white

This picture doesn't do justice to this lovely shawl.  Few times do I weave something that turns out more beautiful than the photograph itself. 

I was delighted by the texture tencel/silk and the beads that I twisted onto the fringes.  Gave two away to new brides and they were just delighted. 

Also this is a picture of the cone holder that I had my local hardware store build for me.  Inexpensive and works great for the linen tubes. 

***UPDATE 28 Jan 2011 ***

After a little over a month of it sitting on the shelf I've picked up where I left off - a broken warp that needed mended and finishing the weaving. I'm about a third of the way through. I'm rather pleased with the result thus far. The hand spun silk singles are proving to be stronger than I expected, and more even than I thought. My selvage is a little rough but nothing serious - especially given that this entire project is experimental (testing my silk).

*** *** ***

This is going to be interesting - I've recently finished my silk/linen project (still finishing ends) and am surprisingly happy with it. The next phase is to try something pure silk. I've decided to try it on my inkle loom because its a small project, and because I need the space in the living room (taken up by my weaving stand) for the Christmas tree! I need a new ribbon for one of my books and this - if successful should do just nicely thanks.

This fabric is being woven to replace the existing curtains in the Trauger House kitchen located in historic Millbrook Village, Delaware Water Gap National Park, on the New Jersey side. The design emulates closely that which was woven nearly 30 or 40 years ago by Cordelia Cafone (currently "practicing" for her 97th birthday in 2011) and her dear friend Carmen Smith, who passed away a few years ago when she was in her early 90's.

In keeping with the spirit of their past weaving adventures, I am trying to use up what I have "in the stash". I needed to combine a lighter maize yellow with a more golden yellow to have enough material to make the length needed, AND match the original bright and cheery yellow before many years of sun-fading took its toll. That means I am weaving with two alternating shuttles in the yellow stripes, every other inch.

For the white areas, I have two passes of white, a pass with the green shuttle, and then I quickly begin the Bronson treadling. The addition of the Bronson in the center of the white checks was to add a little more light into the room, and make the treadling a little more interesting for me if I am to slog through 9 yards of this. (Recommendations for a good audio book or two would be appreciated!)

Although this looks like pretty simple fabric, it is a bit disarming how complicated planning a project like this can quickly become! Ironically, I have a Bronson challenge coming up in March/April of 2011, and I didn't think this was challenging enough to enter when I was considering the undertaking. (I am rethinking that now!) I can highly recommend the book Versatile Bronson by Dorothy Burton. (I believe it is still available via the Boston Weaver's Guild.)