Hey, wow, it's March already! What are you weaving?

Comments

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 01:51

Dawn McCarthy

Tien, I remember you saying you had an issue with speed and timing on the AVL, how is the speed of advance (not warp but just advancing to next pick) adjusted.  I weave pretty quickly and find I go in lolligag mode to accomodate the change in pattern lags/picks.

Dawn

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 12:26

tien (not verified)

Hi Dawn,

As far as I know there isn't a way to adjust that timing - my timing issue had to do with the solenoids not firing at the correct time, so the e-Lift picked up the wrong shafts. I don't think there's any way to increase the overall speed - if you find a way, though, let me know! I can outweave my e-Lift if I'm only using one shuttle; with two or more shuttles, though, it's faster than me.

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 12:29

tien (not verified)

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes! Surgery went well yesterday and my recovery is going really smoothly - I'm off painkillers already, walking around 5-10 minutes of every hour as per doctor's orders, and should be back on solid food later today. I actually feel like I have 80% of my usual energy, but I'm not planning on pushing it, so will spend most of today in bed reading. I have a 30" stack of books and magazines (including some Complex Weavers Journals and lots of Handwovens) to read! So I won't be bored by any means.

I'm also planning on drafting a musk-ox design for a qiviut-and-silk scarf I'm weaving for a friend. He lives in Alaska and gave me the yarn; I'm going to weave it and send it back to him, since here in the Bay Area there really isn't much need for a scarf that warm.

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 14:52

theresasc

that all went well for you, Tien - I wish you a speedy recovery.

Sally, I took Susan Wilson's Crackle class a MAFA a few years ago, and you are so right, it was an eye-opener for me, especially in regards to 8-shaft tie-ups.  She is just a wonderful instructor and anyone who gets a chance to take a Crackle class with her, do it - it is so worth it!

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 14:55

tien (not verified)

And here's the musk ox draft! It looks a little stretched out, but will compress to a more normal size when it's actually woven.

I can't *wait* to try this on the loom...which is a pity since I will have to wait a few more days at least before I can start weaving again!

musk ox draft

Fri, 03/13/2015 - 16:04

Artistry

Tien , I am also glad that your surgery went well and that you're able to get up and around a little each hour. Your Musk Ox is fab ! Thanks for including your draft. I'm enjoying looking at your threading, tie up and lift plan. I feel inspired to do some designing! Us weavers are proving to be a hearty bunch :)
Sat, 03/14/2015 - 09:06

ReedGuy

Nice muskox, now are you planning a vacation to Alaska? :)

 

Anyone spin yarn from muskox fur? No don't tell me the Inuit did, because it didn't happen. Weaving has been introduced to them, such as tapestry, but it's not a tradition used in their clothing. ;)

Nuvisavik - A Place to Weave

Sat, 03/14/2015 - 11:07

tien (not verified)

Actually, this scarf is going to be woven (in part) from musk ox down! That's what qiviut is - my Alaskan friend sent me some qiviut yarn, so I thought I'd weave it up and return it to him. :-)

Sat, 03/14/2015 - 16:52

laurafry

I'm getting closer to picking up the shuttle by winding warps so that when I can weave I will have warps ready to go. Think I'm still a couple of weeks away from weaving, but the 'worst' is behind me? Cheers Laura
Sun, 03/15/2015 - 16:40

Erica J

Tien , it is great to see your surgery went so well and you are cruising right along on weaverliness and recovery!

I'm not sure why this is turned, but I fin I shed weaving the fabruc for TJ's tunic today! You can pretty much tell where I started today, but oh well!

i also realised that going from my 8 shaft twill block to an 8 shaft satin woukd actually only require rethreading every other block, whihc is awesome! I have rethreadede 3/5ths of the warp today! And because I like doing a bit of everything,  I would 50 threads of natural white organic cotton, which will go ont the 16 shaft loom for a bit of samitum. :)

Sun, 03/15/2015 - 17:13

ReedGuy

Working on some shamrocks today on a 5.5 yard warp.

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 03:40

sally orgren

I visited Ancient Technology Day at the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, where the demonstrators were fantastic! After tasting agave that had been baked for 3 days, I was fascinated by the fiber and beautiful rope made from the plant.

Meanwhile, back in New Jersey, it was the "ancient technology" of maple sugaring that was beging demonstrated this weekend past.

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 04:00

sally orgren

This exhibition closed today (Sunday). It was fantastic! It featured the recent work of domestic (U.S.) fashion designers along with some of their backstories. What made this show extra special is that Weavolution member ms.thimble has worked with some of the designers whose work was featured in this exhibit, so I inspected the details of all the garments carefully, wondering if I might be viewing some of her handiwork!

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 15:05

tien (not verified)

I'm still stuck mostly in bed (or sitting at the computer), so I've been working up samples of beaded fringe. Here's where I am right now:

front of beaded-fringe samples

beaded fringe samples on back of scarf

My favorite so far is the one with dark blue ripples, though I plan to do a little more sampling today - variants on the dark blue ripples.

After that, hopefully I can start beading the actual scarf!

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 20:32

Erica J

Tien,

My eye is also drawn to the ripple design. I like how it seems a natural extension of the cloth!

I have two skipped dents in the reed on tne satin warp. They will have to wait for tomorrow to be fixed.

Mon, 03/16/2015 - 21:31

laurafry

Although I can't weave quite yet, I've managed to wind a few warps so that I'm good to go when I can.

Tue, 03/17/2015 - 07:36

Erica J

Laura,

Your wound warps look amazing already! I'm very excited for you to be back at the loom, so I can see what you have planned for those!

Tue, 03/17/2015 - 11:36

Artistry

I also like the ripple effect of the blue beads, Tien. It's like the Sea Turtles are making little waves as they swim by:) Well, I'm in Minneapolis waiting to go to Mayo Clinic today for 2nd opinion about brain surgery. Yes, many of my friends thought I needed it years ago, lol. So if the doctor concurs, it will start shortly once I get back home. Sally O. Has turned me on to the Textile Center up here , so if the stars align I'll be hitting that library before I leave tomorrow. Beautiful warps Laura!
Tue, 03/17/2015 - 11:49

endorph

taken with the ripple effect beading. I am sure whatever you choose the finished product will be spectacular!

Tue, 03/17/2015 - 22:18

Artistry

All I can say is always, always, get a second opinion ! Much less invasive. Now I'll be quiet.
Tue, 03/17/2015 - 22:25

ReedGuy

Well, we need a shamrock photo. So a miniature one is better than none.

Wink

Tue, 03/17/2015 - 22:37

sally orgren

http://weavolution.com/project/sally-orgren/rosepath-shamrock

Cathie, I am getting ready to wave at you when I pass over Minnesota.

Someone told me the "s-word" has been mentioned in regards to the weekend weather in New Jersey. (I don't think they meant sunshine!)

Tue, 03/17/2015 - 23:01

ReedGuy

Nice shami's Sally. :)

I also have a draft entry from earlier this year.

http://weavolution.com/draft/shamrocks

:)

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 06:16

Erica J

Cathie,

I'm so glad to hearthe second opinion produced a less invasive result! 

I was either mistaken about the skipped dents, or all the shamrocks here brought me the good luck of weaving gnomes visiting in the night and they fixed them! So now I'm weaving satin!

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 14:15

tien (not verified)

Glad to hear that the second opinion was good for much less invasive methods! That must be a huge relief. I hope all is reasonably well, or at least as well as it can be?

I'm recovering nicely from my own surgery - still feeling gingerly about anything involving abdominal muscles, and I can't fit into jeans yet, but doing well physically and am doing really well mentally, so happy about that. I still have another 3.5 weeks off work to recover, so I should be fully fit when I return!

I have done a bunch more samples for the sea-turtle fringe (no photos yet, alas) and have settled on a fringe design. I'll probably start beading it today. I'm going to make a netted fringe that is independent of the hem, then stitch it to the scarf - much easier to repair and probably easier on the hem than if I tried to net the fringe directly onto the scarf.

And tomorrow is a week post-surgery! I think I may try some weaving - very carefully, and not for very long. Fortunately I have an e-Lift and weaving standing up, so not much abdominal stress involved.

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 18:57

ReedGuy

My shamrocks looked more like space invaders (old video game) when finished in water.

I switched gears and modified the tie-up. Well now it's diamonds and stripes.



10/2 merc cotton warp (forest green) and 30/2 cotton natural weft.  30 epi

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 18:59

tien (not verified)

Got the warp lashed onto the tie-on rod and wove about 150 picks - just enough to get up to the musk ox's feet. At that point I started to feel ever so slightly sore, so I stopped. If I absolutely can't resist, I might try a little more later this afternoon, but I think it's probably better if I wait until tomorrow. I really don't want to reinjure anything!

So, off for a nap. Tomorrow maybe I'll get a musk ox done.

Wed, 03/18/2015 - 23:35

ReedGuy

Take it easy Tien, this phase of healing will soon pass. Have a good rest. The loom will be waiting. :)

Thu, 03/19/2015 - 11:02

tien (not verified)

May I present Babe the Blue Musk Ox?

Babe the Blue Musk Ox

I still need to do a few more edits (darkening the face so face and eyes show more clearly), but that's the basic idea. I'm planning to weave another sample ox or two, but after that I'll dive into weaving the qiviut scarf. Still being very careful about weaving, doing it for short periods and stopping at the first hint of soreness.

And hey, I'm weaving again!!

Thu, 03/19/2015 - 11:37

endorph

I am in love with your musk ox - they are wonderful!

Reedguy I got a chuckle from your space invaders comment - nice to know someone else remembers the old video games!

Thu, 03/19/2015 - 23:43

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

They'd be pretty awesome with some seed bead eyeballs staring into the long arctic night guarding the herd ...
Fri, 03/20/2015 - 18:05

laurafry

Tried throwing the shuttle this morning and managed to weave for a few minutes.  I didn't push, though, as I'd rather stop and repeat several times than over do.  :)  Details on blog.

cheers,

Laura

Fri, 03/20/2015 - 20:07

tien (not verified)

Congratulations Laura!! That is really exciting news after so long away from the loom. I hope you're doing a (careful) happy dance!

I have woven more musk oxen, changing the face and weaving it with the actual qiviut yarn rather than blue silk yarn. Here is the final musk ox design:

Handwoven musk ox motifs

I'm very happy with them, and love the puzzled look of the eyes. I'm pretty sure my recipient will love them, too.

It turns out that I actually have enough qiviut for two scarves, if I weave a band of plain weave in the center and let the motifs run down both ends. That's a wonderful idea, since it will let me use up every last yard of qiviut - it's such an expensive yarn that the idea of having 30 grams just sitting around as leftovers seems wasteful to me. I had no idea it was so expensive! It was truly a princely gift from my friend to me, and I'm pleased to be returning some of it to him.

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 00:24

sally orgren

Here is what my guild (Frances Irwin Handweavers) made for the MAFA conference goodie bags. (Big thanks to Deb I for the idea, coordinating the assembly teams, and keeping an eye on quality control at our guild meeting a week ago Monday.)

Stellar fabrics woven at 24 epi and higher were provided by Margriet C, Leslie M, and Deb I.

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 06:42

Erica J

I'd love to learn how these were made!

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 13:44

tien (not verified)

Beautiful! What are they for?

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 15:04

pammersw

Looks like a covered shank button slipped on a bobby pin?

Sat, 03/21/2015 - 18:29

sally orgren

A mouthful!

These (handwoven, fabric-covered buttons) are mounted on bobbie pins. They can be used in the hair or as bookmarks.

The hardware was found online, and the basic idea came from an email the coordinator received (like a Constant Contact, I think) but I don't know the source. I think it was from a craft, quilting, or maybe fabric store communication.

Here they are, labeled and bagged, ready to go!

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 00:19

laurafry

Making like the provervial tortoise...one shawl woven, one warp wound, one step, then another, then another...  :)

cheers,

Laura

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 02:53

tien (not verified)

You GO, Laura! Must be wonderful getting back to the loom after so much time away!

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 08:55

Erica J

I wove the hem plus a bit on the satin yesterday. The hem took quite sometime, because I kept findingvrossed threads. This is my first time wworking over 30 epi. I'm curious what reed others use when working over 30 epi. I used my 10 epi reed threade 3-4-4-4 to get my intended sett. the previous warp wove well with 4 ends per dent, but at this sett some threads are wanting to stick.

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 15:45

Erica J

Today's sample, a weft faced 3/1 twill ala Nancy Hoskins! I'm getting to the point where once the warp is set up I can weave a samplein a day! :) 

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 16:34

Artistry

Thanks for your support. Laura , so glad you're getting back at the loom and you too Tien! Erica, I would use a 15 dent reed for 30 epi fine threads. A. Sample a day is awesome! I'm on my way to TN where I'm delivering my big leclerc Gobelin tapestry loom. I sold it to an artist from Arkansas .sorry to see it go, it's a good loom, but how many 6 ft tapestry looms do you need? So now my studio seems nice and roomy, lots of space for the shannock:)
Sun, 03/22/2015 - 20:42

ReedGuy

Like Cathie said, something like a 15 or 16. I have used a 16 for 32,48,64 not much point getting much more than a 20 dpi for real fine stuff. After awhile you just have more wire than thread. :)

 

Cathie, too many looms and stuff takes longer to get done. :D

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 23:35

sally orgren

Putting the "Basket + One" on the big floor loom really helped, I am liking this original curtain fabric more and more as I weave!

I found wetting the linen weft before weaving is keeping it a little less squirrelly, and I am getting better selvedges.

Temple = yes, but ironically, not using an EFS, at least not the Schacht. Now that I am two yards into the warp, I might try the EFS again, or try the more blunt-nosed AVL EFS that is heavier. (Wetting the linen calls for a plastic pirn or bobbin, and my Schacht has very nice wood ones.)

Sun, 03/22/2015 - 23:48

Artistry

Huh? Too many looms? lol, never :) Got my first fly fishing rod for Christmas( I'm a weaver with a hobby!) and the salesman said you know as the years go by you'll need a couple..... Ha! Here we go again! Fly fishing with my 91 year old Dad in Montana in June. Told the Dr. He's got to fix my noggin before then, no problem !
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