How did this happen? Where did November go? I am going to get some weaving in this month come heck or high water, or holidays and parties and other interuptions. Weave on all!

Tina

Comments

Thu, 12/05/2013 - 14:00

tien (not verified)

Hey folks, I'd like an opinion. Here's an iteration of the phoenix (the latest sample), with a swatch of a pattern I'm thinking of including in the next version. Should I include the "heat wave" pattern? It would show up mostly in the background, though I'm also thinking of changing the weft yarn to make the woven pattern slightly more visible in the phoenix. I feel like the phoenix is rather "flat" as it stands, though that might just be the colors in the dye job.

Thoughts?

Phoenix and heat wave swatch

More pix in my blog post about the sample.

Thu, 12/05/2013 - 14:26

pammersw

Finished one more scarf yesterday, and started and finished another.  Trying to get one more out of this warp, then I will post an updated photo. I have a lot to make in, gulp, 3 weeks!

Thu, 12/05/2013 - 15:17

endorph

I was thinking of a silk or silk blend to go with this - I was looking at Zephyr as a possibility

BTW - loving the overdyed project you are sharing with us

Thu, 12/05/2013 - 15:52

laurafry

Hi Tien, I think the waves will pull the eye away from the Phoenix... Speaking of which, I am reading Mercedes Lackey's book Steadfast which features some. Phoenix that is... Cheers Laura
Thu, 12/05/2013 - 22:22

sally orgren

Tien,

I was wondering what is the final intention for the fabric? Viewed from how far away? That might dictate where to go with either the background color or the bird (to provide more contrast between the two?)

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 00:48

rosearbor (not verified)

At first I thought that the waves would detract, but I studied the photos on your blog and I think Sally's point about viewing distance is important.  I think some movement in the background would actually give it more depth from farther back, although it might look like a little much up close. 

I blew up the photo of the swatch pinned to the stencil and magnified it really big, then stood about 5 feet away.  I liked the heat wave a lot that way!

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 06:40

Cadenza

I love that Phoenix!  I can't wait to see the next iteration! 

This evening was ironing. My canvas came out of its wash and hang dry a complete wrinkled mess. I ironed out the wrinkles,  which was much harder than anticipated, and pinned the first hems on each end of my fabric.  I intend to make the hems tomorrow, but kids are in a play and frankly, that takes precedence so we'll see.

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 17:15

Artistry

Tien, Love the heat wave, adds depth , movement, an organized background. I think the color of the Phoenix will dictate if it can hold it's own against the heat wave. I think the heat wave works well at this size, you might be able to go a little larger, but don't think you need to. Cathie
Sat, 12/07/2013 - 07:05

pammersw

Scarf #6 just came off the loom. Rewarping in turquoise for #7. Then the more sedate men's scarves will take over. Not sure when I'll get to the placemats!

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 08:56

ReedGuy

Better hurry, that turkey dinner will taste some good with new placemats. ;)

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 09:23

Erica

Oliver and I are off to our local Yule Ball, hosted by our Medieval group. I arranged to do a tablet weaving session and two friends visiting from London will be teaching spinning classes!

Should be a great day. I suppose it's time you all get a glimpse of our alter egos! :)

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 09:45

pammersw

Oh, the placemats are gifts, too! To folks in California who would have no use for a scarf. :) They use placemats every day though. 

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 21:42

Cadenza

I didn't get to the canvas last night like I had hoped. I knocked out the little crochet purse I promised my daughter instead. My reed still isn't here anyway.  :( and I can't actually do much until it arrives since the only one that came with the loom was rusted pretty badly. 

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 23:29

sally orgren

It was much fun! I had Bandit with me and a Structo 240/8 that I need to weave off (a scarf, also a 2013 Christmas present-I hope!)

Time is running OUT.

When not weaving, I am deyhrdrating apples like Tien makes chocolate. Hundreds of apples. Thousands of apples. Millions and billions and trillions of apples. Apples here. Apples there. Apples and more apples everywhere. (Oh wait. Maybe that's supposed to be Wanda Gag's cats?)

Thankfully, I have one of those peeler-dohickies. I dry six trays at a time in roughly 12 hour cycles. Time to prepare the next batch.

Sat, 12/07/2013 - 23:42

pammersw

We wanted to do apples again here, this year, but a late hard frost killed all the blossoms.

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 01:12

Monica Bellas (not verified)

I've been squeezing out time between grading for some weaving.  I envisioned having all day to weave today (finals in one week), but spent the majority of the afternoon struggling with beaming the warp.  I posted this question in the "Weaving" forum, but I'll ask here, too.  When threading the heddles for a 3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2... twill pattern, is there a secret to keeping the yarn sleyed three per dent from tangling together between the heddles?  It makes for a torturous beaming process, having to stop every few inches to untangle the yarn.

Monica

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 03:53

Cadenza

Now, I just need my reed!  Isn't it beautiful?  Sure, it could use a light sanding and refinishing,  but isn't it beautiful? All clean and ready to warp when the reed arrives! Maybe tomorrow I'll finish the warp board! Today I hemmed and made the pockets in the canvas and tacked the new canvas onto the beams. So excited!  I need my reed!

all clean and back together!

 

 

 

 

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 06:42

ReedGuy

Monica, I know when I warp from back to front I leave enough warp that will reach my cloth tie on rod. I take my hole harnass to the back of the loom and put my bench inside the loom frame. I always have my lease sticks in, from warping all the way to the end of the weaving process. They are secured to the back beam when sleying and tying on the cloth beam afterward. So anyway, when I thread my heddles I slip knot them into bunches and pull the bunch from behind to bring the knot up to the heddles. This way, when I'm done sleying heddles I can take the harnass up to the jacks and not be pulling yarn through heddle eyes at the same time. Then, when the harnass cradle is secured to the frame, I pull taught on the bunches to take out the slack. No tangles.

 

I think if your going front to back, possibly the lease sticks can give enough drag so the yarn isn't loopy when your pulling it to the back. Loopy slack yarn makes tangles from the friction of the yarn passing over each end. Maybe there are other solutions.

 

To see how easy 10/2 (or whatever) cotton will knot itself, pull off 3 yards, then take your left hand and pull the slack yarn through the ends of your thumb and index finger, and see if it doesn't knot before you reach the end. I've had to dig out a needle many times to take that knot out. Drives one into madness. :)

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 12:45

Erica

Monica,

 I saw your question in the weaving forum, but will answer here. I kbow you got some hreat answers in the other post as well. I agree warping back to front is great for this, but it's good to know how to acconpkish things both ways. Daryl Lancaster's Front to Back class on Cyber Fiber is great! She provides a lot of ibformation. Including a method she uses for designing in the reed that is also useful in these situations. She has a way of creatibg levels in the reed tgat helps ensure you get thw right thread and prevents tangling in the heddles.

Good luck,

Erica

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 16:54

pammersw

I have a lot to do today!

I will find the fabrics to make my new son-in-law a stocking to match the one I made my daughter 24 years ago, and the spinners and weavers guild has a party meeting. I will finish warping the loom for my daughter's scarf, and weave that. Then I start on the stocking - crazy quilting with gold hand embroidery!

For dinner I will make the soup my daughter wrote about this week on her blog, Spottsandthings. http://spottsandthings.blogspot.com/2013/12/arizona-mountain-soup-one-soup-to-rule.html

This is a good day. 

:)

 

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 17:51

Erica

I consulted my friend last night. I think we've narrowed the choices down to just a few more samples then I can get weaving. I fished resleying the reed for the final samples.

I've learned some good lessons. Always keep the lease sticks in! I also have some good ideas for a new class!

Happy Weaving!!!

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 18:39

pammersw

I discovered you can get the lease sticks back in, after you've taken them out, by first doing a 1,3 shed, putting a stick in, then doing a 2,4 shed and putting the other stick in. ;)

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 20:29

tien (not verified)

Hi Sally,

The intent is for a 22 x 60 inch wall hanging, so viewed from a few feet away, at least. I was thinking of Convergence, the general fiber arts exhibit.

I've had an interesting set of reactions to the piece - people seem to be about evenly split on whether the heat waves would add or detract. I'm taking the two samples to show my critique partner tomorrow and will see what he says. (It's such an incredible luxury to have a critique partner!)

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 20:34

tien (not verified)

It's cold around here. How cold? Two days ago I had to defrost the loom before I could weave on it. (The CompuDobby fan was not happy - probably the lubricant had solidified - and I had to heat it gently with a hair dryer and stick a space heater under it before it would work properly.)

My weaverliness for today was doodling up some designs for the 40-shaft loom I am soon to acquire. I wound up choosing a sea-turtle design, point threading on 40 shafts:

sea turtle draft for 40 shafts

It looks really cool - can't wait to get my hands on that loom! (I'm flying out to disassemble and ship it on Friday. Yay!)

Mon, 12/09/2013 - 05:14

Cadenza

Oh my!  That loom sounds incredible, and the pattern looks great! 

Today my husband replaced the missing piece of my warp board.  It's not perfect, in large part because wood doesn't come in that size anymore and we don't have the equipment to make the size, but it is perfectly functional and I measured a warp that will hopefully be 2 placemats and a sample piece eventually. Now just waiting on the reed so I can actually put the warp on the loom.

Mon, 12/09/2013 - 07:46

Erica

Pammersw,

Thanks for the advice. Treadling tabby, every other shaft, to get the lease sticks back in is one of the reasons I got out of the habit of leaving the lease sticks in when warping front to back.

Unfortunately when you don't have a straight draw threading this doesn't work. I'm weaving 8 shaft undulating twill, which repeats the same shaft 2-3 times in a row, so treadling tabby doesn't really work, but I got there in the end.

Cheers,

Erica

Mon, 12/09/2013 - 16:03

Artistry

Kathe Todd-Hooker's house tonight! Then tapestry until Friday! I'm in heaven! Dad's 90th Birthday party was perfect in everyway!
Mon, 12/09/2013 - 16:26

Artistry

Tien, How are you choosing to ship your loom? With which company?
Tue, 12/10/2013 - 04:00

endorph

no weaving this month - I am knitting my little fingers to the bone trying to get everything finished for presents. Luckily most everything I am doing is quick knit . . . .

 

Cathie - glad your Dad's party went well. AndI am so jealous of you getting to work with Kathe Todd-Hooker. We will look for updates on what you learn!

Weave on everyone -

Tina

Tue, 12/10/2013 - 15:47

crosstownshuttler (not verified)

Sent it off to a Guild event. Pics when it comes back. Learned basic finger weaving and helped other members learn it at our Guild holiday party. Re-sleying and re-beaming current warp. Not much posting but a little weaving each day. 

Enjoying the snow as I weave.

Tue, 12/10/2013 - 21:07

Erica

Today's weaving was chatting weaving over coffee with Queezle! So great to meet members face to face. You all really are great people!

Tue, 12/10/2013 - 22:43

sally orgren

Erica said,

"So great to meet members face to face."

So I am planing a little seed ...

Convergence in July (Rhode Island) would be a great opportunity to meet more Weavolutionaries face-to-face. (Registration opens Dec 16th.)

And Complex Weaver's Seminars (Tacoma, WA) is another opportunity, at the end of June. (no looms necessary, all lecture format. Gee, travel light!)

Tommye S is teaching at Peter's Valley (NJ) this summer, which is close to where I live. 

And there is the Weaving History Conference in Clayton, NY in May. 

Hey, lots to look forward to in 2014!

Wed, 12/11/2013 - 00:14

tien (not verified)

Hi Cathie,

I'm shipping with Freight Dynamics. They will pick up the disassembled loom, pack it, and ship it for me. I'm a bit nervous because they apparently don't have a bill of lading form, but they have two good reviews on Google so I'm going to give them a try.

Although, thinking about it, I think I really need a contract of carriage before I can go with them. Off to check on that (and maybe pick a different shipper, if they can't do it?).

Thanks for asking!

Wed, 12/11/2013 - 01:03

loomyladi (not verified)

My new to me Purrington tabletop is now dressed.  I know of one threading area, but that is moving from 7 to 8 and I will need to resley the reed, but only part way.  So tonight the tie on and troubleshooting will begin.  Lessons learned from my first 8H draft, Don't try to thread in the same room where by Italian FIL is situated (he never stops talking), Do wear a personal head lamp (small lamp on a strap, you can pick them up at Walmart in sporting goods) the light is EXACTLY where you are looking.  My threads alternates solid/varigated and is dark maroon the light was so helpful  if I had worn it when sleying I would not have to resley to fix the skipped dents.  grrr.....I should be weaving tomorrow!

 

Wed, 12/11/2013 - 03:28

laurafry

I am supposed to be at Complex Weavers...just saying... Cheers Laura
Wed, 12/11/2013 - 05:16

Artistry

Worked 9 hrs. Today with Kathe, so great! Tien, hope it goes well!
Wed, 12/11/2013 - 13:35

Erica

I was hoping to make both Convergence and Complex Weavers, but with them being so far apart and our family being in the middle we may have to make choices. It would be great to know how many folks are going where if we have to make a choice!

Cheers,

Erica :)

Wed, 12/11/2013 - 14:08

pammersw

Convergence,  seminars,  etc., all sound nice.  All 1500 to 2500 miles from here. That's not nice. :(

Wed, 12/11/2013 - 18:49

Queezle

It was so lovely to be in a foreign country (ok, the UK isn't so very foreign) and meet someone who instantly felt like an old friend.  Lovely family!  And yea -- if I make it to convergence, I would love a weavolution meetup.

Fri, 12/13/2013 - 09:10

ReedGuy

Just a reminder, I'm sure others are way ahead of me on this, but under the resources tab is a nifty sett calculator. Try it out on some of your older projects to see how it compares. I used it to compare my overshot set with the current project and it came out the same. :)

Thanks Erica and colleagues

Fri, 12/13/2013 - 15:01

Artistry

Last day with Kathe, right now I'm about 1/3 the way through my sample. It's been very challenging but incredibly fun at the same time! We've been averaging 10 hr. days. Tonight I leave, it's been fantastic!
Sat, 12/14/2013 - 08:22

Cadenza

My reed has finally arrived! I didn't have time after work and time with the kids to fully dress the loom, but I started warping front to back, and finished sleying the reed! I tied a big knot so it doesn't fall out overnight and I can work on threading the heddles tomorrow!

Sat, 12/14/2013 - 11:17

Erica

I threaded one stripes worth of heddles this ko4ning. We are off to raid a colleagues toy closet! His two boys are older than TJ and he offeredup whatever we want from the outgrown toy closet! We also have a SCA (medieval group) meeting. I'm bringin along my distaff and turkish spindle.

Sat, 12/14/2013 - 11:17

Erica

I threaded one stripes worth of heddles this ko4ning. We are off to raid a colleagues toy closet! His two boys are older than TJ and he offeredup whatever we want from the outgrown toy closet! We also have a SCA (medieval group) meeting. I'm bringin along my distaff and turkish spindle.

Sat, 12/14/2013 - 11:25

ReedGuy

Well, I'm done my overshot project and now off to my centenial blanket with Harrisville wool. :)

 

Sat, 12/14/2013 - 16:19

ReedGuy

Listening to Vince Guaraldi Christmas music. If you didn't know, his music was a part of the Schulz's Peanuts characteratures in 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' seen for decades on American TV. Guaraldi was a great pianist, who died young of cancer.

Sat, 12/14/2013 - 16:41

Erica

I got a second session in at the loom today. I have now threaded nearly half the heddles. 4 shaft undulating twills threads really quickly! I've got to write down some of my thoughts on warping and see if I have enough info for a class.

Sun, 12/15/2013 - 00:19

tien (not verified)

I finally got to see my lovely new loom today! Here is what she looks like, fully assembled:

40-shaft AVL

And here is what she looks like, disassembled and ready to ship to California:

40-shaft AVL, disassembled

Finally, I'm contemplating what to weave first on this 40-shaft beauty. I'm tentatively thinking sea turtles with woven shibori (the long red floats are the shibori ties):

sea turtles on 40 shafts, with woven shibori

I'm naming the new loom "Emmy", after the brilliant mathematician Emmy Noether. (I like naming my looms after female mathematicians.)

 

Sun, 12/15/2013 - 00:28

Artistry

Emmy is the Math Wiz! She's a beauty , Congratulations!
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