Migrated Group Comments

Comments

Fri, 06/12/2009 - 18:26

desertweaver (not verified)

    Summer is upon us.  Have you travelled this summer and included weaving-related activities?  I've just finished two alpaca scarves.  My next project is a soysilk shawl.  What's on your loom?

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 03:27

desertweaver (not verified)

   Had an "official" spinning class today at Grandma's Spinning Wheel in the Tanque Verde shoppes in Tucson.  The first half of the day was spindle spinning with various fibers, and the afternoon was working on all of their spinning wheels.  What a difference each wheel made.  I had no idea that there was so much difference between the height, weight, size, and smoothness in treadling between wheels.

  At least I have some new fiber to use in my weaving.  I learned tons today and had a wonderful time at the shoppe. 

  Did you have any fiber adventures this weekend?

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 05:46

fiberholic (not verified)

 Well, I've been playing at Grandma for the last 2 weeks but I'm determined to have my loom warped by next week's end.  I've a bamboo shawl to do and then I'm gonna do a couple scarves using my handspun merino/sea cell blend.  At least that's the plan now.

Mon, 06/15/2009 - 21:16

Melissa McCollum (not verified)

Hey all,

 

I thought I'd jump in here and introduce myself. I'm over here in Glendale, and have been weaving for several years now.  I've got some hand spun merino/tencel going on the floor loom right now, which will be made up into a shawl in a undulating twill if all goes well. I've got a warp going on my inkle loom, which was dyed a few weekends ago at the Griffin Dye Retreat over in California. I've got some novelty yarn on the kumihimo braiding, which looks like a fuzzy catipillar. No idea what I'm going to do with that. :)  And I've got a couple of spinning projects going currently as well.

 

So, with everything pretty much shut down for the summer, does anyone have ideas as to fiber related stuff going on in the next month or so?

 

Melissa

tangibledaydreams.etsy.com

Mon, 06/15/2009 - 22:23

fhann (not verified)

 Hello there - I have been weaving for a couple years - definitely in learning mode! I live in Fountain Hills (far east suburb of Phoenix. My favorite fiber so far has been rayon chenille - what fantastic drape!

It would be great to get together with other weavers in the area - Ann

Tue, 06/16/2009 - 20:33

desertweaver (not verified)

SWTC Soysilk is on the loom today.  Sett at 25 epi as a trial.  The sample is waiting to dry, It's black warp and a brown weft.  I had to double the weft to get the pattern to appear the right size.  I wanted to use my end feed shuttle, but I haven't doubled yarn on it to see if it feeds correctly.  So, I put two bobbins in my two-bobbin shuttle.  Anyone have experience with this?

What project do you have planned for this week?

Tue, 06/16/2009 - 20:54

desertweaver (not verified)

   You seem to have your days filled for the next few months!  Can you describe the Griffin Dye Retreat in more detail for us? 

  And, here are events published by the Tucson Handweavers and Spinners Guild http://www.thsg.org/activities.htm

  It looks like the next  event is a Basketry Workship in Santa Fe, NM, in Cloudcroft, NM, a spinners retreat, and then the IWC in Durango, CO and a Natural Dye Summer Workshop in Alpine, AZ.  There are also some workshops described.  Anyone have other fiber activities to add?

 

 

Wed, 06/17/2009 - 21:40

MargCoe (not verified)

Hi

I'm Marg Coe in Tucson.  My studio is close to the down town area, near the University.  Right now all I have on a loom is a Tencel double two-tie project.  As my studio is neither heated nor air-conditioned, I expect it to linger untouched for the next couple of months.

Meanwhile I'll be hard at work on three publications (one book and two monographs) all due to be completed before CW Seminars next year. 

Marg

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 20:02

desertweaver (not verified)

  It's good to meet everyone, so far.

  Thanks for your introductory comments.  I  was wondering if everyone would share their thoughts about how this group could be more useful to everyone.  Jump right in there with some thoughts, please.

Sat, 06/20/2009 - 15:30

sally orgren

SWTC Soy Silk (16/2) suggested sett... 

I experimented with this material earlier this year. I started at 36 epi. I made a note to myself to even try 40 epi. I suspect 24 might be too loose. It reacts a lot like tencel and bamboo. It will retain the great luster and drape, even though you've packed those warp threads in there. I don't know if they manage to spin "air" into those fibers or what, but they certainly do not handle the same way as cotton of the same size - hence the tighter sett.

Look under "Projects" > "Iridescence Sample 1." This was woven with 16/2 Soy Silk warp in the primary colors.

Good luck with your project! In my case, the finished fabric felt nice and the colors available were fun to work with!

Sally

Mon, 06/22/2009 - 02:59

Lois S (not verified)

I'm Lois Smolinski from Tucson, retired teacher and temporarily-retired traveler.

I'm spending the summer in the cool indoors with several cotton and tencel scarf warps - 12 promised to most of the female members of my extended family. 

 

Thu, 07/09/2009 - 23:39

Debi (not verified)

I just finished my class with Bonita Nelson and wove a log cabin runner with 2 placemats for my mom and they have been sent to her. I then had time to  weave 12 placemats  6 for each daughters' new homes. I have wound warp now for dishtowels, but I am going on vacation and I don't know how much will be done before I go.

Fri, 07/10/2009 - 18:21

Lyn in AZ (not verified)

HI

I'm Lyn Collins in Oracle. 

I'm either going to warp for dish towels or napkins.  Haven't decided which - my dish towels are some of the first things I wove 20 years ago and they are finally wearing out.   Also have some natural Peruvian cotton that I've had for ages that would make up very nice for napkins.

Belonged to the Tucson Spinners and Handweavers Guild way back but the drive is too much now - so my weaving contact is the internet.

Fri, 07/10/2009 - 23:50

Lois S (not verified)

Hi, Lyn

20 years for dish towels is very impressive!

We have some THSG members in the Saddlebrooke/Catalina area just south of you.  If you would like to meet for that long drive into a Guild meeting in the Fall, just let me know.

Lois S

Sun, 07/12/2009 - 15:54

Lyn in AZ (not verified)

20 years for dish towels

Hi Lois

The towels are  8/2 cotton woven in huck a  back blocks.  Just wore like iron.

Will keep the "car pooling" in mind.

Thanks

Lyn

 

Fri, 07/31/2009 - 03:22

desertweaver (not verified)

Ball of mystery yarn I need help with. 

I have a ball of silk something or other that I would like to know more about.  I'd like to weave with this.  Can anyone give me a hint how I would figure out how much yardage I have here?

Thanks!

Fri, 07/31/2009 - 20:20

desertweaver (not verified)

Studio Space-Tucson

I was wondering if anyone knew of reasonably priced studio space in Tucson.  I'd appreciate any leads to know studio spaces.  Thanks!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:56

bsvertner (not verified)

Ny name is Bernice Vertner and I live in Green Valley, AZ.  I am trying to understand "Network Drafting"  by Alice Schlein.  If there is anyone in my area that has conquered it, would like to help me conquer it,  or even study with me-- I would be delighted.  You can email me directly at [email protected]

Sun, 09/06/2009 - 08:38

LouisaB

 Hello -  I am in Flagstaff area.  Specifically Parks 75% of the year and Chandler the other 25%.  I am part of a new weaving group in Flagstaff  -The Flagstaff Fine Arts Fiber Group- that meets once a month for show & tell, lunch and lots of encouragement.  If any of you are in the area and want to come to our get togethers, please let me know.  You are welcome.

 At the moment I have 2 name draft overshot runners on my BW for my niece's and her fiance's wedding cake table.  Next project is dish towels for a towel exchange with 10 people in the group.  It will be fun to see what everyone in the group comes up with - especially me!  So many ideas..... so many colors to play with!   Lots of weaving to do in the next couple of months especially with the holiday's coming up.   Happy weaving -  Louisa

Tue, 09/08/2009 - 21:22

Lois S (not verified)

Hi Louisa

Glad to hear you've got a new group in Flagstaff! 

If any of your members are ever in Tucson for our guild meeting or a Porrey Cross Study Group meeting please join us for the morning.  The details for meeting time and place for the guild are on the website  www.thsg.org , and my email address for Porrey Cross is there as well.

Lois S

Wed, 09/09/2009 - 06:42

LouisaB

 Thank you Lois for the invitation.  Someday I hope to visit your guild.  I am also a member of Telarana in Mesa. Fellow members have gone down to Tucson to attend your meetings, workshops and fashion show. 

Up here in Flagstaff, we are starting up a study on Crackle after we finish the towel exchange.  Last year, Joanne Tallorvic and I put a long warp on a table loom with a crackle treading.  Several of us took turns weaving on it and came up with some great towels.  It was interesting to see what people come up when they do not know the rules of a structure and just weave.  This winter's crackle study will be about learning all the different ways to weave it.  After looking at drafts in Handweaving.net,  it is not all blocks.  This should be an interesting study!

I checked out your study group.  It looks like fun.  What is your  "New To Me" fiber?  Mine woud probably be fine silk.  I have spun it but never wove it.  

Louisa

Wed, 09/09/2009 - 21:40

Lois S (not verified)

Usually our annual project involves a sample exchange after September to May study and reports.  This time it's September thru December group research and discussion on fibers, followed by reports January to May on the fiber each has chosen.  There will be one woven sample for the library records and one woven object of the weaver's choice to show, and an exchange of drafts.  The only restriction on fiber choice is that it must be something you have never woven before, not necessarily an exotic fiber.  I haven't yet chosen mine.  Over the years I've woven so many things (not always successfully 8^).  Haven't yet tried rayon from bamboo and rayon from soy, or stainless steel.  I do have a bag of gorgeous varigated nylon top that I picked up somewhere.  I may dig out my dusty spinning wheel and see what I can do with that.  Should be fun! 

Lois

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 00:48

LouisaB

 I am looking forward to hearing what you do with the stainless steel. What size?

 I have woven with bamboo and liked it.  I have soy in my stash.  I need to dye it or just use it white.  Soy comes in a variety of ways and thicknesses.  I am weaving more finer threads these days thus the thicker soy yarns are not as big an interest.  Yet, then again, everything has a purpose.  I like weaving Tencil and combining it with cottons.

I have a question about the Tucson guild concerning membership.  Someone once told me that in order to join one had to be approved or juried.  Is this true now or is that history?

Louisa

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 03:02

desertweaver (not verified)

 Louisa,

  I believe that's history.  As a matter of fact I KNOW it's history since I'm a member and I don't meet those qualifications.

We'd love to have you at our Porrey Cross meetings.  And, by the way the next monthly meeting for the Tucson Guild is Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church Parish Hall, 3201 E. Presido Road, one block est of Country Club and one block south of Ft. Lowell.  Please park in the north lot.  Our program will be "What I Did Over the Summer" - all show and share.   

Wander over to the Meet and Greet table when you come in and someone will make friends with you and answer any membership questions you may have.   Here's the Website too:  www.thsg.org.

Janice

 

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 05:41

LouisaB

 Thank you for the invite.  I can not take you up on this meeting.  Perhaps another time when I am around the other end of the state.  In the meantime, I will bookmark the website and keep an eye on your activities.  If you make it to the Flagstaff area you will have to visit our little group.  We are small but believe in having lots of fun & support.

BTW - Love your picture!

Last, if you are in the study group what is your new yarn going to be?

 

Louisa

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 17:35

Bonnie Datta (not verified)

Hi.  I stumbled into this forum and I'm not sure where I am.  But when I saw the mention of crackle I thought you might find a monograph I wrote to be useful.

brdatta.ca

I have done a lot of crackle over the past 15 years or so, including expanding to 12 blocks on 4 shafts, and using them in pictorial weavings such as the one below which combines crackle with inlay.

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 22:30

Lois S (not verified)

Hi Bonnie

As you may have learned already...you found the Arizona Weavers group.  Welcome to the warm (95 in Tucson today) sunny Southwest!

Your butterfly piece is gorgeous.  Thank you for sharing it.  How do you get 12 blocks on 4 shafts 8^0

 

 

Wed, 09/16/2009 - 01:23

desertweaver (not verified)

 Louisa:

  My yarn is going to be linen.  I've never woven with it, but I'm anxious to.  And, I do get to Flagstaff about every 2-3 months.  On what day and time do you have your meetings?  I may be able to attend one.  Is it a study group or the general meeting?

Janice

 

Wed, 09/16/2009 - 04:28

Bonnie Datta (not verified)

Hi Lois.  No I still wasn't sure where I was, but I found it again by searching on crackle.  I have actually reported the situation to the developers as it would seem that there should be a little notice of what group (forum?) a message is in.

I'm in Calgary and we've been having hot days too.  On Oct. 1 I fly to Taos for a workshop and I'll be doing a studio study for another week, so two weeks total in the NM area.  I'm really looking forward to it.

12 blocks on 4 shafts is all of the possible 3-point twills -- takes a bit of math to figure it out and make sure that the weaving order doesn't create floats longer than 3.

Bonnie.

 

Mon, 09/28/2009 - 00:26

LouisaB

 Sorry so long in getting back.  Been very busy.  Our group up here tries to meet once a month.  Generally on a Saturday at someones home.  We do not have a set schedule as we are not a guild just a kindred weaving & fiber group.  Let me know when you are coming up and i will tell you when we are meeting next.  You are more than welcome.

BTW-  Linen is not that difficult.  Just keep it under tension at all times and have a spray bottle of water close by.  The first time I tried it I did not know anything about problems and jumped right in.  Just have fun with it and think of what a wonderful result you will have at the end.

Louisa