5th project - cream runner with pickup stick and texture
This cream runner was woven on my 16 inch Kromski Harp rigid heddle, and made to fit the hutch where I keep my weaving supplies and current yarns. I used a pickup stick for the floats and added boucle and some acrylic "roving" for extra texture. I am still finding it a challenge to keep both ends the same when creating a pattern at the ends of a runner or scarf. This time, I used a template and tried very hard to use the same "beat". I am also finding that it's very important to make good notes about the number of ends in each group of hemstitching, as well as which yarn was used! :) I do love the end result and will treasure it as one of my first "learning projects". :)
sample for scart--> table topper
I wanted to make a challenge to myself to use some of my stash of misc. yarns (some labeled, some not) in a creative way. I found some lovely felted chartreuse yarn to use as warp, and some pale gold overtwist singles that went well as weft. I was hoping to make a scarf with red accents, but (wisely) decided to sample first. I knew that I would end up with differential shrinkage, from tests I did on the yarn, and thought that would be interesting. I warped up 10 inches at 8 sett, 160 inches long (for two scarves) and wove a 7 inch sample, including red accents in both warp and weft. I cut the sample and washed it. Since I wanted to get as much shrinkage and fulling as possible, I hand-washed vigorously in hot water and rinsed alternately in cold and hot water. Pressed out the excess water in a towel, then dried wth my hair dryer (I don't have a clothes dryer, which would have been overkill anyway). The differential shrinkage created a wonderful texture that I like a lot. Unfortunately, the yarn did not soften as much as I'd like: it feels quite stiff and a bit rought, I think due to the kind of wool in the warp yarn. So I decided to make a table topper instead. I am unwinding the warp from the back, cutting at the warp beam, sley the back ends into the reed for a 20" weaving width. Then cut each warp in half and tie back onto the warp beam and carefully rewind and adjust tension in the front. I figured this would be the most straightforward way of resleying a wider warp. I liked the effect of the single red line (dots), and will incorporate that into the topper. I may also include some short knots as embellishments in spots: the ends of the red felted up into cute little "buttons". This was fun to do. I should have enough to do another sample at the end that could perhaps become a hot pad. The sample I will sew up (and secure the ravelly edges) for a glasses case.
Deflected Double weave
Won 2nd place in Amateur Accessory section Blue Ridge Handweaving Show 2008 Planning to do some scarves with this same technique. Inspiration from Fabrics that Go Bump my own draft.
Syne's Spa Wash Cloths
I am weaving Syne's Spa Wash Cloths as part of my study group that is looking at plain weave. For this project, we have to introduce texture to the plain weave, so I am weaving a wash cloth for each member of the study group.
Birch Tree Rugs (a.k.a. Looper Rugs)
RECYCLING at it's best!
I love making these Birch Tree rugs (the name I use because they remind me of the bark on the trees of our native birch in Wisconsin) made from recycled sock loopers from factory surplus that would otherwise be clogging up the landfills.
I get wonderful loopers from Barb Barnett in Plainfield, Iowa
http://www.butler-bremer.com/web/bbarn/index.html
I make many of these rugs in various lengths and color combinations. I chain them a bit differently than most folks do, see the photo attached. it makes a softer rug and not so *nubby* with lumps when chained the conventional way that many weavers use.
Using natural colored rug warp hides the warp against the natural color of the loopers. Using other colored warp threads looks somewhat messy, and detracts from the harmony of the rug. These rugs are great for bathrooms or kitchen sink areas, as they are very absorbant and rugged for everyday use. Think how long sport socks last!
I find that using long stick shuttles is the best way to manage weaving with such large bulky chains of loopers. A tad bit longer than the width of the loom, i can cram quite a few rows worth of chained weft onto one stick shuttle.
Syne's Spa Wash Cloths
I am weaving Syne's Spa Wash Cloths as part of my study group that is looking at plain weave. For this project, we have to introduce texture to the plain weave, so I am weaving a wash cloth for each member of the study group.
