Two months until the end of the year. Where did the time go? How many of us are working on holiday gifts? How many of us are just trying to keep on top of things? HOw many of us are losing that battle? SurprisedWe've had a great year in here so far, can't wait to see what this month will produce?

Comments

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 23:10

Missus T.

I've been too restless to sit and weave during October.  I have endured a thousand pecks from time-eating ravens!  Finally the house is tucked in for the winter, the school year hums along smoothly, the leaf-blowing routine is just that, and the holiday plans are shaping up to be low-key.  Whyfore then no weaving?  My floor loom is warped up with a wool twill, and my Navajo loom sits, harp-like, beckoning me to sit.  Dash away all lazy unspiritedness!  I seek the will o' the weft!

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 06:28

laurafry

Took some 'beauty' shots in my booth today (it was 'dead' after 4 pm-ish)

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 10:57

Erica J

Well the first weaving I did of this month was a slight drawloom disaster (darling, in case anyone else here watches Strictly). Once I took some deep breaths, walked away and came back I sorted that out. I will share photos of my drawloom weaving when there is something more excited than smushed designs to share. I promise!

The big weaving so far today has been my overshot. I actually have found it quite soothing, which is just what I needed today! I was assigned Cats Tracks and Snails Trails for last weekendn's texture workshop, which really worked out well, because I am loving that! To weave it as straight up overshot, I went to my wool section of the right size and just went, ooh that color is pretty. That is how I chose my weft this time! Not the most sophisticated of design decisions, but fun and working very well! :)

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 13:36

Artistry

I like the " Will o' the weft!"

Laura, the colors in your pieces are just luscious! I love color and pattern combined especially complex twill.

Erica, I also  enjoy Cat Tracks and Snail Trails, one of my favs !

Well, I've been doing Physical Therapy and strength is returning pronto ! Now that Tapestry House Casting Spells is done ( which was mucho fun!) I am happy to report I can now work on Beauty with NO PROBLEM! So it shouldn't be long before this baby is beamed and then you know the rest:)I have to rebeam it because, you name it , it happened!

i am also really inspired by the book Echo and Iris. I owe a relative of Ed's a wall hanging. I would like to figure out some echo weave, I know I have some reference material just can't think of it right now:( then paint a warp or use the bright cotton that they use in the book.

we just got news last night that my other son is getting married too! Yay!no, weaving for wedding presents, maybe for anniversary:)

lots to look forward to!

 

 

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 13:59

Sue in VT

Laura, love your colors and use of pattern!  I'm hoping this year to grow in choosing colors with more courage! and also, to try new weave structures.  Erica, I, too, am embarking on overshot and excited for this new journey.  For now, though, I'm finishing up a brown/cream twill in Zephyr and I'm warping up my rigid heddle on a stand to take with me to my first local show to demonstrate.  I've made up a book showing a picture of each step required to educate people.  I'm pretty excited and a bit apprehensive, too.  I have an inventory of towels, blankets and scarves, as well as small items like bookmarks, ornaments.  I feel like a little kid who loves his science project until he sees everyone else's.  At least, I believe, I'm the only weaver there.  it would be thrilling to make a sale, but "the whole process" is what makes me happy....plus Bob (hubby) is willing to stay all day!

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 16:06

tien (not verified)

No weaving for me, I'm afraid. My mom passed away (unexpectedly) yesterday and I flew straight to Maryland. I brought a handwoven scarf (the sea turtles) and some beads so I could finish the fringe during my downtime, but I'm planning to be out here for two weeks to help my brother make funeral arrangements etc. I will go crazy if I have nothing to do with my hands, so I've ordered a Golding spindle and eight ounces of gradient roving to be shipped to Maryland.

It's hard to believe she's gone - she was out in August, energetic as always, and she had just gotten back from a wonderful trip to Ireland. She caught a bad cold, and we think she either forgot or was unable to take her cortisone pills - and that was probably what killed her.

I'm glad she went peacefully, without suffering, and that she was in good health and in full possession of her mental faculties up until her death. It's exactly how she would have wanted to go. What she dreaded most was a lingering illness or dementia, and I'm very grateful she was spared that. But I will miss her terribly - she was a wonderfully creative spirit, and full of positive energy. Without her I would not be a fiber artist, or indeed an artist at all. It's so hard to believe she's gone.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 17:04

ReedGuy

Nice pieces Laura.

And Erica, I think overshot is becoming my favorite weave. I have a tied overshot to try this winter and another design for a towel. I think little groups of short floats might make an interesting towel. And vary the spacing as bands of floats, bands with float groups far apart and close areas. I have one idea I think I called Milky Way, I was thinking an asteroid belt. LOL :)

 

I'm still not at the loom yet, but soon. :)

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 18:39

endorph

sorry for yu loss Tien. I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. As my mom gets older ( she was 91 in August) I realize that she will soon be gone and no matter ow we prepare for the inevitable we are never really prepared.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 19:12

ReedGuy

Condolences to you and family Tien. Last my dad 2 years ago Dec 23. My mom is still in good health and 72 years old. Remember the good times.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:17

ShawnC

So very sorry for your loss, Tien! But I am glad you are able to take some comfort where you can. Your brother will be thankful to have your help, I'm sure.

Beautiful weaving, Laura! Glad all is going well, Cathie. And happy to hear that overshot is cooperating for you, Erica J.

 

Shawn

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:18

Nakia

tien, I am sorry to hear of your Mom passing.I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts. Safe travels to Maryland and take care of yourself.

 

Our Moms are the dearest treasures we have, they teach us as children so much. It sometimes takes years down the road for us to realize just what our moms did without and put into forming us into the adults we become. They are truly the best weavers in the world, even if they never picked up a stitch of thread.

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 21:26

Artistry

Tien, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom ! I will keep you and your brother in my thoughts .

Cathie

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 22:00

Missus T.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Tien.  We're the living members of huge families which include those who were and those who are yet to be.  We carry on, firmly held in this transtemporal web, and the only condolence is that none of us is ever unwoven from the family fabric.

Susan

Sun, 11/01/2015 - 23:32

Sue in VT

So sorry for your loss, Tien.  We are never ready to say goodbye to our moms.  I hope loving memories bring you and your family comfort.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 16:52

theresasc

for your loss, my thoughts are with you.

I am back to threading on the Cranbrook (blasted texsolv!).  I have about 6" left to go, but I am using finer (for me) threads than usual, so that is about 180 ends.  I am looking forward to weaving this up, its is organic colored cottons and I always love weaving with that fiber.  It feels so nice and looks so great on the loom.  I have a bunch of other projects that I would like to put on this loom, so I really have to buckle down and get weaving.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 17:02

Jo Raymond

I am so very sorry for you loss. I hope you are able to begin to find some small comforts in your time with your family. 

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 18:01

theresasc

Sleying has started!  Did not think that I would ever get to this point.

sleying has started

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 18:24

Walkingquail

so sorry to read about your Mother. But yes, blessing she went the way she would have wanted. She will always be with you.

I am finishing up a little Brooks Bouquet play today. I balled up many projects Saturday which are now ready for winding. It's raining this morning and last night. Everyone in Northern California is breathing deeply of the moisture.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:30

Jo Raymond

I have warped and am weaving on my Oxaback Ulla Cyrus. And, I have woven every day in November. My goal is to weave every day. And, to carefully plan my next project, get materials and be ready to warp when this project is finished. 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 18:34

Erica J

Tien, my deepest condolences to you and your family. It is good to know you will have some fibre work to comfort you. When I went home for my mother's funeral, I was able to work on a tablet loom I had given to a friend before I moved to England, it was a help.

I wove about another 1.5" on my taquete, today. I ammstarting to get my warp on the rug loom for my rug weave studies. Thankfully I realized for soumak and the other texture studies, I shoukd really use the Dryad loom. I am certain it is upright for a reason. ;) 

Yesterday, I spun some overtwisted yarn to continue my overshot texture studies! I recommend anyone putting on a overshot warp to add extra to play with the textures you get with differential shrinkage and overshot!

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 13:07

endorph

is a good way to get some weaving done. I have been waking up very early and cannot get back to sleep so I have been getting up and doing a little bit of weaving on my towel warp. Luckily I live alone and the weaving doesn't disturb anyone but the dogs!

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 15:43

Artistry

Tina- it is a nice time to work! No one calls on the phone:) also relate to the dogs! My Anya, thinks it's time to go outside and do patrol barking at the deer, big no, no at 3:00 a.m.!

i do hope your sleeping pattern does change though:)

PT then hopefully some tapestry!

 

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 16:38

theresasc

weaving on the Cranbrook.  Had some mishaps yesterday, sleying errors - what a hassle.  All is good now and the first hem is woven and am into the body.  This is a warp that I had wound and beamed on in the spring, so I guess it really is time to weave it.

I have found that I love weaving in the morning, which works well for me since I do work 2nd shift - LOL.  Even on the weekends, I find morning weaving the most productive for me.

 

 

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 03:35

Mutz

Tien, I am sorry for your loss. I'm glad she did not suffer. And I'm glad you get to spend time with your brother. 

So far this November I have been going through my stash and trying to figure out how much yarn I have left on some of the cones. I want to make tote bags to give as gift bags this Christmas and I think it will be a great way to use up some of this yarn. I need to warp up some white thread this week for pink and white bags for my nieces. I think the other bags I will need to order thread to use as the warp.

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 13:18

ShawnC

Finally, after 4 weeks, was able to weave a bit on my Berga Savonia. It now has a Glimakra vertical CM system installed that I purchased used. So much nicer for multi-shaft weaves. Balancing the cb horses for more than 4 shafts was a bit fiddly. I am weaving an open 6 shaft waffle weave shawl with some lovely yarn for a friend. Should be nice when finished. I can only weave a bit at a time, but it's something. Thank goodness my daughter is her to help with treadle tie ups as I am still unable to climb under the loom. We also have another helper in the weaving room. What a difference the CM makes for this weave!

Thu, 11/05/2015 - 15:57

Artistry

Lovely weave, daughter, and helper:) glad you're doing a better. But realize far from healed. Every little bit counts  though!

Heading up north again:) I'm going to watch some Archie Brennan / Susan Maffei Tapestry Videos, haven't made it all the way through. They are so good!

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 14:39

sally orgren

840 warps.

 

Before threading, figure out how many heddles per shaft needed. (check)

 

Make sure there are enough heddles on each shaft. (check)

 

Split the heddles, so there will be enough on either side of center, and begin threading from the right. (check)

 

Get half way across, and discover there may not be enough heddles on shaft 5 of this 9 shaft pattern. (what? wait...)

 

Confirmed. There will be 54 heddles needed, and only 28 left. (Oy!)

 

Dope slap to the forehead. (check)

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 15:28

Artistry

Oh Sally, too many times that I care to admit:(

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 16:02

theresasc

say this, but Sally, you made me feel really good this morning.  For some reason it is reassuring to see that other experienced weavers still do bone-headed moves.  I keep asking myself "when will this kind of stuff stop?"

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 19:07

Mutz

Well yesterday instead of warping the pink and white bags I'm making for my nieces, I decided to warp up the inkle loom so I can make a strap for a tote I wove during Halloweave. Once I start weaving gift bags, I didn't want to use up all the colors I needed for this strap, so now I've claimed what is necessary.

But I really do need to get the floor loom warped. I think it is pushing just past 7 days or so since I cut the last project off the loom. Yes, today I should get on that. I promised myself when I bought that loom that I would not let it sit idel for long.

My husband did help me finish off my reed and lease stick holder. Oh who am I kidding. He did all the work. I just directed him to the positions of the posts. My last two wood projects resulted in cracks in the wood and I didn't want this to get messed up. The walnut was too pretty to ruin.

Reed and lease stick holder

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 19:22

sally orgren

These are photos from the warps provided for visitors to weave on, during October demos. Finally getting the looms cleared off!

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 20:09

Jo Raymond

Mistakes! I have too many to count in a single warp. At some point I gave up on fixing them, but I am weaving it anyway.

Mutz, I like your reed, lease stick holder. Nice to have a woodworker in the house.

Sally, the eye candy is gorgeous and inspiring. Thank you.

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 20:21

Nakia

Mutz, those lease stick holders look quite professional & beautiful at that! Your hubby did a fantastic job. He should think about offering up his lease stick holder building services to the weaving community. Laughing

Fri, 11/06/2015 - 23:30

Sue in VT

Sally, best laid plans often go astray!  Moving metal heddles on my floor loom while trying to thread them, even when I've "checked first" is like root canal at the dentist to me!  Your Halloween demo pix are awesome!  I need to mix orange and pink soon, and get away from neutrals.  Mutz, I know what you mean about too many days with a loom empty.  I HATE to see an unwarped loom in my studio, but I also need to beef up my stash as the holidays approach.  Your woven gift bags are a great idea.  Get your new warp threads and then have fun designing stash busting color combinations!    Im off to a show tomorrow, and hoping maybe to meet another weaver up here.

Sun, 11/08/2015 - 07:24

Erica J

Sally,

That was my near disaster on my overshot wsrp last month! I was warping the Le Clerc Voyageur with metal heddles. This is a quite easy mistake to fix on my Glimakra floor looms, but on the Voyageur it was a bit intense,  though I got there in the end.

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 01:49

Gone

I finished my scarf marathon for the shelters. I have 40 to give to them for the coming winter. Mostly acrylic and some cotton. It was a great learning experience for me. Now I'm warped up for a shawl which someone very dear, and elderly (97) is going to get for the holidays.

I'm using a network draft from Eva Stossel. Another learning experience for me too. I had to fix 2 threading errors!  WooHoo!  Hope it turns out. Using a temple for the first time too.

Tien, so sorry to hear of your mums passing. Your admiration and love for her are felt in your words. Our hearts are with you dear one.

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 04:33

laurafry

Off on the next leg of the craft fair season.  I managed to get a few more rayon chenille warps done so I have plenty of inventory of those now.  Also got 5 more shawls ready, so lots of those, too.  

Leaving the house/studio in the hands of a brand new weaver who came today and dressed the small loom with the cushion project from Janet Dawson's Craftsy class.  I also challenged her to do a tea towel warp by dipping into my 2/8 cotton stash.  Also challenged her to sort the red cotton by colour - I have about 4 different shades of red that are *almost* indistinguishable.  If she can tell them apart, it will be good training for her 'eye'.  :)

I'm also leaving myself with several already wound rayon chenille warps to do when I finally get home.  Two craft fairs and a two day workshop, back to back.  I can hardly wait for December!

cheers,

Laura

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 15:46

theresasc

What a worthwhile project for you to do.  Did you take the opportunity to play with different patterns, threadings, and treadlings during your marathon? 

I wove off a pirns worth of yarn this morning - that has been what I have been doing on this project once I had it weaving, a pirn a day.  It is now weaving up so fast, kind of a good thing/bad thing happening.  Good that it is weaving well, bad that it is going so fast after all the fiddling and fussing to get it on the loom.  This is why one needs to have weaving elves around to dress those looms!

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 20:21

RedSamur

Hi everybody,

newbie recycler hailing from Belgium, proud to report first finished weaving in 30 years:

and now sticking thumb tacks in a small frame (Tried my hand at oil painting, confirmed I cannot create in 2D) to make my first wall hanging.

Have a great Weavember!

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 23:05

sally orgren

The New York Guild of Handweavers is honoring their (70th?) anniversary by producing scarves for each year they have been around, and donating the scarves to the homeless of NYC. I think they hit their goal this fall. I am not sure how many weavers it took to complete, but it is impressive you produced half that amount solo!

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 01:37

tien (not verified)

Congratulations on completing your first woven piece in 30 years! What kind of loom did you use to weave it?

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 19:45

Erica J

That is awesome RedSamur and TomZ! 

I finishrd winding 100 warp ends for my first samitum warp. Organic cotton warp, silk weft. Mmmmm luxury. ;)

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 01:55

Nakia

Getting ready to leave at midnight to go pick up my "new to me" floor loom. Cool This is the long trip to almost the Gulf Coast of Texas for my Tools of the Trade floor loom that found me on Ravelry. It will be over 900 miles round trip and never leaving the boundries of my state.

 

Everyone have a great night and watch for my update thread on my ToTT!! I have so many ideas of what I want to try first to weave on this baby. From the photos she's a beauty. Will get photos of her on here once I get her home & set up. Laughing

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 01:57

Nakia

Redsamur, that is adorable! It is amazing what can be woven with the simplest of tools at hand. I will be sure to keep an eye out for your next project here.Laughing

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 03:57

Mutz

I've been working slowly on my inkle loom for a strap for a tote bag. Really need to start ignoring distractions instead of getting up for all of them. I could get so much more weaving done that way! I'm ignoring you world and weaving instead!

I ordered the yarn I will need for a couple of birthday scarves and Christmas gift totes. I should be good with yarn to finish out the year. I also settled on the designs for all the bags, so I'm ready and eager to get started! I think I'll do two smaller totes first for the nieces, then the birthday scarves before warping up for the bulk of the Christmas bags.

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 04:35

sally orgren

Lucky you, they don't come up very often. I shipped my TOTT 12 shaft, 2 beam loom from Medford, Oregon to New Jersey almost 20 years ago. Still love it. Hope you do too! And there is a TOTT group here at Weavo if you need any help.

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 17:09

RedSamur

My next "upcycloom" project helps me practice my tension as well as selvages and will be combined with crochet and macramé.

I also just started cutting my first set of playing cards for tablet weaving and finally found a good tutorial for this technique.

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