Rigid heddle tote with inkle woven strap
The weft-faced tote was designed after making the inkle strap. A narrow strip of blue and bright green at the top and bottom of bag were crocheted across the warp threads. I designed the pattern on the loom, doing a mirror image of the first half, using a strip of paper with design notes and actual "length on loom" to guide my "beating" (ppi) on the second half.
Backpack
I've been wanting to make a drawstring backpack, but hadn't gotten around to weaving the material yet. I was going to use some commercial fabric to make the first one, then noticed this sample I wove in Bonnie Inouye's Advance! workshop I took 2 years ago. I decided that rather than have the pretty fabric just to look at, I would use it. I had enough to make 2 bags: one for me and one for my sister. When I make these again I'll use fabric that's a little wider, but I love this pattern and how the bag looks.
I'll have to dig up my notes from the class to get more information on the weaving part. The draft was provided as part of the class, so I won't be uploading it since it's Bonnie's property.
finnweave bag
This project is not quite finished yet but I am traveling next week and it may be put on hold for a while. It will be a storage bag for all my photo cds which are currently in a merry mess under my computer table. I am out of shelf and cupboard space and so I have a plan to hang woven storage bags on the wall (out of reach of my cat) for storing bits and pieces. My room will look like some kind of crazy bag bazaar!
This is finnweave on my backstrap loom. The four shafts are three sets of string heddles and a shed rod. The lower left photo shows it fresh off the loom and lower right has it washed pressed and folded to make the bag. I wove a blue strap for it which has just been placed in the picture as I haven’t decided on how exactly to put it together yet.
The Huichol and Otomi people of Mexico use this structure to make bags, belts and even shawls and I took the motifs from their work.
I have made a few small samples in finnweave but this is the first time I have attempted something a little larger. As I don’t use a a reed some problems with the warp spacing became apparent with the warps in the center being more widely spaced than those on the sides and I will keep an eye out for that next time.
I am going to take the warp for the next bag away with me as my on-the-road project. Backstrap looms….have sticks, will travel!
Paperbag
Bag made of paperyarn from Finnland. The warpthreads are pulled together, so that the corners contract and built the form. An experiment in multidimensional weaving. The idea came from a very old Vävmagasinet.
My favorite so far!
I have found a purpose for my practice inkle bands. I kept this set for myself. The others are for sale.
shoppingbag
I wanted to make a sturdy shopping bag. that is why I have used flax packingcord and some of my thicker handspun yarn from some dye-experiments.I chose a balanced weave, a 2/2 twill and did clasped weft while weaving.The handles are from a curly willowbranch,dried for more then a year.Maybe the way i attached the handles is not strong enough . If not I will change to a stronger cord ,perhaps leather.
Periwinkle Cotton bag / tote beginning
No pattern. Just started weaving. I wanted this one to be a little bigger than my white soumak bag. Especially since this one is for me and not for sale.
The contrast in the design is striking, it just pops. Makes the weaving exciting. Can't wait to see the finished project.
White on white soumak cotton handbag
I have never ever started out with any kind of pattern in my weavings. I have only done one Navajo pattern by graph and found that following someone else's design just wasn't my thing.
So when I sat down to do this piece I only had in mind that I might like to try out my newest homemade tapestry loom ( had made myself a smaller more portable one) and maybe make a handbag. I also wanted to try out some weaver controlled pieces.
I am so thrilled with how this turned out. It is a little smaller than I like to carry but some people like smaller bags. I even wove the button hole!!!! First time!!!! The asymmetrical flap for closure was my first also. I feel like a proud mama.
I have already started 2 new pieces. One on each tapestry loom, the one for my own handbag is going to be all handspun cotton that I spun myself. It is periwinkle and natural white, the white cotton I got straight from a man in a cotton field in GA a couple of yrs ago. It is done in waves and it is extremely striking in its contrast.
I hope you enjoy the pictures and I welcome all comments.
