Down to the last two months of the year - how did that happen? I am going to attempt to keep up the momentum built during Halloweave and keep weaving at least a few picks a day and I am going to get that pile of hemming under control! Besides, there are a few things in that pile that could come in handy for Christmas presents! Weave on all!

Comments

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 20:36

tien (not verified)

Congrats on the successful sale! I'm always amazed by the success of guilds in other areas. In the Bay Area we don't have any really big guilds such as you see elsewhere - instead, there are five or six smaller guilds. Loom and Shuttle had its first show and sale this year, though, and I'm told it was quite successful!

I have had very little going on in the past couple weeks, weaving-wise. However, I made twenty-four pounds of fudge last weekend and am doing another 75 lbs of chocolates in the next week and a half. After that it will be back to weaving!

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 21:19

sally orgren

Inky will be accompanying me, Bandit probably will probably stay home because I need the space for cold-weather gear. The plan is to check out more ruin sites in SE Utah before the big feast, along with celebrating Thanksgiving with my family.

When I get back to New Jersey, I will be dehyrdating oodles of apples. That's one of the traditional homemade gifts I prepare for the holidays, along with spiced nuts, woven-landscape calendars, and for some lucky recipients, handwoven items like scarves or towels.

Ironically, I brought the first two Southwest-colorway towels to Arizona this summer to show my family, and my sister had a lack-luster reaction. I thought, "What the heck. Put 'em in the sale." ALL of them sold! I am happy they found an appreciative audience, and I happen to know one of them will be living in Utah after the first of the year. (No worries, I bet they will all eventually find their way out west!)

If anyone is traveling to Racine (Wisconsin), Los Angeles, San Jose, Boston, Chicago, Phoenix, Kansas City, New York City, Baltimore, or Toronto, there are lots of cool textile exhibits happening all over the place! So even if you are away from your looms - you can find ways to get inspired over the holiday break.

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 01:15

Artistry

I can smell the chocolates from here ! Plus, Sally, if I close my eyes I can picture your Guild sale, you had beautiful pix up last year ! Glad it went so well! We had our Guild sale too. I hit it Friday afternoon when it opened and got almost ALL my Christmas shopping done! The Sale looked great and there were lots of people there, yay! Today was sketching for the new tapestry. Since it's been snowing outside and colder this week ( I like !) i can't really finish painting my warps. Things freeze !
Fri, 11/21/2014 - 03:18

sarahnopp (not verified)

I did weaving related things. Hurrah!

First off I ordered the book "Continuous Strand Weaving Method" by Carol Leigh. That is exciting. I love method instruction books :) I guess #1 1/2: I built a little triangle loom from a picture frame so I can sample the different lessons, before dragging out the 7+ ft wide one.

Second thing: I am designing a carrier/tote for my Schacht tapestry loom, so I can take it to class without subjecting it to the rain. I have been carrying a plastic garbage bag, but thought I really ought to do something better. Just a simple folded cordura with either a zipper or velcro top, some handles and a couple small pockets tostask fiber and tool set, and maybe sampler loom.

Third thing is designing fun things for tapestry weaving. sketch, sketch, sketch! I had some fun brainstorms. And I even worked some ideas out on my little sampler Hokett loom.

Fourth thing is I sold my little Bergman cm floor loom. That is a bit sad, but she is off to a new loving home where she will get to work and not languish. 

Fifth I played around with pick up on my inkle loom.  

I tend to think I haven't been doing anything. It is nice to list out what I have done and prove myself wrong.

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 09:36

Artistry

Sarahnopp Phew , what a great list! I feel inspired! How was your discussion on Tap. Design with your study group? I've put Photoshop aside, I got so far rather easily, then I was spending a lot of time trying to figure things out. So , I'll save that for a rainy day. I changed back to tracing paper:) Today is tapestry sketching. I'm drawing each element out ( element being, a mountain, etc.) on separate pieces of paper and then these will get arranged into a collage. This will take time because I'll be drawing the shapes, shadows, crevices,etc. as I would like to see them in the tap.
Fri, 11/21/2014 - 16:24

sarahnopp (not verified)

Today is weaving guild meeting, tomorrow is the tapestry group. Many sketches to share. And design tips gleaned from you and many other sources!

For future designing, I think I am taking a class on Sacred Geometry and Celtic Knotwork. A friend is teaching it at the community college as part of the adult education offerings. One class per week. But I keep thinking that would lend itself to tapestry really well.

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 16:35

Artistry

I think it would too. I'm going to explore zen tangles , I think they'll help me with borders and backgrounds. Have Fun!
Fri, 11/21/2014 - 16:45

endorph

the start of a weeklong vacation for me - I am not going home to Wyoming so I have lots of time to rest and relax - NOT!

I put the dogs in the kennel for the weekend so I can get some serious house cleaning done. I have managed to voluteer myself to make THanksgiving dinner for several singles from our church so I need to get the house cleaned and figure out if I have enough dishes and flatware. Its been so long since i had anyone over for dinner I am not sure what I have! But it should be fun - I love cooking and it is so hard to cook for one. In beteen I am going to get some weaving, knitting and spinning done as well! And get some organizing done in the loom / yarn room. After all I have to find someplace to put everything that has been living on my dining room table!

Everyone seems to be keeping busy - I love coming in here and reading all the updates.

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 14:06

Erica J

I have 3 of 4 looms set up, I'm sampling on all of them for various different projects/reasons. I'm still beginning with my complex weaves, a new taquete sample set up on the Ashford table loom, and need to set up the samitum sample on the Glimakra Standard.

I'm sampling warp and weft colours on my other looms. The Schacth table loom has the sample for my eventual Van Gogh cloth. My ideal is all set up to weave diamond twill cloth for Oliver and TAJ, I'm sampling every possible weft colour, so they can choose what they want. OK TAJ probably won't make his own choice, but then again he might. :)

It's so nice to have the weekend at  home to weave. I'm actually only teaching Monday and Tuesday next week. Then I'm taking Wednesday off and we are traveling to Ireland for Thanksgiving! I will be teaching a class on Medieval textiles while we're there, so I'll still be weaverly.

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 15:13

ReedGuy

I had to use Excel 2013 to render the weaving. In the draft for a countermarche there are two layers , but the bottom is binding the padding and hiding the pique back floats in the top layer. Also the top layer is double treadled. When the layers switch some shafts are not tied to treadles. I have not seen software that can simulate this situation. All I get is a mess. That is until I used Excel and pretty much wrote my own weaving software. Although I will have some additional work to automate events and add buttons, but that's not important now. Counterbalance requires a lot more treadles from things I have read that show the two different tie-ups.

 

Here is the rendering, the top layer is a 3 end twill ground with a 4 end twill pique and bottom layer of plain weave that covers the back piqué floats. Front floats are 3 ends max. I want to weave a bath mat.

 

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 19:54

theresasc

I have been kind of laid back this week, had other issues to contend with.  Winding the warp for a double-weave project.  That is about all that has been happening with me.

Reedguy, I like your rendering, I do not understand how you did it, but I like it:-)  I used my weaving software to set up the draft for my double-weave, it has given me a usable threading and treadling diagrams, but the drawdown looks funky.  With what you did, the pattern actually shows - way cool!

 

 

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 20:16

ReedGuy

theresasc, I think Weaveit Pro will render it if it's doublewide. But if I recall, you have to be sure that the draft is drawn full width and not half width or the underside will mirror the top instead of being continuous when unfolded off the loom.

The piqué (red) pattern is just following a twill draft from handweaving.net

The spreadsheet uses math and formatting, the typical stuff a freestanding program doesn't show in the background. ;)

Happy weaving. :)

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 01:58

Artistry

ReedGuy, Your piqué looks really interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing this project progress ! Well, it's Saturday, I've got to say I've finally admitted that Thanksgiving is next week and my guests arrive in 2 days. It will be loads of fun and laughing but no weaving. Well, a time and place for everything :)
Sun, 11/23/2014 - 09:54

Erica J

That is very cool ReedGuy.

I finished sampling wefts for the diamond twill fabric this morning. It is wet finishing now.  I'll share a photo and Oliver's decision when it dries.

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 10:50

Erica J

Oliver chose the very light green. The third from the bottom. TAJ keeps pointing to the purple section so it looks like he'll be having one of those. 

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 18:08

warpology

Blech due to health problems I've been abscent and almost nonweaving. Do get some spinning done as that doesn't bother my back as much. Found out by accident it was all medication related ( Cholesterol)

Did (slowly) get my napkins completed for a napkin exchange that I wove about an hour a week on. Love the collection I recieved. Did have fun with them added a small border on the sides and different ones on the ends. Something new for me.

Twill towels on 8S on the Norwood gathering dust and a Korkbrag mug rug project on the 4S glimakra, Naked AVL warp fourth finished. Maybe I can go back to weaving??? my sanity

napkin exchangeNapkins on loom

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 19:56

Artistry

Warpology, Hope you're feeling better soon ! It's great that you can weave some AND that you do it! Erica, Love Oli's choice, nice pattern ! Isn't it funny how little ones get color preferences at such an early age? It could change next week of course, but on that day there was no indecision,lol ! Well, I'm not weaving BUT I'm cleaning up the massive trail of weaving books, note paper, photos and tracing paper throughout the den and dining room, oh did I mention the small tapestry loom and 4 tapestries still in bubble wrap and boxes in there, and getting it down to my studio. Oh yes, lol, why don't I work down there? It's for weaving, silly, plus it's messy! Everything to be neat before Thanksgiving. I think this counts as being Weaverly, kind of:) oh, the studio is getting cleaned up too, that will be heaven:)
Mon, 11/24/2014 - 16:38

theresasc

Tied up the Cranbrook this morning for double-weave - glad that is over with.  It is one of my least favorite things about this loom, now I have to beam on, which is next on the "do not like" list.  If it was not for those two things, I would really love this loom.  It weaves so nice once it is set up and dressed, but I find getting there such a hassle.  My Kessenich's are so much easier to get dressed:-)

I think I will go and work on tapestry this morning, soothing my ruffled feathers - LOL

Tue, 11/25/2014 - 16:20

theresasc

The warp has been beamed on this morning.  It went on quite nicely, it is getting better each time I do it.  I was able to pick up some more warp sticks last week at Home Depot.  I was looking at pine lattace, and there in the discard bin (where folks put the balance of what they cut off) were 10 pieces of pine lattace at 37" long - perfect for my needs.  Took them home, sanded them down, and they are on the loom now.  My loom came with 63" sticks and those get very cumbersome especially on a narrower warp.  The 37" are ideal for what I weave a lot of the time.

I also have two new ski shuttles.  The weft that I am going to use on this project is too heavy for boat shuttles, and most of my ski shuttles are too long.  Sara at Woolgatherers drop me a message that they have shorter ski shuttles so now I have two 14" shuttles (thanks Sara!).  They should work really fine for what I want to do.

ski shuttles

From bottom to top:  14", 18", 24".  The 14" are just going to be great for narrower warps - new toys, how fun!

Thu, 11/27/2014 - 20:44

ReedGuy

This is what my bath mat is looking like with the first rep woven. :)

 

  Have a good one. :)

Thu, 11/27/2014 - 20:56

Artistry

Thereasc -nice collection of ski shuttles ! ReedGuy -is there anything you can't do ? The piqué looks very good, what are you using for the stuffing/ padding?
Thu, 11/27/2014 - 23:36

ReedGuy

Cathie, I keep finding new weaves to try. I'm sure I can't weave them all, but have fun trying the ones I can weave. Hahaha :)

Fri, 11/28/2014 - 16:37

theresasc

Your mat is coming out great - I really like your patterning.  I too am working on bathmats.  I have it weaving, only had to go back under the loom once to reconfigure a couple of treadles.  This is what I wanted the 14" ski shuttles for, and they are working really fine. 

stitched doubleweave

It is stitched doubleweave threaded on basketweave.  It is coming out as I had hoped.  I do not do a real lot of designing, so it is kind of exciting when a plan actually turns into decent cloth.

Fri, 11/28/2014 - 19:39

ReedGuy

Coming along nicely theresasc. I'm using 3 shuttles and sometimes two treadles at a time. Carry on. :)

Sat, 11/29/2014 - 01:20

Artistry

Thereasc - I've done stitched double weave ( once! ) so as I recall the underside will look quite different, right? Do I see green, pink and then ecru large checks? Cathie
Sat, 11/29/2014 - 17:12

theresasc

Cathie, both sides are looking almost the same.  I am only stitching the layers on the center set of picks on each color band.  I wanted the thickness of doubleweave, but I did not want the layers slipping around.  I am using a spiral organic cotton in natural, green, and hopefully brown (it is looking kind of pinkish now) and softball softball cotton as the two yarns in the basket weave.  I am just using the spiral for stitching, so I am getting dimples there.  It should be interesting after wet finishing.  Hopefully the organic colors will deepen then also.

Sat, 11/29/2014 - 20:00

ReedGuy

Here she is. :)

 






Feels some nice to. :)

Sat, 11/29/2014 - 20:18

endorph

My vacation is almost over and I have little in the way of weaving to show for it but I did get other stuff done. I did get a bit of weaving in on Thanksgiving Day - maybe some more tomorrow. I am enjoying seeing everyone's progress.

Sat, 11/29/2014 - 22:37

Artistry

Very clever Thereasc ! I wondered if that was organic cotton you were working with ,it looked sooooo soft ! ReedGuy, very nice ! She washed up beautifully ! Love the yellow! Your selvedges are so nice, did the piqué behave itself, or did you thread someone thing else on the edges ? Still cleaning up the studio, so I can get a good pic of the LeClerc Gobelin to put it on the market. I have a new to me tapestry loom coming to me soon:)
Sat, 11/29/2014 - 22:48

Artistry

Oh, it looks like you had the 3 thread twill on the edges :)
Sun, 11/30/2014 - 00:27

ReedGuy

Yes, a 3 end twill out at the selvedges (5 groups of three ends). I used a ten dent reed at 30 epi, I counted a #4 cotton end as 3 ends, alternating with 10/3. I bound the ends by alternating shafts 4 and 6 with 8-10 (double treadled), kind of a plain weave but also a twill. LOL So don't really know what that is called, but it makes a neet weave. Then hand hemmed with a kind of blanket stitch with a doubled 10/3 yarn. All kinds of fun. :)

Sun, 11/30/2014 - 02:07

Artistry

Thanks for the details, enjoy and learn hearing about them :)
Sun, 11/30/2014 - 08:53

Weavolutionary6

We've been traveling in Ireland since Wednesday. I doubt I will have the energy to do any weaving when e get home. I did teach a clad on Medieval weave structures while we were there. I think the clad went well. But there were not add many weavers in the group as I expected.  So I think I'll have to adjust the class before next time. 

Mon, 12/01/2014 - 17:02

theresasc

You are a speed-weaver!  It seems like you just got started and now you have a beautiful mat finished.  I am with Cathie, I really like the yellow.

I am still working on my mats, had to take time out this weekend for football:-) 

This is what the dimples or the stitched layers look like on the top, should be neat to see how it wet-finishes.

dimples

 

Mon, 12/01/2014 - 17:39

pammersw

70,000 words written before midnight, and validated to around 70,200...and the story is finished, though some chapters near the end could use some fleshing out. NaNoWriMo 2014 is officially a success! Now I can get back to the rest of my life. :)

Mon, 12/01/2014 - 19:58

ReedGuy

Your mat looks nice as well. I'm working on face cloths now and bath towels. Sampling now on the face cloths. :)

Carry on...

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