Ticking All the Right Boxes

I imagine many of you are aware that I sell what I weave and so have an eye on my Etsy shop for what is running low and prepare warps with that in mind. I also weave something that interests me personally and so don't call myself a production weaver.   Going down that road is like turning weaving into a J.O.B.   I have no interest in that at all.

I get bored very quickly and so short runs of 7 to 10 yards are perfect for me. 

I got to playing around in the stash closet and discovered I have some really nice coloured 10/2 cottons that are really rich colours.   It was a toss up between towels and runners, but runners won out and I wound 9 yards of Valley yarns black, shell, lizard green (now discontinued), golden ochre and eggplant.   The sett is 28 ends per inch.

Here it is under way on the loom with black weft. The centre of the larger blocks can be as large as you'd like. This version shows two repeats of the required treadling as shown in the draft.

Then here's the lizard green as weft. It actually works quite well.  I wove one runner using the eggplant and a test run of the golden ochre didn't work very well for my eye and so was UNwoven quickly.  😳

I found the draft at Handweaving.net but didn't make a note of the number (sorry)....    So weaving this project took a long time for a few reasons.    I got started well enough but soon ran into some tension issues, so after a runner was complete, I cut off and re-lashed on again.    Now the tension was just fine but the shed was misbehaving. It wasn't as large and I had threads out of alignment.   I struggled to finish a short runner and cut off once again. 

We lifted the loom back up onto crates, and with the locking pin in place, I went through the tie up and checked the cord lengths.  Some were off by a hole or so and some treadles were too high over all.   I fiddled and tweaked and the next runner was woven much more successfully and I was much happier !

So now that this warp is all done, the plan is to thoroughly clean the loom and then slowly but surely make sure all lamms are level. Then I'm going to double check treadle heights and cut new tie up cords cut to the right length.   The loom was brand new in 2008 and so a tune up of this scale after 12 years isn't  too bad!   I also use a Woolhouse Tools commuter bench and so that will be cleaned and given a fresh oiling of the wood while we still have sunny days outside. 

In short, I really enjoy this loom and don't want to fight with it.   I guess you could say it was crying out for attention !  😊    Simply tightening nuts and bolts isn't enough.... 

So here are some 'beauty shots' of the completed runners.   Yes, all the fringe twisting  took some time to do.

Black weft -above and below.

Olive green weft- above and below.

and finally.... eggplant purple weft below

So before fall  and the traditional weaving season truly sets in, plan to make a list of what your loom's needs are so you can tweak away and get it in the best condition for your winter weaving.

• cords checked for fraying / replacing
• pulleys cleaned and oiled
• new tie up cords?
• nuts and bolts replaced and /or tightened
• clean the wood finish with Murphy's Oil Soap

I've heard some weavers wax poetic about the lovely patina the wood surfaces have ..... um, patina is just oils, dust and dirt  and that's all.  I clean my beater about once a month as its creepy how it can build up despite all the hand washing going on around here!

So the Spring loom  is naked for the time being and there are scarves under way on the Megado.   I have to wind some new warps for the Spring as well so there is always something on the go here.  But time is about to get precious here .... because.....

🍼 🐶 🍼

Puppy watch:    It seems we'll be getting our new little girl sometime around September 2nd, so have launched into acquiring all the items you need to have on hand. It reminds me of having a new (human) baby and carrying around vast quantities of diaper bags and  car seats and changes of clothing.   How can something so small, need so much??

The pups are 6 weeks old this Wednesday  the 26th and so we will be driving down island a week or so after that to get her. They release them between 7 and 8 weeks old.

Here are some pictures taken last week at age 5 weeks. They were introduced to an outside pen to get familiar with real grass and to check out lots of new smells!   Their mum is only nursing them twice daily now and they are being fed a special puppy food soaked in goats milk and so they will be getting puppy kibble soaked in goats milk to start with  here at home.   They are giving us full food recommendations and feeding instructions which we will follow carefully.

Still debating names.... but I  have my favourites of course.  We may end up waiting to meet her to see which name suits her best. 

 🍼 🐶  🍼

Baby Pictures

Well, the pups are three weeks old now.... and starting to do a bit more than eat and sleep!  Still no idea which one is ours.    Enjoy!  🍼  🐕

I think Mum Sienna is doing a fine job!

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... and a bonus three more pictures came in today August 9th....   ❤️

They are enjoying a drink of goat's milk in the bowl, and the pan are beginner potty training. They are going out on real grass today sometime.  If I get more pictures, I will add them here.   (Yes, I saw the gnawed wood ..... ominous!  😳 )

Anticipation!

Its been three years and a month since our Airedale terrier Calli died suddenly.  Our hearts were so broken by her loss since she was only eight years old.     We weren't ready for another dog for a long time, but we also knew that getting another would also take time so we put our name down onto a long list.

The first litter turned out to be a false pregnancy, complete with swollen tummy.

The second litter was all boys.... and we had requested a girl.

The third try didn't take at all...no pups again.

So this time we were first up for Airedale terrier pups and  Irish terrier pups. We also said girl first, but will take a boy too.   So basically hedging our bets!

So the Airedale mum had another false pregnancy.....but the Irish mum had seven pups on July 17th.  Six girls and one boy....

So here's Mum Sienna having a well earned rest shortly after her  delivery.    One of these little nuggets is our new pup!     Homing starts mid to late September.  

We have a lot of shopping to do to get ready!

Yes, this is seriously going to get in the way of weaving for a time, but that's probably a good thing.

🍼🐶🍼

The Ripple Effect

I was craving more colour!  I have this fabulous painted warp from Iridescent Fibers called "Desert Vista" in my stash and decided to  beam this 204 end / 7 yard warp onto the Megado.   I added additional small borders of red purple, black and coral to the edges.

You can see my start of this project above with red purple as weft and it was fun to watch the changes as you wove through the grape, terracotta and copper.    The picture below is of the warp chain.  Such deep rich tones and smooth feathered transitions.

I didn't get a picture of the second scarf once under way. This time I used dark teal as weft and it produced a chameleon !  The terracotta became bright orange!   In fact, you would be hard pressed to say that these two scarves came from the same warp.  Its simply astounding...

Edit: I found this picture on line that demonstrates the colours of Nature and  they are all found in this scarf!   No idea where this is, but doesn't it look wonderful.....

Stunning Sunset Turks and Caicos Islands

Photo by: @waterproject [IG]

Here's the red purple (magenta) weft and I have tried my best to get decent pictures. My Mac screen really doesn't seem to like reds and red tones so I hope it shows okay on your screen.   Its deeply rich and the pattern more subtle, but no doubt about it, its full glorious colour!

Now, about the draft.... Its a 16 shaft straight draw, with a twill progression treadling.  It produces these lovely curves that ebb and flow like ripples on the beach or in the flames of a burning fire. It comes from a compilation CD of 4,000 twill drafts, called Thrilling Twills from Fiberworks some years ago.  They were designed by Ingrid Boesel, who has now sadly passed on.

Its a lovely effect and I know that I will weave this again sometime. I will also play with the treadling and see what variations I can come up with.  A program like Fiberworks makes  this possible and you can even see the back side of the cloth and check for float lengths!  I like to doodle with things like this and it beats the heck of endless scrolling on FB.   😳

🌺🌺🌺

I had a conversation with a new weaver (3-5 years along into her lifelong study!) and she asked me some interesting questions.   She wanted to know what little things I do to help make my weaving process runs smoother,  and how do I organize myself and my materials.     

I had to stop and really think about this for a time. To make a conscious note of the steps I take daily which have become automatic and trusted.

So here are some that have come to mind, and by all means are not complete. I hope to make changes to the way I do things when I discover a better way of doing something.  (disclaimer: I do have a natural tendency to being well organized.) None of these are the right way or wrong, just what simply works for me.   Maybe for you too?

• Green painters tape:  I have a couple of 1"width rolls of this tape in the studio. Its like a pair of extra hands. 

• Wide rubber bands.... broccoli bands in fact!  I use them to place on the treadles that are pivot points in a treadling. My feet 'feel' them and I know where I am in the treadling.  I also used them around the foot controller for my bobbin winder, sewing machine and serger. It stops them from sliding around. 

• a cone of fine seine twine cord: I use it for choke ties, lace on the lease sticks etc. Its my preferred cord as its fine, tough and has some 'bite' to the cord so ties stay tied.

• I always lace on a warp now. It started to save warp on expensive fibres such a silks, then it was the best method for slippery warps as tencel and bamboo.  I like that fact I can use all of the loom waste, except for a small knot, for fringes on scarves. Yarn is expensive  so every bit helps. I also hate fighting tying over hand knots and having them loosen up as I go and having to re-tie them again and again.  

• I always beam my looms back to front. 

• Two Stick Start:  this is a relatively new addition to my repertoire. A friend showed this method on FB a year or two ago and I gave it a try. Now its a regular part of my routine.    At the start of a new project, open the shed and use some scrap yarn roughly the same size of the warp yarn. Do three shots into three sheds in a row and then beat to close all three together. You can redo this another time to close the warp bouts.   Then open a shed and insert a warping stick that is wider than the project. Open another shed and insert a second stick. Then redo the three shots, and possibly a second time. You should have a nicely closed up warp, flat and a firm start. No spongey corners, no gaps. Best of all.... useable warp for fringes or a great starting point for a runner or towel.    See it shown at this older post.

• Small Note Pad:  keep a small note pad in your bench or on top of your loom and write *everything* down.  How many repeats did you do for your border? how long is the fringe allowance? how many ends for your hemstitching?

• Further to the note pad: I don't like dealing with a pinned ribbon or tape for recording weaving length so I measure and mark with a simple cord of scrap yarn. So my note pad is also a record of how long my weaving is, plus its a daily record of how much is woven in a given session, plus you can mark your start and stop time if you like. 

• Camera:  I have a digital camera handy in the studio and I always take a picture of my start of a new project. It shows me what I did so I can replicate it in reverse at the other end!  The picture will also show you where the mistakes are in your threading far better than trusting your eyes to see it.  Even better when you send it to a friend and they tell where they are!  🤣

• Project notes:  record keeping starts when you did your project planning.  You will have worked out the width, the length,  the sett, the yarns, the colours used, your loom waste and take up.  Also allow for a sample. It only takes a few inches.    I budget 12 inches to every project.   Sometimes as things weave along, you either run short or have extra and so can't weave a sample or  you have enough for a whole extra towel or table square instead.  That's where a photograph will become your sample.  Have the project notes handy and nearby as a reference. *more on this later*

• I always move from taking a project off the loom straight into finishing mode.  A scarf goes right to my fringing board, a runner goes straight into hemming.  I take my time with this as the finish is equally important as the weaving.  I have no piles of unfinished objects.  No exceptions. 

• I clean off my loom immediately, vacuum and dust thoroughly and beam it again right away.   Yarns are put away, bobbins emptied, notes and records filed. 

• I plan a project and wind a new warp for a loom while the current project is being woven. I will even have several warps all pre-wound, complete with notes for each. 

• I recommend spending time organizing your stash either by fibre type, yarn size or what ever works for you. It means you can reach for a cone of yarn when you need it, know where your strengths and weakness lay and you can shop accordingly. Find hidden treasures too!  Regularly go through your books, equipment and stash.... down size  if need be.

• Lastly (for now at least), if you were to walk into my studio today you would find no piles, no mess, no unfinished projects, the yarns are organized, projects notes and samples stored in binders as my 'body or work'. The current project on the loom has the project notes on the desk. A weaver should be able to sit down at either of my looms and finish them for me, and one day someone may have to do this for me.    

I have helped with the dismantling of a weaver's looms, yarns and equipment over the years and have come away with a firm conviction that my friends won't find a disaster  to deal with when  I'm gone.   They will find a sizeable stash, books and such plus looms but it will make sense once they have taken a closer look.   To this end I keep re-evaluating what I need and moving items on, buying only what I need .....and enjoying what I have. 

There is a ripple effect to all of this.....

🎁 Towels for the Times

There is an awful lot going on in the World right now and frankly, not much of it is good. I guess that's why many weavers are doing just that... weaving, or spinning.   

Counting our blessings where we find them.   

In the evenings we find ourselves watching movies and seeing people in them all gathered together for meals,  concerts and wonder at it all.  People hugging one another and walking side by side.  We took such simple things for granted.

Its almost like someone did open up Pandora's Box and let the demons out!

I started winding this warp  in the 'before times'. Ten yards of  soft,  nice quality Egyptian cotton.  It was in my stash as a large three pound cone, along with another three pound cone of black. Not entirely sure where I bought it but its lovely. (I think it was Lone Star Loom Room.)

The idea behind this warp was to simply sit and weave  and enjoy the process. Listen to music or podcasts or just the silence.   Then the pandemic hit and we  stayed inside our homes and the choice to use bright cheerful colours as weft really made sense to me to help lift spirits.   Little dancing boxes. 

I wish I could share the soft lofty feel of these towels. You can see how squishy they are!
Grape, creamsicle, honey, and key lime.

Then there are the blue cool tones: bubblegum, peacock, blueberry and raspberry.

Towel number nine was created from having left over yarn on many pirns. So I created a colour way that worked together to use them up.  I call this one Candy Mix..... but it easily could be called "All colours under the sun matter".   This towel  is winging its way to my daughter as she is trying to work out what colour to paint her kitchen so something in this one will work!  😁  🌈

The 16 shaft draft was sett at 24 epi and they were woven to 35 inches. Width in the reed was 24 inches.  After a small turned hem they measure  21 wide by 28 inches long. So a fair amount of shrinkage.   The threading is a point twill and so is the treadling; all the pattern is in the tie-up.

A couple with the hem flipped to show the other side, which is equally nice. Boxes again, or if you look at them with a tilt of the head, there is almost a Celtic like intertwining.  If I had woven two towels in each colour, I would have turned one towel the opposite way and so they would be a nice set.   Maybe next time....

Here's the draft from Handweaving.net that I used showing two repeats of the treadling.   The draft is our road map to a successful project, along with some 'local knowledge'.

Maybe that's why everyone is feeling so discombobulated right now? There's no clear road map to a goal. Life feels on hold and if things are opening up again, it feels weird.   

So perhaps the little daily personal successes mean so much more right now. 

Some lovely peonies from a friend's garden.... and left on our front doorstep as a gift.   Huge blossoms and so lush.  The white ones were especially fragrant.   Thank you Donna! 💞