Keeping the Beat

 Trying to keep my beat even from day to day is difficult. So I have this calculator paper tape that I have marked off my motif areas onto.

I use it as a guide to see if I am close to the size I need to be. As you know this overshot isn't being woven 'as drawn-in' so I need something to help me keep on track.

What would we do without all our little tips and tricks?

A Weaving Tip

Here is a small tip that I learned the hard way. You might have already figured this out, but sometimes I learn the hard way.



The white paper is to show the pin only hooked to the top side, the second pin shows where I have buried the tip to the back side.

The tape measure that I use is made out of paper, but I am sure this works if you pin anything to your work. I have found that if I put the "point-y end" of the pin to the back side of my work that I will not accidentally rake my arm across the pin and stick my self. A simple thing, you would think, but as I said, a lesson learned!

And I am sneaking up on another 36 inches done!!!!!!!!

Overshot, Watch Me Roar!

Got a little weaving in today. And I am still trying to make sure I keep a steady beat. It is very important if I want my motifs to match.

This makes  95 inches completed!

More Thinking About Weaving

While working on the overshot Weaver Rose project, which will take me a while, I am also going to start working on my submission to the Complex Weavers Tied Weaves Study Group. I was wanting to make a scarf a man might wear, as this is the draft I have come up with......

I call it 'keys to my heart". I think I want to use some 10/2 black bamboo for warp, and am still thinking about what I might use as weft.

I keep thinking I might try some of the other tied weaves, but keep playing around with single-two tie. Fun is fun!!

Wagon Wheels

I know, I know.... I should be weaving!

But I had to key into my weaving software one of the drafts from Peace and Patience. I was intrigued by this one because there was so much white showing. So here it is:

The sample in the book shows lots more white areas without so much half-tones. Perhaps at this close sett, the half-tones are less noticeable when actually woven..

The sample for this was woven with 20/2 as warp and tabby, with 2/20 wool used single as weft, with a sett of 32 epi. Yes, I can see where that would need a sett of 32 epi. I counted and saw that there was an eleven thread float. These women must have had better eye sight than me!!

The Weaving Book of Peace and Patience

The Weaving Book of Peace and Patience
by Isadora Safner and Diane Piette

I have gotten a chance to look at the weaving drafts of these two ladies (mother and daughter). The book states "probable dates of the weaving drafts are 1798-1826." Ten Cape Cod weavers reproduced the drafts for the Old Strubridge Village, Massachusetts. If you are a lover of overshot you will enjoy this book. The drafts are presented with a threading draft with notation of yarns used. I borrowed this book from the Complex Weavers library.

 

Weaving On A Winters Day

Weaving a little on the Weaver Rose threading. I think this makes almost two yards done. I did end up putting a floating selvage on the left edge. Besides helping to give me a nice edge, it should strengthen that edge also.

Not much snow, mostly ice. But I am snug as a bug in a rug........

Peace & Patience

I heard about this book on one of my favorite blogs. (sorry, but can't remember which one-let me know if it's you.). I am borrowing it from the Complex Weavers library. It is by the same author who put together the Weaving Roses of Rhode Island book. It is a wonderful thing that someone took the time to document this work.

And of course I had to show off my new coffee cup. (I found it at the Cabool Dime Store.)

Treadle Help From Tim

Since I am working on a draft that takes eight shafts and twelve treadles, I need to find a way to make it  work that so others in my guild can use the draft. My loom has ten shaft and fourteen treadles, so it's not a problem for me.....

There is a great place out there in 'cyber land' that I hope everyone knows about. If you have ever created the perfect draft to find you needed more treadles, as in summer and winter, this is the place to get help.

Tim's Rudimentary
Treadle Reducer

http://www.cs.earlham.edu/~timm/treadle/

 



 Sometimes I use paper and pencil to get the idea down, then go to the computer and key it in to see if it will work. That's what I had to do with this eight shaft, twelve treadle draft. Then I can rearrange the tie up or treadlings or even the threading without starting from scratch.  This is where the help from  my computer program, WeaveIt Pro and Tim's Reducer is a great help.                                           

Computer Work

Still working on the Weaving Diva program I am to give in March. My weaving software, WeaveIt Pro, is sure making this easier to do than making draw downs with pencil and graph paper.

Most of the guild members have woven traditional overshot, so taking a familiar subject and putting a 'new to you' spin on it should be fun. I love messing around with overshot!

Weaving Treasures

I have to share some papers with you that a friend is letting me look at. It is a sample book and a small monograph. We don't know if all belongs to Berta Frey or not...... but that is her handwriting on the blue paper!!!! The small monograph in the blue paper has the copyright date inside as 1947.

It's finding stuff like this that makes a weavers mouth water. Thanks, Sam, for sharing this with me.

Talking About Overshot

About the only 'weaving' I did today, was getting ready for a program I am giving the first Tuesday in March.

I am going to try to explain about a way to merge two overshot drafts into a new eight shaft draft. Alternating colors from repeat to repeat across the weft. Or maybe change up the tie-ups to have one motif be woven rose fashion the other star fashion. Or maybe just a plain weave area alternating with an overshot area...........




Really quite simple, once you understand what has been done. The trick will be to explain how my brain will tell them so their brains will understand me. Sometimes a hard thing to do. But I do have the Weaver's article to help pave the way.

Back On Track

Back on track, for now, and very a happy to report I am nearing the 36 inch mark! I just need to keep my mind on the treadling and I will make less errors. But sometimes, it so relaxing to be weaving at the loom, that I forget I am trying to follow a pattern. It's the magic of watching a design appear that keeps me going.

Un- Overshot-Ing

Yes, I am going to have to un-weave!!!!!!  This is the reason I use the paper guide to keep a check on my motifs.

I was going along at a pretty good clip, until when I moved my holding pins and discovered that about two inches back I missed some picks. (whine - whimper - whine). But better now than when I try to match something later.

So now you know what I will be dong today......................... un-overshot-ing!!!!!!!

(I thinks that word should be entered into the weaving vocabulary dictionary- or maybe it already is???)

Overshot Sampler

This is one of my first adventures with overshot. I won't show you to edges, because the more I wove the stranger the edges got. (To be expected from beginners, but not a pretty sight!!)

This was when I discovered that you can put on an overshot threading and then treadle it 'zillions' of different ways. I have been an Overshot Junkie ever since.

 

Happy Valentines Day!

More Messing Around with Overshot

Couldn't let well enough alone, I had to see what some more of this 'threading' of Weaver Roses would look like if treadled differently.

So after playing around with my weaving software I came up with these. Sort of like that game: "one of these things is not like the other..... but kind of the same". (I think they sang this song on Sesame Street).

And of course, when you throw into the mix -  COLOR....

 

Makes you think? A fun weaving activity, to be sure!

Will The Real Weaver Rose, Please Stand Up!

As you know, if you have been following me..... I am weaving some of the drafts from the book The Weaving Roses of Rhode Island. I picked out a draft he calls "Ladey Washington" to experiment on. I think I like what I have so far, but didn't want you to think that I am weaving it "as drawn-in". My friend, Becky, wanted to know why I wasn't weaving it that way....(it is nice).......  I just like to weave overshot in different and unexpected ways. And who knows, I may do a little of that on this 10 yard warp ( that is much shorter now because I had to sample!).

Here is what it looks like "as drawn-in " per Weaver Rose

Here is what I am doing....... per Ann

Weaving Weaver Rose

I think I have this figured out! Or at least I am working on it.

I have made a adding machine tape guide to help me keep my beat (in the general area) I will need to match my pattern when I seam this up the middle. I still "hope" to get a small blanket, wheelchair lap blanket, or crib blanket, or maybe all three.

Sometimes it's the chase, not the finish line that drives our creative impulses ! 

ReadyTo Try Again-- Weaver Rose

I have found a board to help me tie back onto the loom without losing a lot of yardage. I wove about an inch and a half, inserted this board into a plain weave shed and then wove an inch or two. I have secured it to the apron rod and now I am ready to start weaving again and I have only lost a few inches.

I sometimes forget this way of tying back on, but remembered this time. By doing it this way, I have kept a  nice tension on the warp.

Sampling Weaver Rose

Time for some sampling..... I have taken a small sample off the loom to wash, iron and see what the edges will look like when I 'try' to sew it together.

This looks great! Washed up really nice. The texture is nice and soft and the weight seems to be good too.

Oooooops!  Guess there might be a small problem. One of the tables is longer than the other, so when I turn to match seam, we get.......not so good.....  I need to go back to the draft and make sure the pick count is the same coming and going on each element.   

Weaving Diva's

Kayla gave a great program on her adventure with her shower curtain. She combined different twills and size of threads to weave some towels that reminded her of her shower curtain. Color choices and arrangement of the twills was very impressive.

And then we did a little show and tell:

Green Weaver Rose

Green wasn't my first choice for this Weaver Rose draft. But hey, sometimes you need to go with the flow and use what ya got. I guess I wasn't really thinking when I ordered 10/2 for warp and weft. Duh! I wasn't making bookmarks, I was going to try to make a blanket. So instead of waiting another two weeks to order and get the right size of yarn, I am forging ahead.

So here are the facts:
     Weaver Roses of Rhode Island - book
     Draft - Ladey Washington
     Warp - 12/2 rayon (yes, mistake)
     Weft - Green acrylic (looks like wool)
     Tabby - same as warp

That rayon went onto the loom very-very nice and my tension is really-really nice too. Of course, I may never be able to wash this, but who knows, if it doesn't turn out as a blanket, I can always make some tote bags, pillows, slip covers, pin cushions..................................... 'cause you know this pattern isn't going to be that easy to match. Learning Lessons as I weave for fun!!

   

New Banner Photo

Thought I would up-date the banner of this blog. This is a photo of an eight shaft summer and winter draft. Should have done it when the new year flopped over, but hey..... here it is now!

This Is It, Weaver Rose-At Last

 

 

 

 

While I really wanted to use the red/blue as weft, this green will have to be it. I think this will be an interesting draft to do. But only time will tell, since I put on ten yards....... I may have to 'tweek' this as I treadle. But so far, this is OK.

Trying Out Wefts

OK, now I need to find out if the 10/2 I have will work or if I will need too get something else.  And as you can see here, the red  I tried first is to small, the green is a maybe, the blue I have tried as single and then as doubled. So I will need to think about this.

Some More Prep Work To Do

Got the warp on the back beam. I use a sectional beam, but go front to back.... I don't use the spool rack and all that stuff. I have all that stuff... just don't use it.



I have tied onto the front apron rod and I 'think' my tension is good.

 

Now to spread the warp. I will throw three shots -without- beating.

 

 

Now I bring beater forward until I have a nicely spread warp, ready for weaving. Some time I will repeat this if the edges don't look right. I just sort of bump-it to get it to line up.



Getting Closer to Throwing the Shuttle

 

Getting some quality work done. I have this about beamed on and will tie onto the front and then tie up the treadles and then....... Right now, I am using the red head scrubber to help me get the threads all nice and smooth and even so they will go easily through the reed and heddles. It's really a great tool. Got it from a weaving friend. It sure makes this part a lot easier.

 

Weaver Rose and Me (dragging my feet)

You know, I keep finding other things to take me away from this project. Good thing I am weaving this for me. Here is my progress on Weaver Rose "Ladey Washington:. .....a little bit over half done!

I really am excited to start weaving on this. I am putting on ten yards. Why ten yards, you ask? Well, I didn't want to bend down any lower while winding on the warping board. I have six pounds of weft, so think I will be good to go! Once I go.

Getting Ready for MidWest Weavers

OK, so my friends know I don't really know how to sew. But-- I want to enter a garment into the Fashion Show at MidWest Weavers Conference that will be held June 2013. So I got one of my fellow weavers, who happens to sew, to hold my hand and help me. She had her hands full with me, but I managed to get done with the sewing and will now need to iron, embellish and decide if I will model it or beg for someone else to model it.

EXTRA Thank You to Janice!!!!!

Check out the excitement: MidWest Weavers Association  Look for the Conference info.