Here we go again. April showers bring May flowers and unstable weather patterns and tornado season in the US. . . . but here in Central Texas we have actually had a spring of sort and the wild flowers have been amazing this year. I am keeping fingers crosssed that the severe weather stays away. The pink and purple phase is moving into the red, orange and yellow phase which should last for a few more weeks until really hot weather arrives. I have been impressed and amazed at all the wonderful work that has been accomplished so far this year - you are all so inspirational. New techniques, new looms, experimentation, spinning, dyeing, moving, traveling - wow! Keep up the good work and weave on!

Comments

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 05:29

Queezle

Wow - spectacular color and patterns.  I hope you will post the entire set in projects.

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 07:14

tien (not verified)

Hey, I didn't realize you did your postdoc at Caltech! I was an undergrad there from '88-91. Sounds like we almost overlapped! That's really cool. What did you do your postdoc in?

I am pretty sure that you need six shafts to do plain weave and twill in warp stripes. Have you considered turning the draft, though? It would be easy to do plain weave and twill alternating in weft stripes, since (I assume) you have 6 treadles on that four-shaft loom. You also wouldn't have to worry about the twill and plain weave sections having different take-up, which would be a problem if you wove them as warp stripes. OTOH, you would probably get some scalloping at the edges if you turn the draft, as the plain weave stripes would come out a bit wider than the twill ones.

As I think someone else pointed out, you could do twill and basketweave in the same threading, and they have the same take-up so would be much easier to match than twill and plain weave. Here is a draft that would do the trick:

twill and basketweave draft

And I'm glad to hear that the MX dyes worked! It gives me hope for my precious stash of Cibracron F Blue F-GF. The color was discontinued but I bought a pound of it before it went - it's also a fiber-reactive dye, so I'm glad to hear it isn't likely to expire all that soon.

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 08:52

Artistry

Thanks Queezle! I probably won't post the entire set once it's done because I'm sooooooo late in getting these done I'm mailing them as soon as their are hemmed. But I'll post under projects as I go. That's a really pretty draft Tien wrote up. It would show different texture ( basket weave vs. twill) and take color well to show off your blues and yellow. Oh, so much to choose from:)
Mon, 05/26/2014 - 13:11

Queezle

I see what you mean by twill and basket weave having the same take=up.  And it could give the yellow stripes some additional emphasis.

I was at Caltech 1990 - 1994, biology, Meyerowitz lab.  It was a magical place. 

I've been dying my measured-out warp, but I'm slowly realizing I should be dyeing skeins instead, and then winding the warp?  I guess I can make sure I have enough by weighing it?

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 15:05

LindaHahn

Lucky, lucky babies. That looks like an heirloom treasure.

 

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 15:46

Artistry

Thanks Linda! Queezle, If you want some blue variation in your warp, you could always paint it since it's already wound?
Mon, 05/26/2014 - 16:08

endorph

blanket is beautiful Cathie - looking forward tp seeing the set as they are finished.

The clouds were definitely not photoshopped! That beautiful blue sky and fluffy clouds were the real thing!

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 17:24

tien (not verified)

You can do it either way, but it's easier to get an even color without tangling if you dye in the skein. That's what I usually do, unless I specifically want to paint the warp in different colors.

I always dye about 50 grams (or 20%, depending on how much I need) more than I think I need - a little leftover yarn isn't that much waste, but running out of yarn would be disastrous since it's very difficult (not impossible, but very difficult) to match dyelots.

Mon, 05/26/2014 - 17:32

Artistry

Thanks Tina, finished blanket #2 this a.m. It has the same flavor as the first but not identical. This afternoon I'll be working on dyeing.
Tue, 05/27/2014 - 10:00

ReedGuy

Now that I have wireless broadband, reading the forum is a whole lot more enjoyable. I have been doing my latest scrim weave in fits and starts. Been busy with other stuff, it's summer you know. ;)

 

Happy weaving

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 15:28

endorph

Time seems to speed along but you all have been so productive and generous in sharing your projects and knowledege with the group. I learn so much from reading this thread. Thanks everyone!

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 17:15

tien (not verified)

Congrats ReedGuy on getting the faster connection! I bet it makes a huge difference.

No weaverliness on this front - I been busy making sweet stuff! I made 43 pints of jam last weekend, in 7 different flavors, mostly in one marathon 11-hour day in front of the stove. This weekend I'm breaking in my (second) new-to-me chocolate tempering machine with another batch of chocolates. And I want to finish putting my book proposal together. But I am hoping to get the fly shuttle and auto advance onto the loom as well. That will enable me to continue weaving on the color study, and work on getting the fine-threads sample warp onto the loom.

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 20:41

Queezle

Ms and Ws sample, weft colors

I have been playing with my dyed warp, and I wanted to try Ms and Ws threading.  I didn't work to place my stripes in a logical spot WRT the pattern, and instead mostly played with weft colors.  My favorites are the dark brown or light blue wefts - the other ones are too close in value to the blues for the pattern to show.  What do you think?

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 21:39

Artistry

Queezle, Great job in your sampling! I really like the two in the middle. You can see the pattern but they aren't jarring. The second from above is more subtle than the one beneath. There are times when you want one or the other. I think you have a couple of winners here! Cathie Tien, All your jams and chocolates, I remember your chocolates being beautiful! Good luck with your book proposal!
Thu, 05/29/2014 - 22:30

sally orgren

Even beat, great selvedges, balanced weave — all the good stuff right there!

I vote with Cathie, the weft dulls the gold to perfection in the middle two samples, allowing the design to still stand out from the background. 

ReedGuy, congratulations on speedier connection! (Deb M is wishing she could be so fortunate.)

Tien, are you bringing chocolates to CWS? (If so, just another reason to cry in my beer that I won't be there.)

Okay, feet to the treadles for me. I have spent way too much time on the computer for the last 4 days... it's time to WEAVE.

Thu, 05/29/2014 - 22:36

endorph

love your samples

Tien - can I just say WOW! sounds delicious

Congrats on the higher speed connection Reedguy - should make reading the thread so much easier

Fri, 05/30/2014 - 00:34

Artistry

Tien, The Handwoven came today, Congrats on your 2 articles !
Fri, 05/30/2014 - 01:55

Queezle

Thanks for your kind words.  And yes, Tien, great articles!  Two in one issue, amazing.  And I believe you have a day job AND make amazing foods.  Truly impressive. 

I also really like the article by Diane Palme encouraging sampling.  When I was a younger weaver, I didn't like to "waste the yarn", but its such an intellectually gratifying design process that its now my favorite part of weaving.

Fri, 05/30/2014 - 20:24

Erica J

So close to weaving! I'm sleighing the reed now. I realized I grossly overestimated how much length I need to tie onto the Ideal. I woukd appreciate any advice you lot have. I have obviously warped back to front. Do I just wind the excess on to the back beam, placing sticks as needed and yank from the front? Can't wait to post actual weaving pics in the June forum!

Tien, all this talk of your delectable chocolates may force me to see a friend for homemade fudge! ;) I enjoyed your articles as well. 

Queezle photos are lovely! Will Oliver and I be seeing you more regularly in the fall? We hope so!

Fri, 05/30/2014 - 20:58

Queezle

My son ended up selecting Harvard, but it was not an easy decision, and he is now kicking himself for not selecting Stanford.  I realize that Stanford would put me closer to Tien's chcolates ;).  However -- I might be spending my fall in Cambridge (the UK one, not Mass), as I'm on sabbatical.  It depends on how I feel about not being available for a 15-going-on-19 yr old daughter, but definitely I will spend some time in the UK this fall.  And yes, I certainly hope to see you and Oliver.

Fri, 05/30/2014 - 23:28

sodenashi (not verified)

Tien, I am sewing traditional Japanese garments.  I suspect any resources on handsewing would benefit me, as I just don't have a lot of experience with needle and thread, outside of embroidery and machine sewing.  However, I probably don't need information on different types of seams, sleeves, gussets, etc. that are not typical Japanese versions of those things.  Thanks for the book reference; I'll see if my library has it so I can peruse it and see if it would be helpful.

Sat, 05/31/2014 - 09:24

ReedGuy

Yes, broadband is nice, especially when it's wireless. :)

Lots of interesting projects on the go as usual in here.

Nice pieces you have woven Queezle. The patterning has a familiar flair as I have drafted similar elements, but different, before.

Have not been weaving much, as I'm tromping in the bush these days. Lots of black flies.

Everyone stay busy. :)

Sat, 05/31/2014 - 13:57

Artistry

I've been dyeing the gray scale lots of pretty grays. But i still don't have a really good black at 4% DOS, peculiar. It's fine wool, with a grist, for tapestry. The dye did not exhaust well. In fact none of them did. I didn't use any Glauber's salt, and I'm thinking the abegal set maybe the culprit. Back to the drawing board , week after next when I get back back from Michigan for a few days. It's really fun to get out these beakers and pipettes! 2 more stroller blankets to do, then it's home free! ReedGuy, How's the new tent? Oh, I remember those darn black flies, no fun! Any wild blueberries? Or is it too early for that?
Sat, 05/31/2014 - 17:41

ReedGuy

Waiting for my new cap for the truck before I tent out, so I can load my gear in under cover. Working close to home right now anyway.

The blueberries in the garden are in flower right now. About time for the wild ones to flower to I guess. We pick wild blueberries in August. I've  got to erect that new tent soon to see how it fits together. Hopefully tomorrow will be dry enough. We were suppose to get rain here, but been sunny all week and no sign of rain.

Keep busy. :)

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 00:06

endorph

on the road today as I head back to Texas - actually  take lots of breaks so actuall driving time is only about 11.5 hours = would have been less without the slow down north of Denver - tomorrow will be about the same but will get to sleep in my own bed! I am bringing home a large bag of brown alpaca roving, a large bag of mixed color cria cloud, and a large bag of caramel colored cloud with some suri locks thrown in. And a sack of assorted yarn for knittng baby stuff. . .  I managed to get three sets of booties and a hate knitted while I was at home. Some spinning as well but no weaving - lots of thinking about weaving though!

Weave on all!

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 05:03

Queezle

I managed to do OK in May.  The remodeling slowed down while floors were going in, and I jumped at the opportunity to weave.  June though looks busy with high school graduation stuff, we will soon start assembling our kitchen cabinets, and I have to tend to my tomatoes.  Life is such a balancing act. 

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 05:13

pammersw

Next week my new loom will be 60% mine, and I will finally get around to a vinegar and water wash, followed by a light coat of Watco Danish Oil.

Soon our seedlings will all be in the ground,  and I can move the loom in front of the window for better light, and proceed to do my first warp.

Hoping my first project on it will be done before the end of June! If not, well, the loom will be 80% mine the first week of July. ;)

Sun, 06/01/2014 - 12:20

tien (not verified)

Thanks everyone for the compliments on the articles! They were fun to write, and the scarves were fun to make as well. I rarely do any "quick and easy" projects, and it was great to get something on the loom and off the loom in just a week or so.

Sally, you can rest easy about Seminars and chocolate - I'm not bringing any to Seminars! This batch won't last that long, so they're disappearing down the gullets of my coworkers on Monday. But I have a ton of interesting flavors to try. I've made all the fillings and will be dipping them in chocolate today. There are eight different flavors and I'm looking forward to tasting them all!

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