Because we're three days into September and nobody's started a new thread yet...I did!

My big news for the week is...I HAVE A PUBLISHER!!! I just got a contract from Schiffer Publishing for my book, now retitled "Dream It, Make It! Design Strategies for Crafting Masterpieces". I had just finished the revised proposal and sent it to them...didn't hear back for a week...was a bit worried and then yesterday, bam! a contract arrives on my doorstep.

I still need to discuss some items with them, but I'm super psyched.

And, in other news, I have now finished sleying all 2800 threads. I am now working on getting the two warps properly lined up and tied on, a process which promises to be both complicated and tedious. There are color changes that need to be lined up, plus the warp is not perfectly aligned coming off the warp beam, so I need to tie on, roll the warp forward to get to the place where it is coming off the warp beam evenly, and then roll it back. And then line up the two warps so the color changes line up correctly. I expect it will take me a few days to make that work.

And what are the rest of you up to?

Comments

Thu, 09/11/2014 - 09:30

Erica J

Walkingquail,

I had the same experience with the Jenifer Moore book. Just when I thought I had it it all slid sideways, but when I got to the loom the concepts firmed up and now I have them down pat. Though it's been a while since I wove double weave. Maybe it's time to plan a warp for furhter down my weaving to do list, which is quite long.

On the topic of rings, I think your ring variety sounds rather splendid. I was finally able to get the rings I inherited from my mother from the lock box this summer. It has been nearly 5 years since she committed suicide, which made it difficult for my dad to give up her engagement, wedding and anniversary rings. I miss her everyday, but am happy to have her anniversary ring, which I currently wear as my wedding ring. Oliver had a beautiful bespoke ring made for me when we got married, but I've gained a bit too much weight and it's not currently fitting. It's my motivation to shed these pounds, then my mom's ring should fit on my right hand!

I think rings are very important heirloom that are usually passed through the women in the family. Thor and ReedGuy, I'm sure men have similar heirlooms that are special to them. This may seem a silly question, but what do men tend to pass down through family lines? It's just my sister and I in our family, so I'm curious.

Thu, 09/11/2014 - 09:49

Artistry

If you have them, you might as well wear them :) Today is Tapestry day. It will feel good to revisit my sunset which I haven't looked at for 3 weeks or so because of travel. My plan is to fall back on the Tapestry Diary method, it would be working on the sunset. I really want to get it done, stay connected to tapestry while I work on the DW project. In my mind Tapestry Diary Method: working everyday for 15 min to 1 hour ( or more, if you really get into it!) then off you go to another project.
Thu, 09/11/2014 - 18:04

tien (not verified)

Weaving-wise, I'm getting sick of troubleshooting this warp and broken threads. I'm going to try sizing the warp (on several people's advice) to see if that helps. Gonna try spray starch first, I think. Hopefully that should return me to trouble-free weaving!

Re rings: Mike and I take off our rings to do dirty work or other things that might damage the ring (they are intricately carved with phoenix and dragon motifs - which in Chinese culture represent the male and female principles, or the Emperor and the Empress - and are just gorgeous). Sometimes Mike forgets to put his back on - usually when we are about to go out for dinner and says, "Oh! I forgot my ring!" To which I usually respond, "That's OK - I'm pretty sure we're still married." So to me what ring and whether you're wearing it doesn't matter - you're still married! :-)

And I'm pleased to say that I talked to the publisher yesterday morning and we agreed on the contract and a few changes I wanted to it. They're happy, I'm happy. They're sending me an addendum to the contract which I will sign and return, and then we'll be under contract!

Thu, 09/11/2014 - 22:53

Artistry

Tien, That's wonderful news about the contract agreement ! I love the symbols of your rings. Tapestry today, it was hard getting back in the groove with the color mixes. However by the time I was done ( after a couple a sessions of ripping out) My eyes became more sensitive and I could see the subtleties again. I have Tommye Scanlin to thank for that ,all these wonderful color excercises during the workshop I took with her are starting to pay off. I've decided an easy way to keep the upper layer threads and lower layer threads separated in the DW when I paint is to use my PVC pipe that I use for Shibori. I'll just stick it in where the cross is and keep moving it down. I do most of my dyeing in silk with Lanasets. My samples are in cotton with fiber reactive. I have no warp painting exp. with the fiber reactive but dyeing exp. from long ago.. The Prochem site told me to take the pro dye activator and a large sponge and wet down the cotton warp. I 'm used to soaking the cotton fiber in Soda Ash. Is there really a difference, does anyone know? Also, do I need to worry about rinsing the warp and fugitive dye marking the lighter areas? Advice appreciated!
Thu, 09/11/2014 - 23:10

tien (not verified)

Hi Cathie,

Pro Dye Activator is sodium carbonate which is the same as soda ash. I have no idea why they don't just label it "soda ash". So yes, soaking it should be fine, I've done that before with fiber-reactive dyes (but on silk).

Yes, you need to worry about backstaining (fugitive dye marking the lighter areas while rinsing). To prevent backstaining, rinse out in ICE water (I use 5 pounds or so of ice in a 5-gallon bucket - there should be enough ice that even after the water is cooled down, there are still ice cubes floating in it). The freezing cold prevents the dye from reacting with the fiber (most chemical reactions slow down at cold temperatures), and the water rinses out the soda ash. Since the dye needs soda ash to bond to the fiber, after the soda ash is rinsed away, the dye won't react with the fiber. I sometimes do two ice water rinses just to be sure. You can sort of strain out and reuse the ice from the first bath if you are running low on ice.

After you have the soda ash out, rinse in HOT HOT HOT water with Synthrapol in it (you can also use Dawn dishwashing liquid, but Synthrapol is better at getting out dye). I put in a generous amount of detergent, then soak the yarn in the hot rinse bath for 5-10 minutes. Then I dump out the rinse water, do a second hot bath the same way. Then I rinse once or twice in cold water - at this point very little color should be coming out.

That is probably overkill and there may be a more efficient way to wash out, but this works pretty well for me. I hope that helps!

And I want pictures of your tapestry progress!

Thu, 09/11/2014 - 23:51

endorph

today consisted in going to Foner Crafts to order some 16/2 cotton - I thought I had a couple of cones of naturals in the stash but surprise! what I had was 8/2 so. . . . I also decided to take the lazy way out and am going to have them wind my warp for me when the cotton comes in. IN the meantime I will work on the 8/2 towels on the RH loom - warping will begin tomorrow. Still trying to decide if I will direct or indirect warp this project.

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 02:09

Artistry

Tien, Thank you for your advice! It helps tremendously! it never occurred to me about the ice but it all makes perfect sense, reactions being slower when cool, now that you have explained it . Same with the Soda Ash. I will follow your method , sounds very reasonable to me. I have found dyeing is a lot of work and physical effort, call me crazy , but messing around with a big bucket of ice sounds kinda fun :) Pix of tapestry tomorrow. Thanks for asking!
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 06:05

Thor (not verified)

I love weaving with someone else in the studio.  They don't need to be weaving.  We don't even need to speak.  I find that I just love the company.

My student did an amazing job last night.  He had so many firsts! He wound his yarn into balls using a swift & winder for the first time. He measure out his warp on the warping board with negligible mistakes at the cross. He used lease sticks, wound on the warp, threaded all the heddles and started sleying the reed.  He was giddy!

To boot, I got that daggummit Guild Challenge warped onto the rigid heddle and with fresh eyes, I really examined the challenge fiber from a place of "no expectations".  I ended up creating a multi-strand weft out of 2 strands of charcoal wool, 1 strand of black/cream plied cotton, and 1 strand of silver metallic.  The warp is already a multi-strand white cotton with one strand of a shiny, silky fiber. 

I am doing the scarf in plain weave... which is challenge enough for me. I tend to like to weave things that require a little mental acrobatics!  Then, there is the color...it's relatively monochromatic.  Not like me at all!  I struggled to keep going and not run to the stash to liven things up.  I am so glad I didn't give in.  When I step away from the loom and gaze at the scarf with it's play of black, white, charcoal and silver... it looks like woven granite.  I am astounded at it's simplicity and it's elegance.

Worked a 12'er tonight and have to do another tomorrow so no time for weaving tonight.  Plus, my energetic student had family obligations to attend to.  Tomorrow, after work... s t u d i o !

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 14:20

tommye scanlin

Yesterday's blog post about it:  http://tapestry13.blogspot.com/2014/09/off-loom-at-last.html

Cathie,  I'm looking forward to seeing where you take color in your tapestry!  Your sampling at Peters Valley was inspired.  You've really got a deep sensitivity to nuance.  Good luck with the dyeing, too.

Everyone writes about their daily weaverliness with such passion.  Here's to more of it for all!

Tommye (who's off to start the finishing work on the tapestry and listen to more P.D. James!)

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 15:05

endorph

it is gorgeous - I am awestruck! (BTW I love P.D. James!)

Reading everyone's posts is inspiring. I need to be better with my weaverliness!

 

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 15:18

sally orgren

Yep. I finished towel five and could have woven the sixth in an hour last night, but I decided to savor the finish for after work tonight. S_T_U_D_I_O this weekend - I hear you Thor!

My biggest problem is I don't have a concise idea of where I want to go next. I'd love to have a plan in place and start winding a warp this weekend. The guild sale is in two months, so I could whip up another set of 8 towels I think (and try Tien's shuttle), or weave a series of fun and colorful baby blankets which would be a shock to my system with such an open sett. Alternatively, I have been planning this alpaca blanket for years with half a thought to enter it into the yardage exhibit at Convergence before stitching it up... Not to be forgotten, I also have a historic weave challenge, a doubleweave challenge, and a "basket+one" challenge, swatches all due in 2015. Oy. I just did the math, I think that totals about 70 swatches. 

Cathie, sounds like you are about to undertake the "ALS ice bucket challenge" on your warp. 

Tien, I have heard great things about working with Schiffer from some of their current weaving authors - they sound like good folks! 

Endorph, 16/2 is my new favorite yarn.

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 15:24

theresasc

Lots of action the last few days, autumn must be in the air.

Tommye, I have enjoyed watching your tapestry grow on your blog and love seeing it finished.  It is really lovely.

Cathie and Tien, Keep on talking about dyeing so I can do it vicariously through you - it is one aspect of fiber that I have not ventured into.

Thor, your scarf sounds really wonderful.  Sounds like you hit on a great solution and how fun for you to have a weaving buddy in your studio.

I finished the rag rug and cut it off the loom the other day.  Still working on winding the color and weave warp, and to take a break from that I have figured out the warp for some more rag place mats.  I have been in a rag weaving mode lately and things are working pretty well.  Still weaving from the stash too!

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 20:30

Walkingquail

makes everyone busier! The holidays are looming if you are a weaver and the little voice says "weave!" Interweave has free shipping today and 1/2 off for back to school so I decided to order the Moore DVD. Thor told me it really helped him so sounds good.

Today I hope to finish shawl number one and start number two on the warp. I am using beautiful Jacob wool from a ranch about 1 1/2 hours away in Vacaville, Robin Lynde's place. Such nice wool. But a good example of why I should sample every time. I didnt have the preferred size of yarn for the weft so it is coming out different than visualized! But I have learned that's OK too.

The talk of tapestry reminds me I need to get back to my green sea turtle tap, its been a few weeks and class starts up again next week. I find I need some time to get back into a tapestry before I get really cooking and then the washer or dryer beeps at me and I lose my train of thought.

 

 

 

 

Fri, 09/12/2014 - 20:40

Artistry

Alright I took the plunge! In about 6 weeks I'll be the proud owner of 2 Bluster Bay 11 inch EFS, honex tension,closed shuttles, Black Cherry ! I decided to go ahead because I've heard so many good things about them, and of course recent talk. But main reason is the tendinitis in my wrist. The long AVL EFS are just to heavy for me to throw . So I choose one of the lightest woods, and the small style, I should be good to go! Tommye your tapestry is Glorious! The depth in the wall is almost mysterious, and I can feel the weight of the rocks. So much appeal! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your encouragement. I'm actually thinking of changing the kind of yarn I'm using , Ymmyarns to Vevgarn for the large piece. the present yarn is quite expensive and ,i believe, not easy to get large quanties of. I think I'd be able to get the vibrancy I want if I mix the Vevgarn with Kathe's. We'll see. Theresasc, It's great to have a couple of projects going on at once, I agree ! I admire your still busting the stash! Sally, Take a look at some of the old German Patterrns on Handweaving.net, Fanciest Twills of All, for your baby blankets. People raved about the blankets that Linda and I made over the summer. They were so much fun and really different. Two are on my project page. Tap. Pic. Tom. Too cloudy today:(
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 21:31

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

Probably too late for this warp but next time investigate a synthetic warp sizing.
Fri, 09/12/2014 - 21:30

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

Probably too late for this warp but next time investigate a synthetic warp sizing.
Sat, 09/13/2014 - 04:21

Thor (not verified)

I have a long-time Facebook Fiber Friend who happens to live here in Chattanooga. When I moved here, she & I met up in the real world at her knitting guild. Since then, I have kicked my "enabler" mode into overdrive and she is now weaving, as well. She is an online networking dynamo and I have shamelessly recruited her for our Weaving Guild. She also happens to have Cerebral Palsy and within the last couple months has become wheelchair bound. I sent her a message asking if I could pick her up in the morning for our Guild meeting... and she told me (me...guild president, btw) that our meeting is the 3rd Saturday of the month. Not tomorrow but a week from tomorrow!!! IT'S LIKE FREAKIN CHRISTMAS!! I actually have enough time to finish my Guild Challenge (and another piece just to show off!!). Sometimes, the rewards of being a natural blond are more than one could imagine! Best part is...she seems to be doing well and, at this point, is planning on being at the meeting. I love weavers. Truly.
Sat, 09/13/2014 - 04:30

Thor (not verified)

Men, Women... Jewelry is jewelry. When my Mother passed away, my sisters asked me what, if anything, I might like from Mom's jewelry case. I asked for, and received, my maternal grandmothers emerald ring. I was so amazed my sisters didn't want it. Different priorities, I guess. They wanted the diamonds to be able to pass them down to my nieces. I wanted the emerald cause it sets off my eyes! I ran, immediately, to my jeweler and had a ver massive, masculine ring created with the emerald as the focal, center stone. It's rather "cocktail ring" meets Super Bowl ring and when I wear it (infrequently) it never fails to draw attention & compliments.
Sat, 09/13/2014 - 04:34

Walkingquail

are worth more than diamonds, Thor! They are more rare. Someone will want that handsome ring some day.

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 09:47

ReedGuy

Yeah diamonds are mined even in the far north in Canada. What has made them pricey is people controlling supply such as Debeers.

 

Good luck with that warp tien, that's a lot of work to give up now. I know one can only take so much frustration. :)

Nice to read up on everyone's activities. Soon, I'll be back on my loom, days are much cooler now. I hate the humid heat, if it was 65 degrees all summer it would be perfect. ;)

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 14:18

endorph

I would take emeralds over diamonds anyday!

Managed to actually get a warp wound last night and finished up this morning - now deciding which loom to put it on - the RH or the mighty wolf. My 16/2 warp won't be ready until late next week so this one might go on the wolf - I can get it on the loom and woven off before the other warp is ready.  But then I have a naked RH - maybe its time to weave a couple of scarves using all the yarn I've spun over the summer.

Ideas anyone?

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 14:28

pammersw

Since my daughter and her husband are visiting,  I finally wet-finished their scarves last night - I guess I might as well do my son's and my boyfriend's son's scarves today.

I'm tired, I need more sleep!

 

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 18:14

Erica J

I've had a weaving student over this weekend and the family attended a birthday part for a colleague's daughter. :)

I've been helping my student seperate her yarns, which were packaged balls of 5 threads each. This would have been great, and saved a lot of warping time, except the yarns were not kept seperate when winding the ball, so now they all have to be wound into individual balls before warping can begin.

We were hoping to get her project warped this weekend, as she's come up from Buckinghamshire. I think we may just manage to get here warp prepped for winding the warp! :)

I hope tomorrow, we can both get some work done in the studio. If I get to work, then I'll be working on my own next warp and my taquete samples.

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 19:57

Artistry

I haven't gotten much done today, except working a little while on the tapestry. It's a beautiful fall day. Here's the progress on the sample tapestry. I'm excited because there are some awesome clouds coming up soon!

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 20:51

tien (not verified)

Wow! So many people up to so many things!

Cathie, lovely tapestry. I haven't the patience for tapestry (yeah, I know, says the woman with the ultra-wide fine threads warp) but I admire tapestry weavers a lot. You go! (And congrats on the two Bluster Bay shuttles - you're gonna love them!)

MMs&OOs - what kind of synthetic warp sizing? I've never heard of it before, so this is intriguing...

For myself, I have just finished sizing the warp with spray starch. And, of course, disentangling the stuck-together threads from each other, fixing broken and loose threads from rolling the warp forward/backward while applying spray starch, etc. I haven't quite gotten the warp back to working order yet; I'm still breaking loose threads etc. It's very frustrating. I'm taking the weekend quasi-off to recharge my patience. Instead I'm going to make pear jam, Concord grape jelly, and can some candied sour cherries I made awhile back and which are lurking in the fridge.

I'm also going to work on some book stuff in preparation for a conversation Monday with Schiffer Publishing. They wanted me to make the topic as broad as possible, covering as many crafts as possible, so I'm figuring out how to make that happen. I've already put together a project plan along with time estimates for each phase (can you tell my day job is project management?), now I have to figure out which master artisans to interview in which crafts, and draft up a letter introducing myself and asking for interviews. I'm presenting the project plan to the publisher on Monday or Tuesday, because I'll need their help in contacting people for interviews.

Lots of excitement, lots of busy-ness. Really enjoying it all though!

Sat, 09/13/2014 - 22:00

Artistry

I've woven double weave several times, even had it in juried exhibits. But darn, that was along time ago ! So as my mind does these gymnastics over the painting. I wrote a poem - Doubleweave, Doubleweave you're nothing but trouble! You leave my brain In quite a puddle! Huck, Summer&Winter, Overshot even Damask, I understand, With no one to ask! I must be certain of my figures and facts, Or else I'll pay The weaver's tax! Take it or leave it, just for fun:) Thanks Tien!
Sun, 09/14/2014 - 00:18

endorph

and was getting ready to wind on and realized that the side of the warp with the stripes is on upside down - the stripes are supposed to be on the outside of the towel - so I am taking a break and will worry about re-rough sleying later!

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 00:07

theresasc

Sometimes I think my brain stays in the puddle.

Cathie, you will love the black cherry shuttles.  I have a 13" BB in black cherry and it is lovely.  Your tapesty is really great.  What wonderful colors you are using.  My tree is still on my tap. loom, I really need to finish it up.

So saying that, I was up in the loft this afternoon and put in some very productive time.  I dressed my loom and have the color and weave warp weaving.  It was really nice dressing one of the Kessenich looms, they are such a pleasure to put a warp on.  I am still finding my CM very cumbersome to dress.  I must still have my vacation on my mind, my warp is another of the colors of the SW. 

color and weave

 

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 13:39

ReedGuy

Been watching Becky Ashenden's drawloom video this morning. :)

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 17:48

sally orgren

Theresasc

This color and weave warp is great. Lots of potential! Hope you'll share the source draft.

I have been working on several designs this weekend, and I may be getting close on one so that I can request to borrow that Bluster Bay from Tien after all!

The fabric would be for towels and to meet a CW study group sample exchange for next year.

I have been studying industrial patterns from a draft book obtained by a neighboring guild. The drafts are intriguing because they don't require a bazillion shafts and produce nice patterns. Add color, and they become something completely different!

The challenge for me is finding cotton fine enough to render the pattern motif at the small size I'd like to see. (I am currently working with 16/2 and 20/2.) To render it at the scale I would *prefer* would require a sett of 45 e.p.i., but then I would need to find a much finer cotton or use an alternate material. And chances are, I could not charge enough for a towel at the guild sale to recoup my costs. So it's balance.

Also, in some cases, I am redrafting the pattern so I don't have to move heddles, or so I can treadle easier/faster. One draft was 6 shafts, with 11 treadlings, but I would prefer to thread it for 11 shafts straight draw, with only 6 treadlings. (If this doesn't make sense, take a class with Bonnie Inouye and you'll get the hang of switching around the tie up, threading and treadling.)

The towels are finished, and I just need to weave off the last little bit of extra warp in something fun, I think it will make some great eyeglass cases for the guild sale.

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 17:58

Artistry

I love the color and weave warp too! Sally what size cotton are you looking for?
Sun, 09/14/2014 - 19:04

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

I got a bag of synthetic warp sizing from Alden Amos, years and years ago, and it wasn't flax seed or corn meal or whatever. You did have to put the sizing on and let dry before warping. Too late for you now. However your question made me fall into the Internet worm hole and I trolled various commercial weaving supply companies. It looks like the purpose of the sizing is to humidify and also make the yarn slicker not to necessarily to make the yarn stronger or thicker. I did not understand all of the chemistry. I did find this, which has a "recipe" for their "commercial" sizing. I found out what "sago" is and "vegetable tallow", certainly organic, but it is what they put on silk:, http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/bhagalpurmidtown/page-10.php. Scroll down alot! What the heck this is doing on a webpage for the Bhagalpur Midtown Lions Club e-Clubhouse is beyond me ....
Sun, 09/14/2014 - 19:10

ReedGuy

Woven some linen warp today to finish up a spool, waiting for some more to finish up this linen scrim for the chair.

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 20:22

Erica J

Well we are all making great progress eh?!

I fixed the last two crossed threads on my taquete warp and added in numbers on the pattern draft. I have warped 8" of my 22" for my next diamond twill.

Oliver and I did some rearranging in the studio and office to make more space in each. We've been in the new house for almost 2 years, and we are nearly fully settled in! I need to get some of the warping equipment put up in a closet and get my inspiration boards up. Eventually I'll need Oliver to make an extension for my loom and now there is room for the extension!

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 20:24

theresasc

on the color and weave, but I cannot take any credit for it.  It is from an article by Erica de Ruiter in an old Weavezine.  I have had it bookmarked since I first saw it and have finally have it on a loom. 

Color and weave always amazes me, how complex a simple weave can look. 

Finished winding the warp for place mats and dressed my Cranbrook this afternoon while listening to Sunday football.  It is one of the things that I love about my home, the tv is on downstairs and I can hear, and leaning over the railing can see what is happening from my loft studio.  I went to start cutting fabric strips but realized I had not washed the fabric, so it is in the washer now.

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 20:56

endorph

to leave the warp as is - this is for dish towels and the precise placement of the stripes will not make one bit of difference in how the towels work so beaming on will start after I get something for dinner into the oven!

Sun, 09/14/2014 - 21:46

tien (not verified)

Thanks! It looks like they're using a mix of tapioca(=sago I think) and some sort of vegetable fat. So kinda starch-based.

My weaverliness for today was twofold:

(1) I decided that I really do need to re-sley the fine threads warp. It's currently sleyed at 80 epi for plain weave, which may be too dense; Peggy Osterkamp recommends 62-ish (!) for plain weave 120/2 silk, and she has the best sett tables I've encountered. Granted that there is a lot of slop in setts for fine threads, there's still a drastic difference between 80 and 62! Since the threads are still sticking to each other at 80 epi, I'm going to re-sley to 64 (4/dent in a 16-dent reed). That unfortunately will make the warp narrower on the warp beam than in the reed, but there's no real way to avoid that. It will also make the warp 45" wide which I am not sure if I can do without a fly shuttle. More interesting times ahead!

(2) I've now set up my new-to-me double bed knitting machine and figured out how to use it, for basic stuff anyway. Next I need to figure out how to attach and run the motor, but after spending the whole morning figuring out how to use it, my brain's exhausted. So I will do that later today or sometime tomorrow. Meanwhile, I'm making low carb vanilla ice cream! Yum!

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 01:02

sarahnopp (not verified)

Myself and another member of my guild did demostrations during a Nordic Days celebration at our local Sons of Norway lodge yesterday. We didn't have a lot of space, so did not bring any large looms. Instead, we brought a small tapestry loom, an inkle loom and some tablet weaving, plus some great books. 

I am used to demonstrating to a group which is mostly children, so it was different to have adults to chat with. I think our guild will have some new members! Lots of people had never seen tablet weaving in person, so that go most of the attention.

My friend also had her spindle and distaff and a bundle of flax and was wandering around drop spinning linen and chatting people up.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 02:36

Thor (not verified)

I wove all day yesterday. So productive! I got the Shawl Experiment threaded, sleyed, header woven, hem stitched the beginning and wove about 7 inches. As my esteemed Weavolution colleagues pointed out, I may need to sett this project a little denser. It's beautiful but the warp is a wee bit sleazy. This is my test piece so I reserve judgment until wet finishing is complete. I then went back to the house and wove on the Guild Challenge scarf til about 8 a.m. I got to sleep until about 2pm but the phone started. New weaver friends who we're having trouble (as I have) getting the sett right on a new twill project. It was funny that we were dealing with the same issue. Sadly, lack of sleep gives me head aches so no weaving until I am properly rested. I am working Monday but will be in the studio with my student all day Tuesday!
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 09:55

Artistry

Yikes - everything comes to a standstill 'cause I thought I had a whole week but now only have A few days to get a piece ready to be mounted for a Tapestry Weavers South Exhibit. Everything is cool. I can do this. It's just when you think you have the time then all of a sudden you're going out of town on Friday. So now the agenda is, get the piece ready for the exhibit , one or two days tops. Work on tapestry. Will dye next week. I don't want to mix up fiber reactive and have them go bad on me, so next week for that when I get back. So that's my daily Weaverliness. Tien, thanks for the tip about Peggy Ostercamp's sett charts, didn't know about them.hope that warp settles down! Tina, I'm still thinking about all that homespun you made and potential projects! I keep thinking about how snugly warm it will be! Plus you're better than I about getting something in the oven for dinner:)
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 10:51

endorph

by everyone's activities. Way to go on the weaverliness front!

Cathie - I threw a casserole n the oven - nothing fancy but it served the purpose! And managed not to get the warp beamed - so that is on the schedule for this evening after work.

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 12:22

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

You might give Lillian a call. I know she's done at least 70 because I helped her beam it and she can give you specifics on her setts and yarns used.
Mon, 09/15/2014 - 16:59

theresasc

Have the place mats weaving - just keeping my fingers crossed that I have enough fabric, might have a bit of a miscalculation there.

autumn rag mats

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 23:07

La La

I have been having computer problems for the past three weeks, and I have to say I did miss reading what you were all doing. It's back home now and I hope it will be all right for a while. I just finished my first shawl and am about to cut it off the loom.... Seems to have turned out well... I will try and post a photo, unless I am embarassed by it.... It is in shades of green. Green seems to be appealing to me lately, so I guess I am right on trend with the fashion scene. It's nice to see everyone's projects...
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 18:17

Artistry

Stitching and stitching to get the top back of this tapestry so it will be ready for the exhibit.
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 23:47

Walkingquail

tapestries both Cathie and Tommye! I can hear my green sea turtle calling me...Tommye, those rocks have real weight!

My weaverliness the last few days has been resettling my painting studio into another loom room. I bought a new to me Nilus for its heft and 36 inches. My other floor loom is a Baby Wolf which I love very much but she can't take a rug beat. I still have some boxes and what nots to find places for, throw away or give away? So in classic avoidance I took a three hour hike today because I really needed the exercise and it's cooler today. Of course, I was tired when I got home and seems I have accomplished very little! But tomorrow is another day. By the way, the easel and paints remain, never know when I'll want to paint! Weaving is all consuming for about 4 years but painting has been my thing since I was seven.

Wed, 09/17/2014 - 00:04

sarahnopp

Because I had to pick up a bear shaped cookie cutter (to make these adorable cookies) at Joann's and that was only 99 cents, but I didn't have any cash, so obviously I needed to supplement my purchase and I had a 50% off coupon. Therefore, sock loom. Oh, and a bit of yarn, but that hardly needs justification, does it.

:)

Wed, 09/17/2014 - 02:35

endorph

got the warp beamed on - and started threading heddles. At only 400 ends my warp pales in comparison from some that are being worked on in here! Weave on everyone.

Wed, 09/17/2014 - 03:26

tien (not verified)

Cool! How does a sock loom work? I've never even heard of one, so this sounds interesting.

(Did any of the rest of you see that "Roman dodecahedron" video showing that the mysterious "possibly ritual" objects from ancient times were likely knitting looms for gloves? That was AWESOME.)

My weaverliness for today was continuing to work on the knitting machine I am planning to use for knitting blanks for the current warp. I managed to get it working in manual mode, and hooked it up to the motor correctly. Plugged in the motor, turned it on, and twenty seconds later, BANG! and wisps of smoke came floating out the back.

After rushing it outdoors in case it continued to burn, we tried taking it apart (unsuccessfully). Mike suspects a bad capacitor. I'm just hoping that whatever fried didn't take the circuit board with it - that would be a real disaster, and would leave me with a very nice manual knitting machine with tons of bells and whistles that I don't want to use. The idea was to motorize the knitting to make knitting a 20,000-yard blank a little less tedious, and to save my shoulder from repetitive motion injury!

I have also made some progress on the book, by Googling various crafts to identify some well-known and well-respected people to interview. I'm putting together a spreadsheet of master artisans and their contact info, and am working on drafting up a letter of introduction explaining the project and requesting an interview. I've figured out how to record interviews and am going to try a couple of possibilities for interview transcription. I'm going to try to do the first few interviews this weekend or next week.

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Daily Weaverliness