I believe this takes the creative process to the next level. And so the Family Amulet was born.
I designed the stripes by taking the birth month & day of my husband, my 2 daughters & myself. I added the numbers together & that became the number of rows I wove in a color. So, for example, for my stripe I added 10 & 15 (my birthday is October 15) & wove 25 rows in 1 color then changed color for the next date.
I used a simple braid from the warp to create the straps & tied them together; I adorned the amulet with a pretty wire-wrapped rock that symbolizes the strength that I draw from my family...
This is a terrific small project that has such huge meaning for the creator.
i am a number-freak (gematria anyone?) so i really dig the ideas you had with the pattern.... and btw, i *love* the Journey Loom :)
How sweet of you comment on my amulet! I too love the Journey Loom...it's so wonderful to be able to bring my loom along with me where ever I go...I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to study with Susan Barrett Merrill & get my Weaving Circle Leader certification...such a wonderful experience!
I have a rigid heddle loom, but the journey loom intrigues me. I saw a picture of a large one in a garden where anyone who wanted to weave on it could. I am thinking about building one in my front yard so that passers by can add their artistic endeavors to it.
I love your amulet and your idea for the designing of the weaving.
What a wonderful use of numbers and fiber!
