Again, I am doing this a day early so I don't forget. Where did August go? Where did the summer go? I know that officially it is summer for a few more weeks - September 23rd is the equinox - I know most people view Labor day as the end of summer in the U.S. I am afraid summer temperatures are going to be hanging around central Texas for several more weeks but I am hoping the lower 90s will make it possible for me to spend more time in the loom room. Of course, I could have wheeled the looms into the living room but . . .  I am searching for excuses here as to why I have not been weaving Tongue Out. I hope everyone continues to be productive and continue to share your progress with the group. You are all inspiring to me and I am sure to other in the group as well. Weave on everyone!

Comments

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 17:00

theresasc

for the ideas.  I can thread texsolv, it is just that I do not enjoy it.  I guess I am just bellyaching a bit about it.  For years I read all these rave reviews on the wonders of texsolv heddles and they just do not live up to the hype for me.  I love my flat steel heddles - you know, the ones they are not making anymore.  They nestle into each other so nicely, with their eyes facing me, and then when I weave or transport the loom, they sing to me.  Texsolv eyes do not face me, they do not slide on the heddle bars, and they sure do not sing! LOL

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 17:11

tien (not verified)

To make the texsolv heddles slide more easily, take the end heddles on each shaft and loop them around the top of the shaft. This raises the bottom shaft by an inch or so, and then the heddles slide around easily rather than "sticking" to the shaft.

In my weaving world, I have worked diligently on my threading process and have gotten up to 1.6 heddles/minute. In only another 20 hours I'll be done threading...hopefully I can speed it up still further!

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 19:28

Walkingquail

Making progress today! It seems like I haven't threaded in forever but more like 3 weeks. I am making progress on tying on a new threading of broken point twill. I made some preogress on my second woven necklace yesterday while I waited for a phone call. Yes, this is more like it!

Tue, 09/22/2015 - 20:14

Erica J

We have a guest tonight, who has been back in the US for a few years, and wanted to catch the beginning of Dr. Who series 9 while here. I finished threading my next taquete piece during the show. It was a cool episode and my threading is done.

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 03:01

sally orgren

...so I fell asleep before I saw the end of Dr. Who on BBC Saturday evening!

Glistening Snow project: 2 or 3 samples are woven, but so far, not looking as I expected. Wet finishing will be revealing.

Fabric for shuttle holders: 5" left to weave. I actually took the back of the warp OFF TENSION, inserted a second (new) rod into the warp loops, then lashed the two rods together (the original one is affixed a set distance from the back beam), so now I can extend the warp further into the castle, and get that last itty-bitty bit of warp woven off!

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 00:04

Missus T.

Walking around today I discovered that the pokeberries were ripe and ready for the dyebath!  I've been wanting to try this since April when I took a natural dyeing workshop with Carol Leigh in Columbia, Missouri.  I harvested a 5 gallon bucketful of pokeberry clusters which, when destemmed (a purplish process!) yielded 110 grams of pokeberries.  At 25:1 this means that I had enough to dye around 4 oz of wool!  The end use of the wool will be accent colors in Navajo rug weaving.  Can't wait to see how they turn out.  Will post pics when I have completed the dyeing.  Tonight I dyed some med. gray Corriedale and successive dye vats will cover lt. gray and cream Corriedale.  If I don't get sick of frightening the neighbors by lurking in the verges and ditches of Ossining, I may even get some pre-spun yarn dyed for fun! 

 

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 15:54

sally orgren

The view on my way to demonstrating this weekend past:

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 21:11

ReedGuy

I like the old Tom Baker episodes, I usually watch them in the winter. They are definitely low budget like Star Trek TOS was, but great stories just the same. :D

I just received Heinrich's book on linen today to add to my library. No scarcity of weaving material to read. :)

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 22:15

ShawnC

Missus T, I'm also collecting pokeberries for dyeing. Will you be using vinegar? Can't remember where I read that it helps set the dye very well. I haven't collected enough from my weedy yarnd to do much, so am letting them ferment in a covered container while I wait for more to ripen.

Wed, 09/23/2015 - 22:35

Artistry

Theresac , I have a couple of looms with steel heddles and I really like how they sound too ! I never thought about them singing , but I will now :)

today I did not work but met with a small group of weavers who are working on their COE, level l.  It was really fun to see where everyone was in the Handbook and very impressive to hear what they had learned so far,  especially about color ! one of my  fav subjects !

Thu, 09/24/2015 - 21:33

tien (not verified)

Up to 2.5 heddles/minute this morning! I think I can get it up to 3 heddles/minute without too much trouble. If I can do that, the rest of the threading should take 8.5 hours, so I'll likely be able to finish it this weekend. Then I can get on to sleying, tying on, and debugging. Hoping to get around to weaving, if only a little bit, before chocolate season begins (mid to late October).

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 10:10

Artistry

Shaving off that time factor Tien! How do you keep yourself sane while doing the heddles ? Listen to music? 

I also LOVE chocolate season! Please post your chocolates again this year! My how time flies!

not real high energy for Beauty last couple of days, so I've turned my attention to design. The foreground of the cartoon needs adjustment proportionally and just looks to monotone. I've decided I'm going to try samples of layering slightly waterEd down paints, stamps, and ink drawings to see if I can get some interesting areas on paper. Just play and see what I come up with ! then it's double FUN when you try to weave it , love it:)

i'm almost finished warping up my Mirrex to take out to Palo Alto next weekend to see our daughter ; plus I'll be using it for Halloweave:)

 

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 13:32

sally orgren

...because I have the first sample of the "glistening" snow project off loom, and would love to pass it around for input. The sparklies certainly don't photograph well, they look far better in person, and the hand of the washed sample is pretty good, but I am wondering if there is more tweaking that could make it better.

 

Tomorrow I am accompanying my guildmate into NYC where she is giving a presentation on blended drafts, and maybe I'll bring it along to get their opinions and ideas. I have to make a final decision on materials before early October, so I can pick them up at Rhinebeck.

 

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 17:09

Artistry

Sally, I do like the undulating like pattern in your sample. I do think it could use a little definition like you had first intended when you tried the mist color. I would try a silvery grey ( it's the very lightest ) like Lunatic Fringe  10/2 cotton in the weft, or perhaps a cream pearl cotton to achieve more depth. I think the grey would be best.the cotton in the warp may be working to serve you in texture by puffing out which I don't think the Tencel will do. For the samples you might also think about about using a silvery grey 16/2 linen weft by Bockens . The linen has a sheen but then adds a flatter ground , certainly a heavier ground ( don't you think?) than the cotton, allowing the lurex & cotton warp to really float, 3D like. Then you could use the Tencel for your shawl to get the drape.

just bouncing off ideas, I love to sample:) Cathie

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 19:21

Erica J

Whew, I got the taquete sleighed. It's not much, but I'm almost back t o actually weaving again!

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 19:43

Artistry

Oh, Oh, I just thought of 1 more thing! I made some samples with 16/2 linen warp and Jaggerspun Zephyr ( Merino& Silk) in turned Satin . Very interesting texture. So another sample I would suggest is a merino & silk combo as weft :) 

Have Fun! Of course these ideas could be total bombs, but it's cool to experiment :)  Cathie

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 21:00

laurafry

So far I've finished weaving one rayon chenille scarf, then got bogged down in administrivia - written cheques to pay bills, done journal entries, priced/tagged a large box of inventory - you know, the sort of stuff that drains the energy out of you but *must* be done.  

Now I need some more loom time - I'm going to go finish the second 'sample' scarf, fringe twist and wet finish.  While that's happening, I'll beam another scarf warp and hopefully I will know if the 'new' scarf is a winner.  Or not.  

cheers,

Laura

looking forward to going to a concert tonight with a friend (Jesse Cook)

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 21:15

tien (not verified)

> How do you keep yourself sane while doing the heddles ? Listen to music?

I listen to music mostly - I've never been able to do audiobooks while threading (takes too much concentration). But sometimes I just skip the music and thread without any distractions; or I'll hum to myself, or something. It doesn't make a huge difference to me once I get into the groove of threading.

I know eight hours of threading sounds like a long time to a lot of people, but since I work with fine threads, it's just par for the course. I accepted long ago that setting up my loom was always going to take a week or two.

And Palo Alto? You're coming to my neck of the woods! (I live in Sunnyvale, a couple suburbs south.) If you have time to spare, I'd love to get together for coffee or something. Though with your daughter around, I bet you'll be busy busy busy!

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 22:03

Artistry

I know Tien, I thought of you !  I will plan an extra day when I come out next time and maybe there will be a time we can get together! I would love it:)Jess is getting her PhD at Stanford so we are just flying in for the weekend ' cause she has so much going on.

fine threads, what we do for our art:)

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 22:29

ReedGuy

I dug out the very first double wide wool blanket I wove and threw it on the bed. The air has had a chill all day beginning with a morning frost. Only 60 F today for the high. Had to pull on some heavy wool socks to, cold feet. :D

That is a log time to thread. I would need some breaks to get the joints moving for a bit. :)

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 23:15

tien (not verified)

Sounds like a plan! I'd love to meet up next time you're in town.

Sat, 09/26/2015 - 11:34

Artistry

deal!

down to the Studio! It's going to be a good day!

i have my trusty Hudson's Bay Blanket ready to go, though not as proud of one that i would have woven:) I love a nip in the air, makes me feel alive!

Sat, 09/26/2015 - 23:24

Walkingquail

I just learned something important. I do a MUCH better job of weaving when I weave often! That break of about 3 weeks seemed to affect my brain in a way that I am not doing anything smoothly. I have to think and I make iffy decisions. This warp is a mess, like my beginners days! I am staying calm which is a plus. And my husband made reservations for dinner, smart man.

Oh well, it will work out, the towels will be useable. And I have an extra motivator for Daily Weaverliness!

Sat, 09/26/2015 - 23:27

laurafry

 

Upside down picture.  I might figure out uploading from an iPad one f these days!

 

cheers

laura

 

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 00:11

Sue in VT

Love the flashes of color in this scarf, Laura.  What kind of fiber is this?  Brisk up here too, had to cover the tomatoes last night, 33 degrees this morning!  But day after day of chill air and sunshine with cold nights is awesome; it's like a spell cast over the region!  Busy putting a warp of four twill towels on the Schact floor loom, and having FUN weaving bookmarks on my little Dorothy.  This week I built my new 8 shaft Ashford and can't wait to test drive her.  I've been watching Ashford's back to front warping video, and will give it a try on this new loom.  My husband made me a raddle today, and I cut some spandex fabric into "helping hands" as suggested in the video.  Happy weekend all!

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 02:34

laurafry

Sue, it is rayon chenille.  Stripes of two solid colours and one variegated.  

Cheers

laura

where it is definitely autumn

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 03:23

tien (not verified)

Keep on keeping on! I find it always takes me some time to get back into the swing of things after being gone for awhile. I hadn't woven in some months before putting this warp onto Grace, and boy, was I rusty! So I'm not surprised you were "off" a bit after several weeks away. I'm sure you'll be back to normal shortly, though.

And my weaverliness for today: I'm halfway threaded!

halfway threaded TC-2 jacquard loom

That took me just about the entire day today. My speed has increased substantially - though I doubt I'll ever be fast! - it's now at about 3.3 heddles/minute. At that rate, the other half of the warp will take 4.5 hours to thread. Should finish early next week.

I'm also preparing my annual chocolate order. Dilemma: order all 132 pounds at once, or split it into two orders? Prudence suggests splitting into two orders (one for the flavor trials and one for the production run), but I'd rather not make two trips the gourmet wholesaler, so I'm thinking of doing just one trip. Besides, 132 lbs of chocolate! :-)

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 08:03

Erica J

Sue,

I love Ashford's helping hands(for my table looms), made my own too, and tge tip to use big O clips to keep the lease sticks together!

I lashed on my next warp on my Ashford yesterday. I'm weaving tye taquete with handspun from friends. I dyed tye wefts, so I decided to wind tge skeins onto large bobbins to make it easier to put tge wefts on the shuttles. That and hopefully weaving on tge diamond twill ison today's agenda.

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 07:05

Nassajah (not verified)

remember the adage, "Practice make perfect" or near perfect. Smile  LIke you, when I'm away from the looms for too long, I become rusty.  But, once I begin, it all comes back.

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 11:02

Erica J

Winding yarn onto large bobbins is hard work. Especially the handspun, dyed yarn, which took a long time to figure out the ideal positioning of everythung and inckuded replacing the winders drive band with a thick rubber band! Nearly there though!

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 12:47

Artistry

Oh boy do I get rusty, I make the most comical mistakes :)

today I will spend ar least 1/2 hr in my studio, my bursts of energy seem to have ended for now:( Weird ! 

However I am going out to Pyramid Hill ourFabulous outdoor sculpture garden where there is a craft fair. Many of my friends have booths their selling various fiber arts ! Judy Dominic who I travelled to Mali, Africa with several years ago to study Bogalafini ( the art of mud cloth ) internationally known artist, incredible, judydomic.com. Moya Jones who does natural dyeing from her own garden ( mostly) while up cycling from places like goodwill, mojoquilts. Plus my very good friend and weaver supreme Linda Rouse who collaborated on the baby blankets with me last year. All star cast, it's going to be awesome:)I have talented , super nice guild mates!( I will take my portable chair with me!)

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 13:07

ShawnC

Beautiful work, as usual, you all! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets 'rusty'. After a 15 year break from weaving it almost felt like I was a brand new weaver. Though, thankfully, it came back pretty quickly. I took this time to change some of my old habits and am very happy to be back. I just hope I recover from the surgery quickly enough to not lose all of the progress I've made! Perhaps reading books and watching videos on weaving will help keep me on track?

 

I took the ondule project off the loom and am wet finishing. Next up is a waffle weave shawl in gorgeous Mountain Colors yarn for a friend. That will be finished before the surgery o the 5th, so I'm not stressing about getting it to her.

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 16:06

Artistry

ShawnC , recovery, if you feel up to it, is a great time to work on designing.if you can't work on a computer you can always do it by hand, slower but it really sinks in:) Videos and books are just great! There are so many of them now! The Weaving today site seems to have a sale frequently  though I don't remember if you live in North America? Good Luck with you're surgery , will have you in my thoughts:) please post your ondule piece ! I'd love to see it!

Mon, 09/28/2015 - 00:26

ShawnC

Thank you, Cathie! Oh, designing, yes. So much fun. I'm goint to learn Fiberworks, I think. Well, not just shallowly. Might have to wait a few days. I have no idea how much pain I'll be in. But the videos and books! Hooray! I have some band weaving books to keep me happy while I am only able to play with the band loom. Eye height, so should be perfect for recovery. I am in Ohio. I just downloaded some videos since they were on sale ;-) I'll post the ondule piece as soon as my dryer is replaced on Wednesday. Sigh. Good to have all of this taken care of before other folks are responsible.

Mon, 09/28/2015 - 23:03

Walkingquail

To all of you who let me know they get rusty too! I should know this in my bones. I always had to sketch for a few hours before drawing for a painting so why would weaving be any different?

One neat thing, I know how to fix my silly mistakes now! As a beginner, I'd look it up but I just repaired a thread and it works fine now, yay! So I continue on my towel warp and focus.

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 22:14

Artistry

The dr. tells me the weakness will be gone in a little while:) so since I've been having a dickens of a time warping the big tapestry loom due to this, I've changed my approach!

I've returned to the cartoon and design( which means I can sit down!) and worked yesterday and today 2 hrs. Each, yay! First I enhanced the colors of the foreground , which are pebbles and rocks. I've pulled some lovely Italian pearl cotton called Finca, wonderful sheen, in accent colors to represent the many minerals in the rocks. I'll use strands of this in the weft bundle of wool, so there will be hits of color. I want to keep the foreground " warm" because I want the next section of the tapestry to look very cold, iceberg, water, wind.

i've taken out my water colors and color pencils. I've tried to approximate a base color from of the tapestry foreground colors. then painted sheet of paper, leaving it streaky( thanks Tommye!) . I then sponge painted just a little bit over that in another color. Next, I'll start outlining some rocks In colored pencils. 

I will start weaving samples of all of this for Halloweave in Tapestry House ( not a plug, honest!) on my Mirrex and Hockett looms. They are really small , easy to warp:)

Today was rainy and gloomy so no pix, but tomorrow I'll get some up.

I like this plan, it's fun:)

ShawnC , are you near Cincinnati? Our Guild is very active and meets the first Thursday of the month!

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 23:00

tien (not verified)

Cathie, your design process sounds marvelous! So wonderful, in fact, that I want to come visit your studio and watch you work. I wish I could do something that artistic at the moment, but I'm just  slogging away threading.

Although maybe I am doing something like that myself. My left shoulder is very unhappy with the hours and hours of threading, so rather than aggravate it, I decided not to do any threading today. I spent the morning dreaming up chocolate flavors/recipes instead. Four flavors of caramels, four of marshmallows, three ganaches, a few fruit gels. Next week I'll put in my chocolate order - going for the full 132 pounds, I've decided. I'm hoping to avoid another trip to the gourmet wholesaler. And, weather permitting, I"ll start testing flavors the weekend of October 10-11.

So I have been dreaming of chocolate...but I really hope I can finish this threading soon! I have only about 250 threads to go - about an hour and a half if all goes well. It's exasperating to be stuck so close to the finish...

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 23:22

Sue in VT

I'm endlessly in awe of the collective talent in our group and the sharing of knowledge gained from years of study.  I feel blessed to breath this "virtual" air!  Tien, I keep up with your energetic goals even though I know only a teeny bit about what a draw loom is.  I don't really know what taqueye is yet, but just bought the yarn for my first overshot project.  I am so inspired by all of you!

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 23:57

laurafry

I finally started packing.  Since this trip is strictly a holiday, I guess I didn't feel pressure to start earlier. ;)

 looking forward to a chick week with fibre friends.  We will play!

cheers

laura

who will try to relax a bit before the flurry coming up very soon!

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 01:26

Artistry

Oh Tien , that's just a small part of it, lol! Much I've learned from Tommye Scanlin and Kathe Todd-Hooker.Plus Surface Design teachers I've had along the way. I could talk design methods all night! You're welcome anytime to my studio :)

you're giving me a sweet tooth with the chocolate talk:)

Sue, Overshot , great! 

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 02:07

ShawnC

Your projects, even threading, sound so great. Hmmm. I've been craving chocolate.

Cathie, I'm about an hour away from Cincy. I'll have to put one of your guild meetings on my to do list for post surgery.

 

Shawn

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 08:29

Artistry

Awesome Shawn :)

Got to straighten up my mess, Tapestry Drop In at my house today ! Pix  of the progress when the sun comes up:)

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 13:33

sally orgren

The NY guild meeting was great, and I also got some great feedback on my sample. Based on their comments, one of the things I am trying this week is silk, which increases the "glisten factor" exponentially, but may not have the textural effect when washed. I have 3 more wefts to try.

The verdict was the white on white was the best option, and that the use of the very pale colors may make it appear "dirty". (I too, was thinking along the lines you suggested Cathie, with a very pale grey.)

 

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 22:42

Walkingquail

my way through a few towels, realizing I am sick of this pattern so the next warp will not be a tie on to this one but something new. Maybe a scarf, I can see some boxes of beautiful colors waiting. It's getting easier, it feels natural again. Calms me down and perks me up.

I need to pack up on Friday for a trip to Taos for the Wool Festival and Santa Fe for the chile! Always love going there, so much weaving! My first experience weaving was with teacher Suzanne Halvorson at Ghost Ranch 5 years ago. I went again this past July and a flash flood took out our brand new weaving studio and almost got us weavers! Suzanne is such a trooper though and we still got to weave. I am not sure if we'll make it to Ghost Ranch but I would like to show my husband how wide the arroyo is now. What an experience that was.

Thu, 10/01/2015 - 00:34

ShawnC

Well, the fan reed fabric (knitting yarn and all) is wet finished. I'm pleasantly suprised at how nicely it pulled together with the heat of wet finishing. It was so open in the wide places I was worried. The 6 shaft waffle weave is almost warped. Looking forward to the quick weave.

Sat, 10/03/2015 - 09:38

ReedGuy

Awesome! Did it seersucker? It looks like it's undulating. :)

Sat, 10/03/2015 - 13:03

ShawnC

Thanks! Yes, just a bit of drawing in. Not extreme. Fun cloth.

Sat, 10/03/2015 - 15:42

Artistry

Amazing!i love it! The Clorors are great and the shape is classic! I have to save my pennies now so I play with a new reed:)

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