Happy May! Yet another busy and productive month has come and gone and it is time for a new thread. Everyone has had such a busy and varied spring. Looking forward to what will happen this month. Be creative, be supportive and weave on! Tina

Comments

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 22:27

ReedGuy

Haven't threaded much on my table cloth yet. But was drawing up some drafts for cotton towels for some time in the future. Was also looking through some old weaving books and internet sites the last few days. Found a couple draft ideas and posted them to the forum. I'm sure others on the forum have wove them. I want to make a wool afghan this winter in an advancing twill for mother, maybe one for my antique love seat as well.

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 00:04

endorph

Here is the completed apron - I'm happy with it. 

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 11:52

Artistry

Tina, Lovely Apron! It seems to me you whipped that up pretty quick! Have you decided what to do with your extra fabric? Or are you going to save it for a rainy day? I also thought pillow cushions? ReedGuy, You posted your Draft ideas to the forum, what forum? Excuse my newbie ness :) I haven't explored Weavolution in it's entirety! Today, I get to teach my youngest son's significant other how to dress and weave on a Rigid Heddle. They're visiting from Chicago:) I love teaching beginners! She loves color and fiber, I think she's a natural. She'll have fun, the important part! That's Weaverly :) Friday I get to learn how to do my first Organic Indigo Vat! I'm very excited. This is the first of many vats getting ready to dye the organic cotton to weave the baby blankets in the fall.
Tue, 05/14/2013 - 14:32

ReedGuy

Cathie, click on my user name and then you can access my draft page from the menu along the top left edge of the screen. Some of my original drafts I don't post. Can't give everything away now can we? ;)

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 15:31

sally orgren

I demonstrated on Saturday and caught a glimpse of this little loom. Anyone ever see one like it?

Note there is only ONE shaft with heddles. So to weave tabby, you do nothing, and then you raise the heddle (with that lever below the front breast beam) to get the alternate pic. And yes, you have a separate reed.

So is this a hybrid between a rigid heddle and a shaft loom? A one shaft, two shed loom? Ironic — this is a variation of my recent crazy dishtowel warp, where one half of it wasn't threaded through any heddles!

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 02:16

loomyladi (not verified)

You all are being so very productive! It makes me yearn for time at home in the studio.  I'm nestled in the Black Mountains of North Carolina for a few days.  I did do some spinning today and my "weaverliness" is ohhh sooo much fun.  Yesterday involved a visit to the Moses Cone Mansion on the Blueridge Parkway.  One of my traveling companions went there as a young boy with his mother while she did a weaving demonstration, then onto Crossnore Weavers at the Crossnore School.  An excellent program!  We received an excellent tour, got to talk to some weavers and explore the history of the school.  Today was another drive down the Blueridge and a research trip to the Folk Art Center of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild.  Spent a couple of hours doing research on some weavers from West Virginia.  Their library is phenomenal and the resources are amazing.  Tomorrow will involve another trip back down the Parkway to the Folk Art Center.  A little more research and more time browsing the collection.  Hoping to spend a little time in some sample books!  Then Thursday will have our little group heading over the mountain for a visit to Penland.  There are no classes currently, but we hope to explore campus and my fingers are crossed that I will have some success in their archives for information on WVweavers that were there in the 40s.  If all goes smoothly, we will head back up to Crossnore for another visit.  We did not get to see everything the first trip.  So, I'm not up to anything weaverly except embracing the rich history that is abounding in these mountains.  I'm a WV gal who was born and raised in Ohio, I am starting to wonder if I truly belong down here.  Photos to show up soon.  Night all

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 10:12

Artistry

loomyladi, Great trip, getting my nose into some sample books and doing research sounds heavenly! I hope the rest of your trip is as interesting as the first part! ReedGuy, Saw your Drafts. I'm inspired, definately back to designing this summer. Been wanting to design some fine men's scarves. Probably 50%merino,50%silk, I know fancy, those are for my Toronto folk, and dashing Dad :), then some out of a fine wool, but don't know which? Briggs and little? Practical and good, for my sons and hubby. Want to achieve fun design, but fine enough wool to show It off. Also, very impressed by the glimpses of your loom! What a beauty! A dream machine. Today, I'm scouring cotton skeins and cloth getting ready for the Indigo vat. Before I scour I have to deal with what my friends call the " crazy monkey". It's a electric skein winder that a friend shopkeeper has lent to me. It's suppose to work really well, once you get use to it hmmmmmm.....I wonder how it got it's name:)
Wed, 05/15/2013 - 10:51

ReedGuy

For fine wool Cathie I would try Halcyon yarn in Maine, order online. They have some superfine Merino 18/2 (sett of 24 epi in twill) which I'm going to try some time. They also have 20/2 (sett of 32 epi in twill) now, but not as soft as the Merino. I would order enough to sample the sett though.

Briggs and Little only has blanket wool like Softspun (their best yarn) and singles that can work in twill scarves or very light tabby weave blankets. It's not got the strength to tension too much on the loom.

The Loom build is in the 'Home Built Equipment' group along with other weaving tools I've built. :)

Wed, 05/15/2013 - 12:02

Artistry

Thanks for the tips! Always sample, I think it's part of the fun:)
Wed, 05/15/2013 - 12:10

endorph

start weaving this evening on the warp I put on the RH loom last week. Its sitting there mocking me so its time to start to weave on it!
Wed, 05/15/2013 - 18:37

ReedGuy

I've had a lot of other stuff going on to get ready for work in the bush. I will be 'roughing' it as they say. :)

So, I don't really want to work too hard on the table cloth. This will allow for a little bit of weavishness on the weekends all summer. :)

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 15:16

warpology

I've been off line for a bit but that sure makes for more weaving time! Did get the AVL warped and am working on more Baby blankets. I'm doing some of my own drafts and some by Ralph Griswold but found so many long floats in his drafts that have had to do extra work with them but I like the results.

   

Using up stash is always a fun experiance (tongue in cheek) This warp starting from left is alternating pink and white, pink and white and then reverses. All this due to running out of white but all white would have been blah anyway! Happy Weaving!

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 21:52

Artistry

Love the baby blankets , Warpology! Very Nice.

Erin is weaving, on her RH, yay!

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 00:24

ReedGuy

Nice design warpology. Yes, sometimes the floats can get a little long. Not that I'm any expert, but it seems it depends on the fabric on whether certain lengths of floats are 'acceptable'.

This afternoon I found the sett of our provincial tartan and drew up the draft and submitted it to my draft page.

Have a good evening.

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 15:00

Woodburner

Thanks for sharing that sweet little loom sally. I'd been wondering if I could make a rigid heddle with wire heddles. :) 

I'm still doing a very fine piece of sprang. I'm getting bored of it tbh, it's taking so long. :(

I've also been fairly regularly trawling ebay for more looms! :D

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 18:15

sally orgren

I'd suggest putting the heddles closer together for that size of reed. Or, perhaps use a slightly bigger dent reed if the heddles stay the same, so you don't necessarily have to weave all weft-faced fabrics!

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 01:56

Artistry

Rainy days, good time for a color study! This is what I'm working on for my Tapestry Diary/May. Color Fades, Color Transitions. Oh, if only I had a full gray scale! The tapestry techniques here are very simple, so it's fun for every level to play!

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 02:17

sally orgren

at the Weaving History Conference this weekend. (Shhh. Everyone is in bed now but me!) Great topics again this year. I am not sure what my favorite session was. But weaver Carol James' Sprang was pretty impressive, and she isn't officially on the agenda until tomorrow! (Some lucky participants got to take a workshop with her on Friday, but I was in transit from an Ohio photo shoot to the conference.)

Sun, 05/19/2013 - 16:44

Woodburner

Just the kind of inspiration I need to keep me going! :D I've just been practising the basic 'stitches' so far. I'm going to try doing z and s twist in the same row next, maybe making triangles like the piece Carol is working on.

Colour work is a fair way off still, and I don't know if I'll ever manage anything as luscious as that top!

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 03:38

sally orgren

I was amazed to come to the Weaving History Conference this morning and see Carol James had finished the green hat she started Saturday during the conference. During her lecture this morning, I had a chance to see more of her work. WOW. She was commissioned to reproduce the George Washington sash from Mount Vernon, and we got to see it! She has released two books, one on sprang and one on finger weaving. One of my guildmates could not stop weaving on her sprang after the Friday workshop. (Leslie, if you are following this thread, please post a photo of your finished piece(s)!)

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 03:40

sally orgren

Cathie, (RE: post #69)

This is looking fantastic!

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 10:42

Artistry

Thanks Sally!

I've been really enjoying your Sprang adventure! ( And of course Woodburner's too!) Thanks for the pics!

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 20:38

Leslie M (not verified)

Sally, I'm working on it! Bought practice yarn at Walmart and longer dowels to make the frame bigger before I got home today from the conference! Im hooked on Sprang. By the way thanks for cropping the first carol James photo!!!
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 20:26

sally orgren

I too, have been distracted from my "big boy" looms by other projects. (And maybe a bit of spring fever, too, as my car dashboard reported 90 degrees at noon today.) This is the Running Dog pattern from John Mullarkey's Tablet Weaving workshop.

Anyone have a good name for Inky's sib?

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 20:36

endorph

I was just wondering what Inky's sibling's name was - hmmmmm
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 22:11

Artistry

Nice pattern and colors Sally, Inky's sib's name... Inkette? Loomette? Ribbon? Bandy!

 

 

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 22:36

ReedGuy

I have been heddling some this week, an hour here and there. Cold wet weather for the next few days, so I may be weaving by the weekend. Posted some local tartan drafts and one German pattern I modified from 12 to 8 shafts.

You ladies seem to be as busy as usual. Some interesting projects to. Have a good evening all. :)

Tue, 05/21/2013 - 23:42

Artistry

ReedGuy,

I'm a sucker for Tartans, the ones you posted are beautiful! Loved the history of NB Provincial.

Sally, another one, Bandit. That's all from me, someone else's turn now:)

 

 

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 00:01

ReedGuy

Yes, I'm planning on weaving some fabric for sewing clothing, even a flat hat from tartan designs. I see Halcyon sells some nice merino 18/2.

I also have a tartan here that was designed by a sister of mom's aunt for their guild. It's was registered at Lord Lyons in 1970. I'll probably weave a blanket with it from Briggs and Little wool, as that was the wool used in the design back then. It uses some lavender, which was difficult at the time to obtain.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 00:19

endorph

Ty - hmmm synonyms - more name like synonyms
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 01:08

Dlbsis

Hello, I need some help! I recently accidentally bought at loom at an auction. It's true what they say about keeping your hands in your lap! I have always been interested in weaving and would like to try to learn how. However, I cannot find any information about my new loom. The only marking I find says "Aspen" with a tree in the center. I think it may have been used for rugs because of some warp that was still attached. I live outside of Los Angeles and would truly appreciate any help. Where should I start?
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 12:32

endorph

can you post photos so we can see the loom in questions? that might help with identification. Thanks
Wed, 05/22/2013 - 21:09

Woodburner

If pics are difficult, have a browse in the loom groups on here, see if you can see anything like it.

Sally, how about "Tabby"? Love that design btw, and really great colours you've used. I really want to make some more TW band, but I'm kind of hooked on the sprang! I've just about got to grips with S and Z triangles on a little piece, should make a nice bag. I'm not sure I want to try this on the really fine stuff though; sometimes the double front or back threads are very hard to distinguish even on the two ply.

Wed, 05/22/2013 - 22:01

sally orgren

I am STILL blown away by Carol James! During her Sunday morning breakout lecture, she had photos of how she wove the George Washington / Mount Vernon sash. It was so big/long, she had to stand on a ladder, then move the twist down to the bottom of the piece, around the rod, then climb up the ladder to walk the twist up the back side of the frame and around to the front. (And I didn't mention she was wearing sprang leggings, but I thought it would be weird for me to take a photo under the table while she was lecturing ;-)

I like Dinky, but Inky is actually smaller than the sib. And I met a Dinky inkle loom at Clayton a few years ago, so that name has been taken. So far, Bandit seems most intriguing! (Maybe I'll have to offer a prize for the best name if they continue to be such good suggestions.)

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 00:45

loomyladi (not verified)

I was thinking Cardelia????

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 00:57

loomyladi (not verified)

Enjoyed a wonderful week in the mountains of North Carolina.  Our travels took us to the Crossnore Weaving School (so cool!) We received a personalized tour of the studio, museum, and the behind the scenes area.  It was wonderful to hear about their methods of warping 30+ yard warps.  They have mounted a warping mill to the ceiling and the floor, so that it rotates smoothly.  It was really cool to see a variety of containers on the floor (mostly coffee cans) and they run the thread through reeds laid vertical, and then wind the warp.  Yes, I took pictures and then accidentally deleted the whole weeks worth!  Homework beckons, back at it I go.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 07:44

ReedGuy

The use of the reeds to measure warp, sounds like using a paddle, only with more efficiency. Although a good little paddle could control 8-16 ends at a time if one wanted to. It just floats freely when winding, not held.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 13:25

Artistry

How come some people make using a paddle look so easy? It seems to me if I were doing it , it would somehow get tangled up anyways:)

more tapestry today, all is good.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 13:59

sally orgren

This might be a faked photo because there appears to be 5 spools, but identifies 8 threads coming through the paddle. And I have never seen anyone use a paddle suspended like that. (Well, the paddle may be suspended like that when at rest, while picking out a TANGLE, Cathie! ;-)

I see three empty holes at the top and bottom of the reel where the cross pegs are supposed to go. I think the 3 sticks near the boy's head must be a modified cross-maker since the normal pegs are missing, but not sure. (Looks to be a 13-14 yard or meter warp, right?)

It's fun to look at these old photos!

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 14:39

ReedGuy

Actually looks like 10 spools and threads in the paddle. I think the middle of the warp reel is the long dowel that it spins about and the other two up rights are the mill uprights the yarn winds around, like the two that are easier to see to the left and right. Otherwise, where are they? ;) What appears as holes may have been labels made on the photo when the text sedscribes the process. They have letter labeling on a number of figures in this book. It's hard to see the yarn on the dowels because the photo is a scan of a black and white text photo and who knows how savy the scanner person was. There are probably people out there that could do a better job digitizing. In fact I know one fellow who can take some pretty warn out old old photos and bring them to life. ;)

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 16:28

weaver1126

I just took five rag rugs off the loom and hemmed them.  I love four of them.  The fifth one, well it didn't turn out so well.  I use those in the garage.

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 23:54

ReedGuy

I did manage to get the heddles all threaded today of the second table cloth and the harnass moved back under the loom jacks. Reed threading next, but not tonight.

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 01:30

endorph

for me the past couple of days. This evening I am packing the car getting ready to head to Wyoming to see my family. Hoping the weather cooperates and no tornadoes get in my way. I have packed both the small tapestry loom and the potholder loom to keep me occupied at home!
Fri, 05/24/2013 - 10:12

Artistry

Have a safe trip Tina, and everyone else traveling this Memorial Day weekend!

 

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 13:41

sally orgren

I'll be volunteering tomorrow at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area in Hill House, Millbrook Village.

The park straddles the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The village is just 10 miles north of the last New Jersey I-80 exit — on Old Mine Road. (Ben Franklin traveled this road from Philadelphia to Franklin, NJ.)

All the looms are warped and weaveable: a 1700's barn fame loom with nearly all original parts, a Weaver's Friend, a Structo 600, a tape loom, and a smattering of 2 shaft peg looms and inkle looms for the wee ones to try. (The other half of the house has all the spinning and flax preparation toys.)

For the rest of the holiday break, I will be warping other's looms for their summer weaving adventures. Looking forward to the weaverly three day frolic!

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 19:03

ReedGuy

I did a couple of reps on my cranberry table cloth this afternoon. It requires a firm beat to get it to come out square in the pattern, the middle rep there you can see the beat wasn't as firm so it's slightly long. Anyway, this will be all I get done for a few days. I was surprised I only had a couple threads over the top of the heddle eye this time and no crossed threads. This draft also has a tidy shed. Nice! :)

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