Bookmarks: The Important Little Something

While not every one is an avid book reader, those who are, *love* their books!  They read them on Kindles and other e-book readers and even the old fashioned paper variety!  They (who ever 'they' are)  thought the paper ones would go out of style with the advent of e-readers but sales are even better than ever!

The coming summer is traditionally the reading season.  Kick back on a summer day and read a book! (these people must have maids, gardeners and a terrifically organized life is all I can say)

I have a love affair with books too and we have them scattered through out the house and in various stages of being read.   I had never given much thought to book marks other than you need one over turning down the corners of the pages which is BAD form!

Then last year I participated in the Guild of Canadian Weavers exchange where book marks were being featured and I wove off just enough to fulfill my requirements and a couple to spare. ( There is a copy of my 12 shaft draft there at the older post) It was quite an eye opening project. It made me consider miniatures in general and what type of pattern makes a good miniature or reducing a draft to bare minimums. Fine threads and close setts. What type of yarns would be best to use? I didn't want a limp book mark that flopped about so I chose fine cottons and linens. It was a great project where you had a lot of things to consider!

It took very little time to wind the warp, beam and thread it. A nice  little project and done in a snap. The resulting book marks were little works of art and the spare ones I had became much treasured gifts.  I decided to make some more  and wound this warp some time ago.  Other projects squeezed it out and it hung patiently waiting its turn in the roster.

After all the baby related items were woven off and gifted, it was time for the book marks. So I went from weaving  a wide warp of thirty six  inch wide warp down to a two inch wide one. From twenty four epi to fifty epi! The warp length this time was about four and a half yards and I planned on roughly nineteen or twenty bookmarks. I had increased the sett from forty seven epi at the last time, to fifty epi as my materials were a bit finer.  I used 20/2 black mercerized cotton and 40/2 Belgium natural linen as warp and the cotton also served as the weft (except for one where I tried sewing thread as an experiment... that one is mine!)

I got a nice fat cloth roll that looked as cute as it was satisfying! I was proud of getting the most from the warp as I had laced on and woven the warp right to the nubs! This is the back view behind the twelve shafts.

When the warp was unwound, it was a surprise as to how many I had as I had lost track. I played around with treadling variations and kept on going!  The result was twenty three book marks and one 'novel' sized for a total of twenty four.   

So what did I get? Glad you asked....

A bunch that are woven as threaded!  Dorothy says a gallery owner in the UK says this pattern looks like a 15th century reproduction textile!   Cool...

Then I started playing around with the treadling...

Here I abbreviated the treadling a bit....

This one is my favourite... I focused on one section of the treadling and repeated it...

Then I tried doing doubles of some portions!  I'm having fun now...

This is network treadled which is a twill progression. A lot of to and fro on the treadles and no interruptions!

This pair look more masculine for the men out there....

My husband admired (and got) one of these!  I hope he remembers which book he's left it in!  :)

I would like to mention that if you like any of these, I have placed them for sale on my handwoven sales page (see tab at the top below the picture).  I have been sorting through my studio and as a result I also have set up another page for gently used books and equipment for sale. I swear the stuff breeds and there is only so much room for it all!  I place the refresh date up there when any changes are made, either additional uploads or removals after a sale. The book marks are limited in number and I will keep a running tally of what is available.

Arrived by Snail Mail

Do you recall this picture?

 I wove up these bookmarks as part of the annual weaving exchange with the Guild of Canadian Weavers, with Lynnette as the hostess. This is her last one as she gracefully 'retires' from organizing them. She has done an amazing job! I have been participating in them since they were resumed by Carolyn H. back in 2006 (I'm guessing at the date right now!)  They are so much fun to do. You have oodles of time, very clear parameters, minimal costs and it's like Christmas in October when the parcel arrives in your mail box!

For details on my book marks, draft and information,  please read here

I mailed four bookmarks away, complete with the draft  and project information and yesterday I received my package in the mail! It felt a bit bulky for book marks but I was eager to get home and open it up.

The first I saw was a very pretty pink lace. Click to enlarge any of the pictures. This weaver had just come from a lace workshop with Jane Stafford and so was clearly inspired! The weaver used 16/2 orlec, which is an acrylic, sett 30 epi, and wove it on four shafts.

Then there was this elegant silver and black one! Its a point twill that is 'tromp as writ'. The warp was a cotton/ acrylic blend from Italy and the weft 16/2 cotton.  Here's a close up:

Next up was this bright and cheery book mark! It's an eight shaft summer and winter. No information was provided about yarns used or setts. Very pretty though....

The last one was by Lynnette herself and its my favourite (even before I knew it was hers! True Story!  :) She chose a 12 shaft rosepath treadled as threaded. A fine 20/2 cotton warp, sett 36 epi and 8/2 tencel as weft

Click to see the close up!

Then I discovered why the package was a bit bulky! Inside was a lovely gift - a 'souvenir' from their travels in France.  Lynnette and her hubby, Michael had almost a month long stay in the country.  I do hope she writes a few tales of their time there and share some pictures!

It's a 100% cotton jacquard woven kitchen towel and is *very* generous in size. Larger than my big towels actually!  I find myself thinking " but it's too nice to use as a kitchen towel" (sound familiar?)

Lynnette said that it was the only textile she found in her time there that was actually made in France and she bought it in Pontivy , which is in Brittany. When I look at the jar of strawberry jam, or "confiture de fraise des bois", I can't but help think of Michael! (private joke... sorry!)

Patiently Waiting

You know, looms are so incredibly patient....even when you neglect them for other looms. Try that with a husband! I'm sure mine would claim 'friendly neglect' in this house due to loom affairs from time to time ... (like dinner time. :)

I started a snowflake runner project on my Louet Spring loom 'Lilibet' some time ago but it somehow stopped moving ahead about the time Lynnette came for her visit and then other stuff intervened. Well, I'm participating in the Guild of Canadian Weavers weaving exchange again this year and since Lynnette is the exchange coordinator, I wanted to have the runner ready to travel when we go to the Okanagan in early September. We'll be visiting my MIL and will most likely see the new fire damage to our old neighbourhood first hand. I'll be at Lynnette's for a few days as well and I'm sure that we can find some mischief to get into and friends to visit.

Back to the home front and the studio.... no vacation just yet....
To refresh:

• 2/16 mercerized warp in cream, sett 30 epi, using a 15 dent reed ( two per dent).
• first runner woven with 2/30 natural linen, pre-dampened pirns.
• woven with a temple to reduce draw in.
• two runners woven to approx 38" in length, plus fringe.
• third runner woven with medium grey 2/16 mercerised cotton to approx 42"
• fringe twisted, so completely reversible.
• pattern from Weavers magazine #18, page 20. Draft by J. Evans, GCW masterweaver.

Here are a couple of pictures of the linen runners on the loom.

I've done this pattern a number of times before, most notably five runners as gifts to the weavers in my old guild who lost their homes to the big inter-urban forest fire of 2003. I have noted that this has been another bad fire year and I'm weaving this pattern again. Maybe I should retire it?

This picture below shows the grey 2/16's well under way. I had just about finished the hemstitching. Not as subtle as the linen runners. (Also it is not as dark as this picture shows)

The linen runner going to the exchange was first up on the styrofoam board and the twisting went quickly. I used all three clips and made a rounder, firmer mini cord. (full how to's are here)

The grey runner is on the board now and I'm just about finished the first side. Using three at a time makes it go faster. The last linen runner will most likely wait its turn and be done after we get back from our time away.

So time to 'fess up to a failure. I tried a different weft before resorting to the grey cotton. I have some lovely 2/40 white linen from Ireland that I wanted to use as weft. I wound my pirns and dampened them a day ahead. It started so lovely! I wove for a time, then left it to make dinner. Started again the next day and had to stop to make a call. Then I noticed a line, then another where there was a visible change in not only beat but density of weft. It was nothing that laundering would fix! So I cut away about 10 inches of this lovely linen and choose the cotton instead. So, the 'Lesson Learned' : I can still use it for weft but I *must* weave the entire piece in one sitting. I put what was left of the linen into a marked bag and its now in my freezer waiting for that project. ( It better be soon as my bobbins are running low!)

Here's a close up detail of the 2/40 linen and two other pictures where if you look closely you can see the streaks:

Let's end on a happy note! Here's the finished runner for the GCW Exchange.

I'm leaving Lilibet naked (*gasp*) for now. I have a scarf warp to be wound and beamed on there next. Now I can concentrate on the balance of Elena's shawl.

Some of This, and Some of That....

So what's been going on here? I have been concentrating on the exchange project and cut off eight guest towels and then tied back on. I was simply running out of time so I had to do it. I picked out the best six of the eight and have been hand sewing hems and laundering, pressing the towels. Next to do is the draft and project notes for the exchange participants. Just one left to do and they are ready to box up and mail away. So there is warp enough left for four more guest towels on Emmatrude to weave off. What is taking all the time is the hemstitching. But it does look so good on the finished towels. These two are off white linen (on 2/16's cotton warp) and the towel on the bottom is 2/10 merc cotton weft:

These two are 2/16's in a beige or light tan:



The towel on the left has 2/16 linen in a soft steel grey. There are two of these.

Here they are all pressed and drafts in protective sleeves... all ready to mail away. I'm really looking forward to getting the return parcel next month!

What's next? I will be beaming on 10 yards of 2/8 cotton for tea towels... and there's nothing better than towels to get to know a loom. It's a 10 shaft point twill and straight treadling run. The pattern is all in the tie up. It's small twill hearts on a colourful striped warp with the colour repeat every 18 ends and a sett of 24 epi. I'm hoping that it's not too busy and it will be a brighter warp than I normally do. I wanted something that would give me a good run of just weaving and getting in the zone. I seem to have sold all the other towels in my sale box privately and four more left this morning to a new owner. I need to have more towels on hand anyway. It seems that these mid priced items do well at any time of year. I hope to get scarves on next (tencel and/or silk) and a shawl or three as well. I also want to make a start on my second level of the GCW test program. So there is no lack of projects to keep me busy! Just a sore back is holding my pace back a bit but I'm not quitting! ( I also feel Christmas is a bit of a distraction and interrupts a perfectly good weaving season)

My back has been sore again and I've been nursing it along and back waiting for physiotherapy once more. Its not as bad as it was earlier this spring but annoying all the same. I was doing so well too.... *sigh* While I have been working in the studio I make sure that the room is warm and not doing any one job for too long and varying my position and multi tasking. Good pain drugs help too. (Arthritis is nasty and not just for old folks!)

The day before yesterday my local community held the annual 'Fleece and Fibre' Fair and I was there bright and early. Lots to see and do and shopping of course. I found some cones of 5/2 pearl cotton in a sale box and got a great deal on the six cones / six pounds in three colours. ( three of the lavender, two of the green and the one soft pink) That's one area of my stash that was a bit light for selection so this was a nice find. The seller said it was mill ends from a textile mill in Georgia that closed down.

I also bought a used Woolhouse Tools weaving shuttle for $5.00. I seem to collect shuttles and don't have one of these. I don't think they make them anymore. Another good find...

The bad news? I forgot to take my camera along! Oops....

I have a quiet few days planned in the studio and will tidy up loose ends and get a warp on the new loom. Tonight, we're off for our anniversary dinner. Where did 23 years go? Time flies when you are having fun.