A few more pieces

I only have a few more days before my first show, so I’m finishing my last few items. I wove them on a warp I hand painted.

Here’s the thing...I obviously can’t reliably predict how the color will look from wet to dry yarn. My inspiration was Design Seeds sugared tones.

Nice summery pastels, right? HAH! Here’s what I ended up with.

We can all agree – Not. Even. Close.
So, how would I proceed? Well, if I wanted to tone it all down, I’d use a white weft. That’s what I did for the first scarf.

Much closer to the intent. And I like the random switching of the treadling pattern.
However, since I’d dyed some weft yarn to coordinate, I wanted to use it. I’m calling this one sugar & grapes.

Then, because I was clearly barely sufficient with the number of my cowls, I wove the last two into short-ish cowls instead of one fringed scarf. First I used a gold weft. Also reminiscent of the original intent.

Finally I used a grayed-blue yarn, giving the cowl a denim-like appearance.

On to the many off-loom and/or administrative tasks that need to be done before the show.

July 7th, 2019 | 

4 + 79 = ??

Of course we know that 4+79=83, but not in my world. Nope. 4 finished pieces + 79 bags = um...you can’t add those things together. But I did sew and string 79 bags in a few different sizes for packaging at my shows this year. Used about 60 yards of ribbon. Yes, 60 yards of ribbon.

I got four more pieces woven and finished so far this month. All on the last handpainted warp I had. Again, this is living coral and turquoise in 8/2 tencel, but this time the yarn was all painted in skeins, not warps. This type of dyeing has its own beauty, although I think I prefer painted warps over painted skeins.

That being said, I’m happy with all four pieces. First up is a jacket woven with an 8/2 black tencel weft. I threaded the loom with point twill, and used an M & W treadling. The weather has been so beautiful that I brought Lady Jane and Dolly both out in the evening for photos.

Then I used some 16/2 (or maybe even 20/2) rayon in a lovely peacock color. I tried tripling the weft but that was too much, so used it doubled. I also decided I needed more just plain shawls, no sewing involved.

I decided to weave 2 shortish and wideish cowls with the remainder of the warp. I changed the tie up and treadling, and used th doubled peacock yarn for the first piece.

Then back to the black tencel for the last piece. I also decided for a closer shot so you can see more detail in this piece.

So I have a total of 7 finished pieces, and 3 more off the loom awaiting my finishing. That’s why I decided to follow my wishes and put a warp for 8 more polka dot towels on the loom. This time in various blues. No sneak peeks!

June 23rd, 2019 | 

Starting May strong

It’s May 7th and I have 6 scarves woven, wet finished, and complete! First up, I started with some hand painted 20/2 silk. I dyed this yarn in late April, using a photo I found online from Blue Brick Dyeworks, as inspiration. They called it Prairie Storm, which works for me.

Here’s the yarn I ended up with from that inspiration image.

I chose a weave structure I’ve used many times and really like, and wove the first scarf with a 20/2 gold weft. Looks like that storm at dawn.

Then I used 2 strands of a textured green & white silk singles I’ve had for a long time. I also changed the treadling, turning the pattern into leaves. So different! The colors are more spring-like, and the texture adds a strong element.

Here’s a close up so you can see both weave structure and texture.

For the last scarf I wanted a strong color, so used 2 strands of 60/2 chocolate silk. Now that prairie storm is really threatening.

I went back to the treadling of the gold scarf, which you can’t really see there, but you can in this close up.

Then, sticking with my must-use-stash mantra, I pulled out a rayon seed yarn, something I’ve never used before. Sett at only 15 ends per inch, I had to remove my go-to 12-dent reed and go up to the attic to get my 6-dent to accommodate this ‘lumpy’ yarn. wasn’t at all sure how I’d like it. Turns out I love it! I used a different supplemental weft for each of the 3 scarves.

First is a wide ribbon with a gold metallic center. This one, like the other 2, has a regular old 8/2 rayon weft.

You can’t really appreciate that ribbon or the texture at that distance, so here’s a close up.

That wide ribbon didn’t look at all good on the loom, and I wasn’t at all sure how the whole thing would wet finish, so I cut it off and wet finished scarf number 1 before proceeding. Decided I didn’t want to use such a wide supplement, so re-threaded the reed for the next 2 scarves.

This one is uses a soy silk flat ribbon-like yarn in purples and pinks.

And the last one has a hand painted rayon yarn in greens and blues.

The only downside to these scarves is that there was no way I could twist that fringe, nor did I think they would make a nice hem So I tried a few different simple knotting techniques, but neither is as neat a look as I prefer.

Today I got the next scarf warp on the loom. This one is dominated by this interested rayon boucle yarn that has metallic interest Looking forward to seeing this one weave.

May 7th, 2019 | 

3 more done

Another new thing to try for me, suggested by a fellow weaver...using a mixed warp of cottons and rayons for the warp with a bi of rayon chenille thrown in, and then rayon chenille for the weft.

My warp contained four cottons in various sizes and colors, one vintage rayon boucle, and one commercially-dyed rayon chenille. I tried to wind them using a warping paddle, but I had no ‘paddle’ experience and felt like I needed at least one more hand to make it work. Then I tried simply winding all 6 together, but the rayon boucle was behaving badly. So I wound 4 strands of the cottons the length I needed, changing the colors of those cottons to some extent, and separately wound the boucle and the rayon chenille together. I used 2 sets of lease sticks and beamed them together.

Although my weaver friend setts hers at 12EPI, I wasn’t brave enough to go there, so I sett my warp at 15EPI. My friend cautioned me to not beat firmly or my fabric would be too stiff. Hmmmm, I said. I tied up the first piece as a point twill and set about weaving, beating gently.

This shawl is very cushy – thick and warm. I liked the way the weaving pattern looked, but wanted to see more of that warp. Plus the whole thing was darker than I had in mind with that weft, and I was concerned that I had some 4-end and 5-end floats so I decided I’d make this into a typical fringed shawl instead of the jacket I had planned.

For the second piece I changed the tie up so that there were shorter floats – nothing longer than 3 ends – and used an oatmeal bamboo chenille. Ooo la la, I really liked this, so wove enough length for this one to be the jacket. Soooo soft and drapes beautifully.

I had enough warp left for a big cowl. This time I picked a golden rayon chenille for weft, and really like this color, too.

And here’s the conehead picture with the cowl up.

This makes 14 pieces completed this month! And still, from July to now, I’m just on track with my goals, on average. Sigh.

I can’t wait to see what the reaction is to my new pieces at the show this weekend.

November 28th, 2018 | 

Meet Lady Jane

A woman in my Guild has made a few poseable mannequins for use at our Holiday Sale. I asked if she’d make one for me, and she was happy to do so. Although I don’t generally name my cars, looms, or other inanimate objects, occasionally I do. Dolly ha a name. In my head this was the wooden lady. That quickly turned into Lady Jane. Here’s her debut in my newest jacket. A combination of cotton and rayon with a black weft, I’m happy with the odd texture of that novelty yarn.

Lady Jane can rock the mobi, too. The cranberry weft adds an appealing red tint to the whole piece.

She can even wear a big cowl, although it’s not perfect.

Here are the same pieces shown before Jane arrived.

That last pic is the definition of conehead, eh?
Which photos do you like better? Which show the pieces off to their benefit?

I will bring Jane to the show later this month, although that may mean I need to lose one more table. Since I have less stock, that may be just fine. Win-win? I think so.

November 15th, 2018 | 

Wow - that was unexpected

I usually consider myself a quick study. I learn most things pretty easily. So I was excited back in September to take a class in triaxial weaving – weaving in 3 different directions, in this case with 1/4′′ ribbon.

The first layer of weaving was simple straight lines. No problem. The second layer was weaving in a different color ribbon in a specific pattern and at an angle. Easy peasy.

The third layer was using yet another color ribbon, using the opposite angle to layer 2. I didn’t get it. I couldn’t see the patterns. tried with paper in fatter strips, thinking maybe that would help. Nope. By the end of the class, I still didn’t get it, although others in the class did. (Clarification...I could absolutely see the pattern in a completed piece; I could not figure out how to weave that third layer to make the design.)

I came home and put it aside. “I don’t have time for this.” Then this weekend I needed to do a few hours of demonstration on Saturdsay afternoon at the Weavers’ Guild Holiday Sale. What would I demo? I wanted it to be triaxial weaving. “Come on, I can do this!” So I spent at least 3 hours on Thursday evening, looking at the teacher’s handout and a few YouTube videos and playing with ribbon.

Nope. Nada. I don’t see it.
Friday evening I probably spent another 2 hours. Same results. Nothing.
Saturday morning, suddenly I got it! I saw the pattern! I made a sample out of paper to ensure that I really had it. Yep, I did.

So that afternoon I went to the Sale and did a demo on trixial weaving. I explained to everyone who came by that I was very new at it, and therefore slow. But I am SO pleased with my results!!

Moving on, I was SHOCKED when I went back at the end of the sale to pick up my unsold pieces. There were SO FEW of them I sold all the socks I had dyed for the sale, and eight of my handwoven towels. But WHAT??!!

I sold that chenille jacket so beautifully modeled in the last post, as well as this cotton & bamboo jacket, which I finished Wednesday evening for Thursday morning screening.

I sold the mobi made on the same warp, also finished Wednesday evening.

I sold a rayon chenille mobi made in the spring, and the Brilliant Ideas mobi with the light weft. (I’d already sold the one with th dark weft to a friend.)

That’s all great news! So exciting and rewarding that people really liked my things!

That’s also the bad news, as now I have no jackets and only 1 mobi to bring to the Roycroft sale at the end of this month. I have to work REALLY HARD for the next few weeks!

So I got this warp on the loom right away. Cotton, rayon, and a novelty yarn in different weights, transitioning from burnt orange to dusty rose.

Now I’ve got to get back to the loom!

November 5th, 2018 |

Quick, quick, slow

I think that’s the mantra when they teach people to dance some type of classic dance...quick, quick, slow. Might be the two-step Or not.

Anyway, this is post is about things that move quickly and things that move slowly.

Last post I promised photos of the 4 scarves I’d woven at the end of June. First up is a scarf in which I successfully used ladder ribbon as a supplemental warp.

I’d tried using ladder ribbon before and hated it. I’d also tried some supplemental warps before, not successfully. I had to try again, with both, after a recent Guild meeting when a fellow weaver showed some yardage she’d made. I asked lots of questions, and she told me the draft was in a Handwoven magazine (November/December 2000).

I got my hands on this issue, copied the appropriate pages, and then made a bunch of changes to the draft. I only warped my loom for 1 scarf, since I wasn’t at all sure I’d like it. I used 10/2 cotton, sett at 24 EPI. Winding, beaming, and weaving all went rather quickly.

I’m not overly fond of the colors, but will use a similar draft in the future, both with more of the ladder ribbon and some other ribbons I have.

Then I warped my loom with my last batch of handpainted yarn, this one being the blue-green tencel. I threaded the loom for Tara Oftenorth’s snakeskin variant, and wove the first scarf with a medium blue weft. I love it.

Just because I could, I added some sweet little beads to the fringe.

Next up I used an odd, bright green rayon weft I’ve had forever. This yarn is definitely not my favorite color, which is why I’ve ha it forever. But it worked perfectly with this warp.

I had enough warp left for a short cowl. After auditioning several different colors of weft, I returned to the odd green since it worked so well. I modified the treadling to be a simple zigzag pattern.

After picking and making some more cherry stuff, I went back to the loom. I decided to use just one motif at a time for my transparency, not drafting out a cartoon for its entire length. This will both save time and hopefully make the actual weaving a bit less cumbersome. It’ll also be a bit less planned, and hopefully that will work well.

My sister was interested in how I wove the transparency. When I explained it to her, and that I needed several ‘bundles’ of yarn each color, she was a bit amazed. I thought I’d take a photo of weaving in process so everyone could see it in all its messy glory S.L.O.W.

Since there are lots of ends to weave in, I decided that given my temperament I was better off to do that for each rose as I finished it, not waiting till it was all off the loom and I’d have about a gazillion ends staring at me. Again, S.L.O.W.

You’re seeing the wrong side of the weaving there. That’s the side I work from. So here’s an in-process snap of the right side.

Completely unrelated to weaving, on my walk the other morning I came across these infested leaves on the sidewalk. I have no idea what kind of creature was living in these ‘bumps’ nor was I going to bring one home and watch it. So your input on the nature of this phenomenon will be appreciated.

Gotta get back to work. I still have to warp my rigid heddle loom for demos this weekend. I’m planning to use a variegated thick- ish sock yarn. Hope it works well. I’ll wind a tiny sample on my little jig for a test of sorts.

July 11th, 2018 | Tags: cotton, hand painted yarn, handwoven scarves, rayon, tencel | Category: Weaving | Edit this post 5 comments to Quick, quick, slow

Peg Cherre
July 11, 2018 at 8:28 pm · Reply · Edit

Theresa – As long as I’m not feeling pressure to produce for shows, I’m okay with moving as slowly as

transparencies require. At least for now. Wouldn’t want to make a steady diet of it. And although green is not my color (makes my skin look, um, sick), I like to use it when I can for my customers. And I am fond of these scarves.

Helen – I never took ballroom dancing, so would trust anyone who did for the correct info. Join the other (just not me) green lovers.

Jennifer – You’re always so complimentary it embarrasses me.

Alma – Why do you think I didn’t bring that leaf home? There were LOTS of leaves with those things on them right in that area. You, too, can join the other green lovers. Thanks for the comments on the transparency. We’ll all have to wait to see what it looks like when it’s all done. Don’t hang by your toes for this one. MAYBE I can finish the weaving by the end of next week? MAYBE??

Alma
July 11, 2018 at 7:53 pm · Reply · Edit

Yuck – what are those green-onion droppings living on the leaves? It’s a cinch I don’t want to know/touch/watch any of them!

I LOVE the first scarf – with the ladder ribbons. It is beyond eye-catching!
I’m sorry to hear that the green is not your favorite color – I think I have to vote in its favor.

Now – to the roses – you explained it, you drew it, but I’m still in the land of amazement at what you have to go through to create these. They are really something else!!

Keep up the great work, Peg!

Jennifer P.
July 11, 2018 at 7:39 pm · Reply · Edit

I’m in awe, my friend.

Helen

July 11, 2018 at 6:39 pm · Reply · Edit

I think when I learnt ballroom dancing, more years ago than I care to remember, it was the slow foxtrot that went

‘slow, slow, quick, quick, slow’ Amazing what’s lurking in the back of my mind.
I think the green weft looks great but then I’m very fond of that shade of green. It’s funny how those odd cones of rayon work, I found a hot pink one in my stash recently and like yours, it was just what I needed

Theresa

July 11, 2018 at 3:48 pm · Reply · Edit

Beautiful transparency Peg! Boy, slow or not you really took to it I think. Love the funky green makes myself, but then again, green is a favorite color.

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