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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Navajo


So, cutting right to the chase... this shawl is Navajo and the third one in a series I have woven recently.  The other two were Little Lochmaben and Aurora. I made some subtle changes to not only colours but the stripe arrangements and  the colours of course.

I let my eyes choose the colours and I pulled together a variegated warp that had a turquoise blue that ranged through to soft burnt orange. The main colour is called adobe and I also used black as part of the stripes to frame the colours and to use as weft. The warp is 8/2 tencel and the weft is 10/2 tencel. I was trying to reduce the size of the pattern blocks a bit, which it did by a small amount. (Details and data on setts and such are in the previous posts.)


It loaded onto the loom nicely and threading went well....



I wove for a sample to start and used it to check my threading for errors and it was fine and so weaving got underway. I chose the first treadling I had done in Little Lochmaben which was "treadle as threaded".


Oh, there were some issues... I had missed two ends of variegated warp in one stripe and three ends in the adobe section. Add those to the two floating selvedges and it was quite a sea of cannisters and weights at the back.  I used cardboard separators to keep them from hopelessly tangling!



A bit of a pain in the ar$e but it is what it is!  So weaving got under way but some days  it sat and waited as the receiving blankets took precedence (of course!)  When I had 43 inches woven I could see the back side under the loom as it wound on and something didn't look quite right in one small slim black section. That is when I found the crossed thread behind the reed. Louet looms give you a BIG shed and so even a crossed thread doesn't interfere with a determined weaver. I can't recall the last time I had a crossed thread....its been years!  Apparently I've become a little complacent...   There was a huge long float that ranged for inches on the back side as a result and had to be fixed....

So I cut and picked out all 43 inches of what I had woven, fixed the crossed threads and started again... *sigh*

Finally it was off the loom and sat to cool its jets for a bit on the fringing board. Some bouts I braided and for the main part I twisted! This past week I  completed the beading that has a unique flair.   Here it is hanging to dry after its wash yesterday:


This morning it was given a hard pressing and the fringe trimmed up and 'we'  (that be Calli and I)  snapped a few pictures for you.  It was hard to get a photo without a dog in it! There would be a tail in a corner... or a nose.



The special finishing feature?  feathers.... little feathers in the beading.



I also like the way the variegated colours flow and add life to the darker shades...


While I wove three very different shawls, they are all very similar but have a different tone or feel when you wear them. Almost a 'mood' if you will. 

And now because I'm a new Nana and its MY blog:
Here's...



Here he is sleeping away under the blanket that Nana made for him at one week old, this past Monday. 

17 comments:

re'New said...

Now that is a beautiful shawl! I love it :) ... but it's not as beautiful as the baby.

mormor said...

Hey "Nana";)
So very sweet little boy. I´m myself waiting for my 7:th litle grandchild any day-(should allreadey have been born..) So I know the feeling.

I really must say you made the most lovely scarfs....with some trubble-Yes that could happen-even the best apperantly;).
Any way, they are very beatiful!!
I´m sorrey, my english isn´t so well, but I hope you understand.
Best wishes to the little boy, and you, from Monika in Sweden.

MarthaVA said...

The variegated in that shawl is just beautiful - it has such a wonderful flow to it.

Ethan is a doll. Congrats! :-)

Martha

Hilary said...

The shawl is gorgeous, and glad to see I am not the only one with a 'sea' of hangers off the back of the loom.
Good job.
And lovely baby, too.

Linda said...

...another stunning piece, Susan! It's fun to see that the variegated colors, which you might not automatically thing friendly to 'adobe', really do play well when put together. I love the feather accents. Your attention to every last detail is what makes your work so special.

...and oh, that beautiful baby boy......I'm always amazed with how when there is a (sleeping) baby in the room, the only thing that needs to be done is to just admire him or her. Congratulations!

Linda said...

...another stunning piece, Susan! It's fun to see that the variegated colors, which you might not automatically thing friendly to 'adobe', really do play well when put together. I love the feather accents. Your attention to every last detail is what makes your work so special.

...and oh, that beautiful baby boy......I'm always amazed with how when there is a (sleeping) baby in the room, the only thing that needs to be done is to just admire him or her. Congratulations!

Delighted Hands said...

Beautiful shawl........utterly perfect grandson! Congratulations; enjoy1

DebbieB said...

We will enjoy as many Ethan pictures as you can "bear" to post!

The Navajo shawl is stunning, simply stunning. You are such an inspiration!

Cindie said...

The shawl is stunning but oh, what an ordeal cutting out that 43", I don't think I could have ever woven that much on my loom with crossed threads, would have shown up before then. And your grandbaby is a cutey.

Anonymous said...

Susan, beautiful shawl and very beautiful grandson!

Dawn said...

Susan, it is amazing to me that what I consider to be a "European" pattern would come out looking so Navajo! This is a really beautiful scarf.

And what patience you had, especially with that last mistake. I am sure I would have cut the warp off and thrown it in the trash when the mistake was so far back. What a trouper!

Sorry you didn't leave a little bit of Calli in some of the photos. You know I am more interested in pets than grandchildren, even ones as cute as Ethan.
Dawn

Louisa said...

Sorry that shawl gave you such a hard time - but the results are glorious! And little Ethan looks very contented in his Nana-made blankie. So cute.

barbara said...

Hi Susan,
Well your Navajo Shawl is just beautiful, a work of art! I can't believe the patience you have with your weaving, to un-pick 43" is a feat in itself. I admire the way you stick with a project and always end up with a beautiful finished piece. Your color combinations are also outstanding.

I sure enjoyed the picture of Ethan and will enjoy watching him through the eyes of his "nana", such a special time for you and Bruce.

I was so pleased to have finally spoken with you, and I am thrilled with the table runner of yours that I obtained in the on-line auction.

Weaverly yours ....... Barbara

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shawl & baby! Congrats

Lisa

Amy said...

The shawl is beautiful. Your work is always amazing. And your grandson is perfect.

Benita said...

Well, he ought to be a warm baby.

I really love the details on the edges of this shawl. Very nice!!

Sandra Rude said...

Gorgeous shawl, and lucky grandson all tucked up in a handwoven blankie!