Okay - so I am a bit late getting this thread started - I was out of town without Internet access - until about 20 minutes ago - So here is the new thread - go out and weave my friends - weave on!

Comments

Artistry

Tina, I'm sooooo glad you're here! I was going through withdrawal! Today, we're going through Tea Towel Exchange sorting! Who gets what ! All by drawing a name from a hat! So we get this all done and hand out the parcels of towels with a binder with everyone's project sheets, tied up in ribbon at the picnic on Thursday, fun! Warping the tap. Loom . Adding the year on my projects, and to my surprise I see ALL these projects on the Projects Pages. so embarrassed! So sorry, you'll have to look at this all week! Hurry up and Post Something! Cathie

loomyladi (not verified)

Where did May go and how did we get to the 3rd already? I've noticed a trend in my weaverliness.....I'm not doing much weaving, but I spend ALOT of time with weaving. The past week I organized an exhibit entitled "Weaving Their Story: An Exploration of the Handcraft of Weaving in West Virginia" this is part of my ongoing project of organizing the weaving estate of a WV Weaver, it features four coverlets and some smaller items as well as parts of the barn loom sitting in my studio. I need to attempt to photograph again, but the doors of the cabinet are glass and it is challenging. I have read two chapters of Weavers of the Southern Highlands by Phyllis Alvic, looking forward to hearing her and Sara Fletcher (daughter of weaver Dorothy Thompson who learned to weave at Arthurdale) on Saturday, June 22 at Arthurdale, WV. Spent time this weekend with a couple of weaving mentors and we sorted through a box of handwovens that are from around the world including silk from Pakistan (1964), wool from Greece, silk from Japan, linen from Norway, and a variety of others. Mixed in was a variety of wool and pearl cotton items woven here in West Virginia.

sally orgren

Work deadlines are intimidating, but I managed to allocate some brain power to designing a warp for my upcoming tied weaves workshop with Sue Butler this weekend. 

I am still weaving away on my new tablet loom—almost done with the second band which will be used on the recently completed pink and burgundy dishtowels. And I was able to return the Baby Wolf I borrowed on Saturday, completely rewarped with 6 yards of 5/2 in multi-colors for a series of pulled warp bags. (As payback for the loan of the loom, I offered to set up the next project for the loom ower. We had fun playing with the giant tub of my 5/2 colors to decide which colors would go with her intended weft fabrics!)

This week, I am hoping to come up with a fabulous idea for another 8 yard dishtowel series that uses up some of my 10/2 or 16/2 stash, probably on the 4 shaft Wubby floor loom. I was looking at the Estes patterns on Handweaving.net for inspiration last night...

endorph

tapestry loom and potholder loom on vacation with me and neither one ever left their carrying bag! I knitted for about an hour but that was it craft wise for nearly ten days! Managed to pick up a stomach virus that put me out of commission for a couple of days. Did have a lovely visit with my mom (she turns 89 in August) and my sister. Also got to see my oldest nephew and his new puppy! So all in all it was a nice visit in spite of sickness and horrible weather. SO now I am back home - go back to work tomorrow but am planning on trying to weave an inch or two on the RH after I get chores out of the way. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on. Tina

Erica

Hello!!!

Cathie don't be embarrased about your projects. As was already said on the News Forum, it gives us all another chance to see your wonderful projects!

Aside from the obvious, Oliver and I got the Weavolution Offices (annexe of our house) nearly sorted out. It's so great to have an entirely seperate space to ahve a dedicated Weavolution Office and my studio! We've got the studio in good enough shape that I don't mind taking photographs and posting soon. I also got half of my next sampler warp wound! I'm starting a Shadow Weave Sampler, which I hope will allow a friend and I to make the infal decisions regarding the fabric I'm going to weave for her.

Happy Weaving,

Erica

Artistry

Thanks Erica, you''re too kind! Have fun weaving , and a huge thank you ,to you, Oliver and TJ for all your hard work in making Weavolution a more efficient place for us!

sally orgren

Ok. I am being pokey at finishing the threading on my workshop loom and planning the next set of towels.

One of my guildmates (Jerri) held a paper crafting session at my house Sunday, and I was inspired by a calendar from Tibet that Vicki brought over. We figured out how it was done, and that led to an Internet search on Jacob's Ladder books.

I had to make one last night. I used images of my handwovens from past calendars to fill the 12 pages. (If you have never seen one of these before, it's kind of cool how the pages sort of magically flop back and forth from side-to-side, yet unfold perfectly flat!)

Note to self—next time use the "black on both sides" illustration board. I Sharpied the edges but they did not cover totally.

sally orgren

I'm smitten! I designed the next pattern for a hat band. Which one do you think the recipient selected?

endorph

I like them all but really am drawn to C - what did the hat band recipient pick?

Artistry

O.k. I'll play! B On a road trip to Michigan, sewing up the slits in tapestries, no I'm not driving:)

MaryMartha

And I'm voting for D. Not just to even things up. I find the white against green dramatic.  Guess I have a thing for negative space.  Is Inky sulking?

debmcclintock

Here's a link to my satin floral draft that might be useful!

ReedGuy

I'm still around. :) But work this time of year keeps me from much weaving. Oh well, I have my table cloth all set up, so I get to throw a few shots now and then on the weekends. ;)

You folks are all busy as usual with impressive projects.

Thanks Erica and Oliver to continue improving the site and make this a great place to share.

Well, now off to doing some browsing on the forum to catch up.

Artistry

Deb, I have always loved your Satin Floral design. As I recall you were gpoing to pursue progressive satins? Sorry I'm going to miss your lecture at The Textile Museum will be in D.C. the week before . I'm sure it will be great.

Nice breeze today, will be sailing. then home to warp the tap. loom. Have a huge order of tap. yarn coming, should be here tomorrow, all new colors:)

endorph

come heck or high water I am going to get some weaving done. My plans for the weekend were sidetracked with a dental emergency - after Saturday morning in the dentist chair I did not feel up to weaving or much of anything else. The swelling is mostly gone and the pain is manageable so tonight I will finally get started weaving on the warp I put on the RH three weeks ago! Woohoo

sally orgren

And I am almost finished with this third band. (It's irresistible!) Yes, Inky is being neglected. Saturday I was demoing, and wouldn't you know it...I had a visitor who knew about backstrap and pick-up, so Inky would have been a more approprite loom to have in my lap regarding the conversation about technique! I do not know what is next for this loom, but I need to come up with something QUICK... I have travel coming up!

Artistry

Sally, that's beautiful! BTW, does Inky's sib have a name yet?

sarahnopp (not verified)

I am just counting down the days until ANWG Conference- one week to go. So I woke up a bit early and I looked over my to do list, and supplies list, and then... decided I need to move my studio to a different room entirely! In fact, I am now swapping out the studio and library.

So, The house is torn apart, as I also decided that now is a good time to shampoo the carpets in those rooms. Sigh. I should really stop listening to my brain when I wake up. No good comes of it. And I will likely not even get to use the space before I leave for Conference LOL

endorph

Sally - the band is striking - and just happens to be in some of my favorite colors - hmmmmm. :)

Erica

Love the weaving and all the designs.

I have sleighed the reed for my next sample and need to thread the heddles before we leave to visit family!

Artistry

Reading Color Studies by Edith Anderson Feisner, if you like color, or want to learn more about color this is another great book! I'm trying to achieve movement through color and line in my Tap. diary using the principles of light and dark, warm and cool. We'll see what happens!

loomyladi (not verified)

Working on final prep to get my barn loom in production.  I have one haness with heddles and te secnd set of bars waiting.  I had t have the cloth beam cog repaired and feel very fortunate to know someone who is a woodworker and a craftman, but also a weaver.  This loom dates to at least 1840 and has not been in production for almost 50 years. I do have the family history. I am starting with a plain weave runner to work out any tensioning and shed issues.

 

A visit to southern WV found me working on 3+ barn looms.  Theyve been in storage and need to b assembled.  We had to create a makeshift workshop by putting up a 10x20 tent, bring in decking and string some lights, but the effort was worth it.  We just finished unloading the pieces when the storm hut Sun.  We were able to continue to work.  The challenge was/is 150+ pieces and parts, some color coded, to be assembled into 3 working barn looms.  There are an assortment of pieces that are "extra", our decking is 8x16, and each loom takes up about 5 feet.  Hmmmm....  so two are partway together and we have to be contortinist like to manuever in the remainig space.  One will be in production by July 1.  I do need to start working on locating a permanent home for these looms, where they can be used and displayed properly.

Nassajah (not verified)

Your band is beautiful Sally and my favorite colors too.  I was traveling all of May, but too my towel exchange towels and hemmed them while abroad.  I'm finishing up the warp on the towels on one loom and the other, the Leclerc, got a clean up and is ready to be warped.  I took the loom outside, scrubbed it down and oiled it up.  I also cleaned the steel reed, heddles, and all the metal parts.  It looks so fresh and is once again stable since I tightened all the screws, washers and bolts.  i'll be putting a baby blanket warp on it this week.  Then, I may put a warp on the Harrisville to weave some door mats using twine and hay ties that I've had forever.  I'm trying to use up what I have, so I can concentrate on other fibers.

Artistry

Lost my message so will start again! Off to California so no weaving for me for the next two weeks. I am taking my color aid papers a rubber cement to play with color theory. June's Tapestry Diary has been a Real Dud! Kid you not. Hopefully I'll have better design strategy in place before July! Happy weaving and summertime!

Erica

Well I'm sure everyone has noticed I finally figured out which file was causing the site to display everyone's groups on comments and took that option out! I count this as my major weaving related accomplishment for the month!

Now that I'm not spending my free time researching and searching around for the root cause, I can get on with my travel weaving!

I have wanted to make a tapestry woven bag on a box since I read the article in the January 2008 handwoven. As you all know I've not actually been able to do much weaving since we moved in November. So I was keen to bring weaving with us on our summer travels. I've had a box all ready to weave on (except cutting out the notches at the top) for several years. So I picked out some yarn before we left home and brought this project with me! Tonight, I kepty my hands busy, preventing them from going to a sleepy yet grumpy TJ, by cutting those very notches out.

Now I'm off to refer to said article and get my warp on! 

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fibrefare

Finally, I'm getting some weaving done!  I've taken an experimental scarf off my rigid heddle and I'm getting ready to take care of the fringe & then give it a nice bath in some Soak, block it, and see how it turns out.

endorph

unweaverly so far this month. I have woven a few inches on the warp on the RH but that is about it - life keeps getting in the way. I did buy some 8/2 and 16/2 cotton to add to the stash - plan on making some towels - maybe some fabric from that. . . I need to find some energy to do some weaving when I get home from work - but after taking the dogs to the dog park for their early evening run I am exhausted - already tired of the heat! Supposed to get into the 100s this weekend - maybe that is a sign to stay indoors and weave! Whatcha think?

Erica J

I'm working on the second half of the tapestry bag warp. I have several inches of the bottom woven and thus several inches of the last two sides warped! We have a 4 hour drive to Minneapolis today. We're staying there overnight before our flight to KC. I hope to have enough room in the back seat to get more done today! Tapestry is slow waving so I only expect to get 2-3" woven max! I am coming to enjoy the leisurely pace. ;) Ta, Erica

sally orgren

I am flying through Chicago O'Hare today on my way to OKC. (I'll wave as our flights pass each other.)

I finished one of my assignments for my tied weave workshop. We had to design something with the pattern threads and figure out how to weave it with the tie ups and ground. I wish I could have packed this loom for my flight, but a little too bulky at 32 pounds and 12 shafts.

And as soon as I posted this photo, I think I see an error on the right. Arghhh! I thought I corrected that at the beginning! (Unless the repair heddle jumped out of the shaft.) Will have to address that when I get back.

However, this brings up a good point to mention—taking a digital photo of your weaving at the beginning of a project and pulling it up on your computer will sometimes reveal mistakes you can't see when weaving.

loomyladi (not verified)

I was surprised to see that there have only been 7 comments since my last post more than 2 weeks ago.  But then again, I haven't posted since the 12th.  I've been weaverly, very much so.  Next week will be the launch of an circa 1840 barn loom, now warped for the first time in more than 60 years and fully functioning with 4 harnesses.  Saturday will get a pin beater barn loom back in operation, it has not been woven on since 1926 (although it sat warped for a very very long time!)  I still have to finish the text for the weaving display that will accompany the looms.  I''m paying tribute to Beatrice "Billy" Bannerman, the weaver whose collection I have been organizing.  All of this fun will be at the 50th Mountain State Art & Craft Fair in Ripley, WV.  Billy was involved with the Fair every year from its start in 1963 till 1997.

I have come to realize how much work 4 harness weaving is on an old barn loom.  Those folks had to work hard to make those beautiful coverlets!  

LindaHahn

My friend, a new weaver, has a grandbaby on the way. The mother has asked my friend if she would weave one of those baby sling/wrap/carrier for the baby. She would be ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED to do so but has been unable to find any kind of pattern or draft. She has browsed back issues of Handwoven but doesn't have all issues. Any suggestions?

Victoria Manganiello

Hello! After weaving with a standrad LeClerc Jack loom for the past 4 years, I decided to buy a counter-balance loom from a friend. I am having some issues with it. Does anyone know an experienced counter-balance loom weaver in New York City? I would be willing to pay someone for the help. Please let me know. thanks! -Victoria 

sally orgren

all you need to do is look up the dimensions (online, in knitting magazines or from sewing patterns.) Then weave fabric that will match those dimensions. If the carrier is wider than your loom, stitch two pieces together. 

The pattern, yarn, colors, etc. can be anything you wish. Washability would be critical, so perhaps stick to cotton or synthetics.

 

ReedGuy

Victoria, "The Big Book of Weaving" could help you a lot with your counterbalance loom. It can be purchased on Amazon.

Joanne Hall

Yes, the Big Book of Weaving is very helpful.  And I have information on our website.  On the home page click on Learning about Looms, then click on Basic Loom info.

www.glimakrausa.com

Joanne

tien (not verified)

I got back from ANWG about a week ago, with a sprained ankle. Today it's feeling a lot better - so I tied it up with an Ace bandage to give some support, and went out and dyed some yarn to weave with!

I wound 210 grams of 140/2 silk and dyed it in bright scarlet - that will be the warp, 15 inches wide and 10 yards long. It's a sample warp, so I may not actually weave off all 10 yards, but I wanted to be sure I'd have enough to play with.

I also dyed 50g of a superfine silk (no measurements but it's at least twice as fine as the 140/2 silk) bright scarlet, and another 50g a deep red.Those will be experimental wefts.They're remarkably strong considering they're about the same thickness as a human hair, but I'm not looking forward to trying to wind off those skeins! I put eight skein ties in, though, to reduce the odds of tangling.

Tomorrow will be all about unwinding the dyed skeins onto bobbins and then onto cones. Next week is going to be winding the warp and threading it. The sample is only going to be about 15" wide, but at 90 epi, that's still a lot of ends!

Erica J

Sally, we are definitely connected via the cosmos, too many little coincidences! I love your weaving!!! Yes for the baby wrap just use the dimensions of one of the larger ones. we just used a large shawl my sister in law gave us from Saudi Arabia. I did get about another inch of weaving/warping on the drive to the airport! I'll post a pic soon. I think I may need to see if I can add a few warps as my warp doesn't go as close to the corners of my box as the one in Handwoven. Has anyone else woven a bag on a box before from Handwoven? I might need some advice. Loomilady, I might have to contact you for advice. I'm going to the Lake of the Ozarks next week to help a friend set up an old barn loom! I've never done this before, so it will be interesting!
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