Complex Weavers - Samples Arrived

Got my sample packet from the Complex Weavers Sample Exchange - The Old Fashioned Way.

According to our coordinator, Judy, "although we have not set plans, assignments or instructions in this study group, it is always a surprise to see how trends are expressed in the samples." What a great learning experience to see what other weavers are working on and have them share their explorations with me.

(the pink/black is my Dimity submission)

New Project - Tied Weave

I happened to see these two red's of Bamboo on the shelf and thought they would make a nice scarf. So I pulled out a draft and started playing around in the tie-up and came up with a design that should work.

I know I will for sure use the black Bamboo for the pattern weft, just not sure about the tabby... I will have to play with that and see what works best. Gold? Pink? Something else?

Here is the threading.

Utility Fabric - Fustian

This has a really nice drape to it. I think this would make a nice yoke for a blouse or nightgown. This is cotton/cotton (48").

Surprisingly this also has a nice drape to it. It would make a great vest or shirt for any man. This is cotton warp and linen weft.

There is three yards of this. Again, nice drape. I can see how using cotton and linen would give you a nice utility fabric to make a shirt, dress, or even a petticoat. This is cotton warp and linen weft. 

Weaver to Weaver

Please check this out..... our friend Martha at Thistle Rose Weaving!!!!!

Martha has entered the Martha Stewart American Made 2013 Contest and hope to be recognized as a maker who is helping to revive lost art forms and a person who is helping to push the American made movement forward.  I am in the running to win $10,000 which I plan to use to upgrade my looms and open a working studio where I can demonstrate and teach weaving.

Voting begins August 26th.

You can view my entry at:

http://marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/81691

I know this is a long shot, but I hope it is the first step to making my dreams come true.

Please vote August 26th.

Happy Weaving! 

Martha



The Cutting of the Web

Well, well, well.... I thinks I am done with this yardage. Then next step is to throw it into the washer and dryer and see what I get. Below is the original draft. The blue, on which I have been doing some  'dancing' is either a straight twill or .. well.. dancing.

Dancing With Thread

Now onto some dancing... on the treadles that is.... Since I am all out of linen, I am weaving with some really nice blue 10/2 cotton. Proof positive that the numbering system for linen and cotton aren't the same. This thread is really to small for this 8/2 cotton warp sett at 20 epi. . But maybe it will shrink up to something nice. Only time will tell. Right now I am just "going with the music" (in my head). Weave On!

More Tips

While I weave a simple treadling, my mind wonders.

I may be teaching a beginning weaving class later this week, so I have been thinking about some of the tips I might share that have made weaving a bit easier for me.

Using a tape that shows inches, I center this on the loom on the shuttle race. It helps me get my work centered. You loom needs to be balanced to work correctly. This tip came from Dawn S. I found this tape in the sewing department.

Now this little 'gismo' is from the bathroom area of a store. It hooks on the tray on top of my big loom. If you are using several shuttles, it is a handy place to keep those you will need soon, out of the way. This tip came from Marilynn M.



Here it is up close. I am not using this on this green linen/cotton project, but thought it was a nice tip to know.