So, I am a day early but wated to get this thread started while I was still thinking about it. Looks like March is going to come in pretty lamb like around here. But that is the way our whole winter has been. A few cold days but mostly unseasonably warm. I am not ready for hot yet!

So what is on everyone's weaving plates for the upcoming month. I need to get started on some research and samples for a study group I will be starting in the next couple of months. Keep your eyes open for that one. I also need to get the dish towel warp off the loom. It's been on there way too long and I need to start something fresh and more inviting to get my weaving mojo reactiviated. I am looking forward to see what Sally comes up with for her new snow warp and Tien, your triple weave project sounds intriguing. Everyone in here keeps me inspired. Weave on!

Comments

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 14:41

sally orgren

Gee, I wish my travels would take me to Rome (Georgia).

I too, have visited Shorter University and Berry campuses in the past.

Congratulations Tommye!

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 14:49

tien (not verified)

I got the entire warp beamed! What a wonderful feeling. I also got it ready to thread and have done the first 50 threads or so, but most of my attention has been occupied by reorganization/spring cleaning. We moved Emmy out of the garage a few weeks ago, and I have been working out the new layout. Unfortunately, it involves moving Every. Single. Thing. in the garage, including Amazing Grace, who weighs 1100 pounds (she's a big, muscular girl - the Xena of looms!). Plus five big sets of utility shelves, each packed with Stuff.

And then, once I'm done reorganizing the garage, I'm going to reorganize my room, which involves building a lot of IKEA furniture and sorting through the piles of detritus that have been building up for months.

"Herculean effort" doesn't even start to cover it, but since I'm not working, I can devote myself to it full-time. So another week or two should do it, and then I can get back to weaving!

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 14:54

ShawnC

Oh, that looks like a wonderful exhibit! How fun for folks to get a sense of the tapestry process. Wish I could see your work in person, too, Tommye!

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 19:14

Erica J

Well you probably all remember that TJ is destined to become a little weaver someday. But in the mean time my new to me AVL Little Weaver arrived in the mail. I have unboxed it and set it in it's place of honor. I have the AVL software installing as I type. 

So watch this space for weaving with crazy long treadle repeats! :)

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 21:09

Queezle

How exciting, Erica.  That software works with macs and PC's, isn't that right?  I am going to be interested to hear how comfortable it is for weaving, and whether it might be a practical choice for a workshop loom. 

Tien, it sounds like quite the task to move your loom collection around, and I'm sure you will be happy to have things reorganized.  I recently realized that the sun streaming in the window and hitting my pile of yarn cones was probably a really bad idea, so reorganized a bit in my studio.  Even that bit of tidying up seemed a big chore, but does make the room feel better.  And isn't spring the right time of year for this sort of thing?

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 12:31

Artistry

Wow, gone for a week and you are so full of inspiration , creativity, and may I say Daily Weaverliness! Kudos to you All!

As of yesterday, I have started weaving on my tapestry, Patagonia! Yipee! It is a struggle right now, as when I do my cartoons they are in black and white, then I have assorted photos with various yarns assigned to areas. However for the forefront , I have only a vague idea of what's happening there, so it will take experimentation. Plus I have to be very aware the choices I make in the forefront effect everything else in the tapestry. So I'm looking more carefully at values than color right now. Though I'm not ignoring color, my fav. Subject:) Mixing weft bundles of multiple threads (4-5 )and placing them across The fell. Looking to see what happenS. I think there's going to be some ripping out at the beginning but as ideas start to  percolate, I'll be on my way:) I love it all! Yesterday worked for 5 hours!

BIG QUESTIONS !  Where do you get 10/2 unmercerizered dyed cotton?  my guildmate who comes over wants to do her project in it. So far I've tried Camilla Farms, Lone Star Loom Room ( Borgs, Bocken ) , Halcyon, cotton Clouds, Webs, UKI,  any suggestions welcome! Going off right now to try Briggs and Little which just occurred to me! Thanks. Cathie

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 12:50

Artistry

Oh, Briggs and Little = Wool, ding dong!  But just contacted our own Michael White :)

Also, someone told her if she uses Pearl cotton 10/2 and washes it a bunch of times it will look almost like  unmercerized. I don't think that's true, I think it will look fuzzy.

Comments?

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 13:22

sally orgren

Erica,

I looked at the demo loom AVL brought to NEWS and threw a few picks. I am hoping they will have one at Convergence this summer.

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 14:00

tien (not verified)

You might also try R&M Yarns and Lunatic Fringe Yarns - both carry mill ends in unmercerized cotton. Lunatic Fringe Yarns also has colorgrown cotton - cotton where the color grows naturally on the plant. It's pretty cool stuff!

Queezle - I too have sunlight hitting my yarn. I've hung a temporary curtain to block the light, but am thinking I will dye my own curtain (weaving exceeds the amount of time I have available), probably in a mandala pattern since I think they're way cool.

Yesterday I spent five hours straight moving things in the garage. One shelving unit and the loom stayed where they were; absolutely everything else in the garage (which was packed full of Stuff) got moved. A Herculean effort!

Today I am embarked on an equally ambitious (if less physically exhausting) project - reorganizing everything in the garage to make things easier to find/more accessible. That requires moving most of the Stuff again, but not the furniture. And tomorrow and Sunday I plan to buy/put together lots more IKEA furniture for my room - shelves and a wardrobe. The additional storage space should let me organize all the things currently lying in a disorganized heap on the floor.

And that should end the Grand Reorganization!

I did get one small but important weaving thing done yesterday. I converted the digital painting for my "Bipolar Prison" piece into a 20-color design that I can work with in Arahweave. That took about two hours. Now I have to construct the 20 weave structures, one for each color.

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 15:02

theresasc

Everyone is just having such fiber fun!

Cathie - I have woven with the 10/2 unmercerized from Lunatic Fringe, in the organic colored cotton and it is just lovely yarn to use.  Feels great while dressing the loom, weaves like a dream, and finishes just wonderfully - can you tell I like this yarn:-)

Queezle - love the double weave tubes!  Years ago I when I did my first double weave I ended up weaving tubes and turned them into sachets for my wool bins.  I refill them every year with lavender from my garden.  I know what you mean about the stripes, they can really catch up with you.  I weave tubes on my inkle loom and when they are done, the colors spiral and I have to be very careful on the number of ends of a color in the selvages or I get this big stripe that spirals up the lace.

Tommye - the gallery with all of your work looks beautiful.  As a wanna-be tapestry weaver I wish I could see it in person, it really looks spectacular.

Erica - Congrats on the new loom!  How exciting for you.  I keep talking myself down from expanding past 8-shafts.  It will be fun to see what you come up with on that little beauty.

I have the latest towel warp weaving, should go fairly fast then I really need to get back to tapestry.  I can see the tapestry loom while I am weaving on the towels and keep thinking about what I am going to do next over there.

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 15:03

ReedGuy

I use 20/2 non mercerized from Lunatic Fringe. I have used mill ends a bit and have no trouble with it, it's not in bright colors, just pastels. I have some of their natural color stuff to and have not used it yet. They have 10/2 as well.

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 20:17

Erica J

Thanks everyone! I have switched the Little Weaver to 220, but want to just get a power cable that has a UK plug on it rather than plugging the US plug into an adapter. Then comes the warping, so I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit patient with me before seeing anything come off the loom.

That being said I have a commission for an Ohio State scarf. Anyone here an Ohio State fan? Their colors are red, grey and white, right? I'm thinking white and grey stripes in the warp, red weft and an curvy twill line. Suggestions?!

I was only away a day or so and still had a lot of catching up to do on this thread. Go us!!!

Sat, 03/19/2016 - 13:23

Artistry

Erica, living in Ohio I will check into Ohio state, I think they have a mascot? Maybe something you could do on the draw loom ? But I'll look for images and talk to the biggest fan I know and see what they would want in a scarf:)

thanks everyone for the tips on 10/2 unmercerized cotton dyed! I checked lunatic fringe, the natural 10/2 Thereasc and ReedGuy may do the trick, unless she really wants more color, which case she could double the 20/2. R&M is on a dry spell, like everyone else, it appears. We'll work it out. 

I spent the entire day yesterday laying in the first pass of weft. So many decisions! Values, colors, shadows, what was going to happen, shifting the plan, each change better :) it's the foundation so important. then I started to think about the wind again and how important it is to this piece and not thinking it was representEd well enough. So I asked Ed to show me how wind patterns look when they hit the water. ( we are sailors so this is a normal discussion!) which led us to just looking at wind patterns. How cool is that! So my piece is going to have very subtle either shiny textural or slightly larger matte textural wind patterns over parts of it. Too totally cool :) this piece is drawing me in more and more.

Sun, 03/20/2016 - 23:58

Queezle

Three scarves from one warp.  One long scarf, the other two are sewn into a circle.  I can tell I need to do more projects, everyone in the house wants one, even my son at college.  I am very pleased with them all.

scarf in purple

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 06:40

Erica J

Gorgeous Queezle!

If you're taking requests, I'll take one, haha! No but seriously is that a draft you can/have shared here?

Happy weaving!!

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 07:55

ReedGuy

Everyone needs a nice scarf Queezle. :) Yours look great. I saw a recent project with changing up the treadling done on facebook, with similar designs. Maybe it was yours. :D

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 11:36

Artistry

Lovely Queezle! I've been looking for patterns to do a baby blanket at the lake this summer, do you mind if I incorporate some of yours? I was thinking colorful Twills might be fun:)

Erica, I haven't heard back from my Ohio State fan , they are probably up to their eyeballs with "March Madness"! For those not from the U.S. Midwest, that's when the world stops for college basketball! Not us though:)

I 'm happily working on Patagonia! Or should I say constantly changing my mind about the foreground :) i really want a good tapestry design class! it's the ONLY part I really don't have planned done to the letter, go figure. It's fun anyways! Today, I'm almost positive ( ha, ha!) that the foreground will start off with gentle gradation light Browns a little rose, working down to darker colors where the ground gets wet. There will be mineral strikes, of oranges mostly,  very faint purple, rose, red. AND of course the WIND pattern!

today , my guildmate is coming over to finish threading the heddles for her sample. The warp beamed like butter! I would really like to get the beater bar back in place before we leave tomorrow so she can work when we're gone next week.

Traveling again, Chicago to see two of our kids, the boys. Then off to Michigan, Ah, read a good book, watch some hockey, visit cousins:)

see ya in a week or so! 

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 19:47

SusanBH

and ready to start weaving.  I feel as though I'm slow as molasses to make any progress with weaving; life is just too busy.  I'm happy to have the loom set up to play a little with colors and hopefully end up with a blanket for a great-niece due to be born in May.

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 20:10

Erica J

I think I have a good Buckeye pattern now, thanks for looking into that Cathie. I've designed a red and white summer and winter pattern. I'm not really sure thought if their colors are white and red or grey and red. I should probably go back to Google! :)

I'm also working on a damask pattern for the Little Weaver, these blocks are a little slower in designing. I can't quite decide which blocks to combine and how literal to be in interpreting my insipration image. But I need to do some trouble shooting with the Little Weaver, before it's ready to go. AVL software isn't Windows 10 copatible yet, so I'll need to investigate running it on the Mac, or upgrading my Fiberworks software.

I finished reweaving the third weft faced sample, one more to reweave. I need to weave about 3 more warp faced samples and my portfolio will be done, done, done!! :)

Oh yeah we have 2 cats now, so I probably need to move the looms that are in the main house back out to the studio before they have free range throughout the house. :)

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 02:08

Queezle

Cathie, I think this draft would make a lovely baby blanket.  I finally got the project entered, and I uploaded a screen capture of the draft. 

SusanBH - don't be disheartened.  It is difficult to find time to weave, and I often opt for time with my kids instead of time in the studio.  At times I've dedicated 5 minutes a day, and been amazed at how much can be accomplished in a 35-minute week.  You will get there.

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 09:09

Artistry

Erica, I finally heard back from my " Buckeye" fan, Ohio State does have grey in it. I would google too, though she was emphatic about the grey:)

Queezle, thanks about the blanket! I contacted Ed's cousin yesterday to see when the grandchild was expected, thinking August. Yikes, it's the end of April! So I think I can get something done end of May, with the traveling factored in there. Better order yarn now, shucks, I hate ordering yarn:)

i worked on the tapestry again yesterday. I will post a pic when I have a few inches to show, lol, could take a while! I started the wind in soumac, decided two strands together of # 8 pearle cotton, one silvery light grey, the other a light blue. it won't take over, but will def. be there. 

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 19:58

Erica J

A guild mate asked me this weekend if I found I had to advance my Ashford table looms too often. My initial response was I am comfortable weaving very close to the reed. But then last night, I realized maybe I didn't mind advancing more often, because I keep nice drinks at the back of the loom. :) (This was actually a first, but still a nice experience.)

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 20:02

Erica J

I also finished weaving 6.5 meters of twill for leg wraps!! This is what it looks like on the cloth beams.

This is what it looks like laid out on the floor ready to be measured. :)

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 14:23

sally orgren

I have only managed a little weaving so far this week. When I clear off the floor loom (2 yards left) then only one small Structo leftover from a workshop will be threaded. Whoa. That's a record for me. Even the perpetual demo loom is naked. That's a sure sign that work deadlines are overtaking me!

I have been working on a design for M&O's that must to be executed in blues to meet the requirements for three different weaving challenges. I am ready to wind if I can catch a break. Then, my next challenge isn't due until March 2017. Woo Hoo!

If anyone lives in or near Philly, I am going to try and catch a gallery talk by Gerhardt Knodel at the Snyderman-Works Galleries on April 9th. I will have to enjoy "virtual fibers arts" until I can catch a break.

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 20:27

ReedGuy

warped up this morning for a 55" wide turned Atwater-Bronson blanket. Same light warp, dark weft concept I have been following with success from Strickler's book. Draft 618. I reduced it to 7 treadles.

Going to be doing some standing for this one. Nothing new for me though. :D

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 20:52

Erica J

My main weaverliness today, was keeping our new kitten out of my samitum warp! :)

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 16:04

theresasc

this morning.  As usual, doing my personal round-robin on my looms:-)  Wove off a couple of pirns, not that it amounts to all that much.  Just a few inches, 3/2 unmercerized at about 40" wide and it does not take long to go through a few pirns.

Erica - all of my yarns and looms is one of the things that keeps me from getting kitties - I have no way to restrict my loft and make it off limits to little 4-legged yarn lovers.

Reedguy - it is so much fun watching you weave your way through Stricklers book.  I have woven quite a few drafts from that book, it is such a great resource for 8 shaft weaves.  Looking forward to your latest!

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 19:18

Queezle

I recently joined a facebook group that is working to show Stickler's designs in color - reedguy, you must be on that group?  The first night I joined I think I spent 5 hours poring over all the posts.  It has given me new joy with that book.

My new challenge is to get a borrowed workshop loom threaded up for a Robyn Spady workshop.  I will do something shocking - take 3 days off from work - in order to weave. 

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 21:36

laurafry

I'm happy because it looks like the Level One Weaving is a 'go' at Olds College in June.  Waiting to hear about numbers for Prince George...

 

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 10:19

ReedGuy

No, I haven't signed up for it yet Queezle. But I do like the turned Bronson drafts in the book. :) I threaded one up yesterday, but I have to search for 7 missing heddles today. :)

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 14:07

sally orgren

Solution: Wire cutters or string...depending on heddle type. Smile

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 14:45

tien (not verified)

Heh! And my highly tangential weaverliness for the last few days has been reorganizing my indoor and garage studios so I can move my workspace away from a pair of wonderful, affectionate, and enthusiastically "helpful" cats. ("Helpful", of course, means chewing on thread, sitting on whatever I'm working on, batting around small objects, and so on.) The indoor studio is now basically used just for storage, and all the actual work will be done in the garage.

I'm still in the process of reorganizing the garage - but hoping to finish up today. I spent six hours on it yesterday, and think another 6-7 hours should be enough to finish the job. But boy, am I sore!

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 15:33

ReedGuy

Yep, got it all ironed out with some Dacron fly fishing line. One lone tie thread between pattern threads, then 2 groups of 1-2-1 ties between pattern. Threading the reed now. I normally count threads by repeat and don't run into this. I changed the way of doing things that at least will end up with the correct # of  threads in each repeat, and that caught me off guard. Gotta stick to the safer approach and then worry about tie-on groups of threads after the reed is threaded. :)

Fri, 03/25/2016 - 19:00

MJWallace

During March I have been weaving a scarf for the All Guild show at the Art Gallery of Burlington. The weaving is done now I just have to needle weave to fix the threading error I only saw at the last 5" of the scarf.  The twist the fringes.  Hey  I have 3 weeks to finish it!!

Only 10 more inches to weave

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 13:33

ReedGuy

Reduced this draft to 6 treadles for starters, no need to tie-up the same treadle twice. ;) Project page will give more details when I get it together.

 

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 13:44

Erica J

Wow ReedGuy! That look fantastic!!!

Have fun!

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 13:56

Queezle

I just happen to have my Strickler here on the table.  That is beautiful!  Is it as huge as it looks, or are you playing with your camera?

and omg - NPR is talking about handweaving right now! 

http://www.npr.org/2016/03/26/471865890/irish-tweed-hand-looming-with-a-modern-twist

The only thing annoying was that the reporter kept calling it "hand looming" despite the interviewee calling it "hand weaving". 

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 15:42

Erica J

Ohh do I feel a study group coming on. :)

I'll have to listen to that interview later, thanks for the heads up on the lack of attention to detail.

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 23:40

endorph

everyone has been sooo busy. My weaverliness is hemming, hemming and more hemming of towels! They aren't towels until they are finished!

Sat, 03/26/2016 - 23:47

Queezle

You are just way too cool, reedguy. 

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 06:59

Erica J

Endorph,

I was sewing up a atorm yesterday, too!

I hemmed the leg wraps For Oli J and sewed my taqueteiece into a small pouch. I have about 7 more of those to do.

I'm also back to weaving on the tunic cloth for Oli J. That is only 27" wide. I've never woven as wide as 55"! Truely in awe as usual ReedGuy.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 12:42

Erica J

As l we sit snacking on hot cross buns for Easter, I can reflect on my pleasant miscalculation. I started the weekend marking out how far I would need to get each day this weekend and next to finish weaving enough fabric for Oli J's new tunic. As I'm using the same wool and sett as I used in the leg wraps I just ifnished for him, I thought I would use the shrinkage information to see how much fabric I need to weave.

I didn't make it to my mark for yesterday, but wasn't stressed out about it. The good news is when I compared my calculations with my targets, I discovered I had planned to weave twice as much fabric as I needed, so my Saturday target, is actually my target for this entire weekend. I'm nearly there. So even if I don't make it to that point today, I can creap closer each week day and still be on track for next weekend! :)

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 14:11

Queezle

I have a borrowed baby wolf which I am dressing for a workshop with Robyn Spadey -- I'm so excited about it - a round robin with lots of weave structures - I'm doing 4-shaft velvet.  Should be a lot of fun.

Am also trying to get something back on the mighty wolf.  I saw a picture of a turned M's and O's, which made me obsessed.  My entire collection of Handwoven is spread throughout my kitchen.  My collection dates back to the early 90s, its only missing a couple issues, but of course I am missing the one issue with a turned M's and O's.  That means I had to put on my thinking cap (its not actually that difficult) and figure it out.  I also got out my trusty old color wheel to overtly plan this project using a split complementary color scheme.

No hot cross buns here :(.  I tried to make home-made peeps last night, but discovered my panna cotta-making son had cleaned me out of gelatin!

Tue, 03/29/2016 - 08:05

ReedGuy

We've got the hot cross buns covered, just right with some coffee or tea. Morning coffee is long past, so I guess it will be tea. :D

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 14:56

Erica J

Sounds fun Queezle! My collection goes back to the 90's as well. If you need me to scan a specific article to send to you, I'd be happy to do so. Or I think you can get digital copies of individual issues going back that far too.

Enjoy! :)

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 15:42

Artistry

Boy, you all are busy, as usual! I'm in Michigan, plotting my next weaving move:) we've been taking pictures of fabulous boulders ( in Michigan? Who would have thought!) that we find occasionally on our hikes. They images will be woven in the left of the forefront of the tapestry, all resolved.

what do you think is better for a baby blanket, unmercerizered cotton, or mercerizerd? Does one wash better, without wrinkles? I would think unmer. Would be softer. I'm planning on miniature overshot, in 16/2 for warp and tabby, probably 10/2 or 8/2 for pattern.

thanks! Cathie

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 15:53

Erica J

Cathie,

I would recommend organic cotton. It is so soft and lovely from the start and gets even more so when washed! I am not familiar with unemercerized cotton or the specific differences between it and organic cotton, I just know organic cotton is soooo soft!!!!!! I believe Halcyon yarn carries some, as does maybe Webs, and I'm nearly certain Cotton Clouds does too.

Have fun!

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 16:33

Queezle

Cathie, its been quite some time since I've thought about baby blankets, but in my experience the softness of cotten varies more from manufacturer to manufacturer than it does unmercerized/mercierized.  If it were me, I would ask if I wanted a matte finish or a finish with some sheen to it.  That said, the very softly spun unmercerized cotton - valley cotten from Webs - is very soft, much softer than the tightly spun 8/2 supreme.  For kitchen linens, I like the tightly spun yarn, but for a baby blanket, the softer spin would probably be nicer.  That is my 2 cents and probably not worth more than that.

For Easter, I just made a batch of saffron-honey marshmallows for home-made peeps.  New cooktop, new mixer, and it was easy!  They are a nice pinkish-orange from the saffron.

Sun, 03/27/2016 - 18:22

Erica J

I met my goal for the weekend, the correct goal! So I'm about half way through 5 meters of weaving!!! I went through 2-3 bobbins in each sitting. So I estimate I've woven through 16 bobbins this weekend. Here's hoping I can do the same next weekend and finish this piece! :)

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