'failure #2' This is the second 'failed' attempt to weave this design.  And, it's why I weave 'samples', sometimes full-sized! There are a few 'technical' issues with this project, and I was very grateful I wove it before I started the 'actual' items. Number one issue is the combination of a 'fancy' twill with a centre field.  The fancy twill is an 'advancing' twill, and when you try to weave a 'standard' plain weave, the result is basket weave in areas where the advancing twill is threaded.   I actually preferred this because it would take up more than plain weav ..read more

  This 'meme' crossed my Facebook feed this  morning.  It is labelled as 'Old Proverb' without saying which culture, although with the incredible tile work, I'm assuming Islamic. But it reminded me that working with some thread crosses every culture, in some format.  And it reminds me that creative energy is a positive one (by and large). In this time, so many people are channeling their creative energies to spread mis/dis-information, that it is hard to tell, sometimes, what is actually positive or negative. When I wrote Stories from the Matrix I felt the touch of the 'd ..read more

  It's no secret that I am not perfect and prone to making mistakes.  Such was the case with the current warp. Yesterday I finished setting up the loom and wanting to know if it was going to work the way I wanted it to, I decided to go ahead and quickly weave a 'sample' (full sized) to make sure all was well. I got about half way through the 'sample' when something kept catching my eye.  Not full on, but in my peripheral range - or in my side vision.  When I would turn and view the area full face, nothing looked obviously wrong - but the niggling thought that something *w ..read more

  Today turned into a 'pause' day.   I had been 'pushing' myself harder last week, trying to build up muscle, but I finally figured out I was having an adverse reaction to the 'new' pain meds I was taking.  Just trying to get the loom dressed over the weekend was...not much fun. But I talked the pharmacist, then my family doctor and last night I got a new pain medication.  The pharmacist advised that I wean off the old medication, but that I could start the new one now if I felt comfortable with that.  Not having *any* pain medication was not an appealing path ..read more

  set up for sectional beaming The above is an old photo because I didn't take a photo of the current warp.  So imagine the loom looking ready to go with a beige warp instead of this blue/grey one. I cut the previous warp off earlier than expected due to a brain fart during beaming.  I thought I made a counting  mistake, then doubted myself and didn't add the 'extra' 10 turns to the section.  I was actually sad because I was really enjoying weaving those tea towels.  Ah, well.  Onwards... Next up is the 'real' warp to weave the rest of the samples for th ..read more

  I cut the last warp off over the weekend and starting prepping the next one.  I have about 1/4 of the warp threaded, and hope to finish that today and to commence weaving tomorrow. As I worked with the Swedish Snowflake design some things bothered me about the draft.  Since I had to 'shorten' the threading draft in order to accommodate the lower epi, I decided to edit out the areas of satin weave threading/tie up.  In the end I'm more pleased with this slimmed down threading draft and I will be working with this draft as I sort out the treadling sequences I will be 'tes ..read more

  three piece suit, featured in Magic in the Water - awarded a ribbon at the ANWG conference in Victoria in 1997 for 'technical excellence' There are times that I have touched the hem of perfection.  Not many.  I might count them on one hand, if I think really hard. The majority of things I have woven always manage to leave room for improvement! And that's the thing with making things from 'scratch'.  There is (almost) always room for improvement. And that is why I keep going to the loom - searching for the perfection that is nearly always 'lacking'. Every warp teach ..read more

  Black and white photo of yarns, both rated to 3360 yards per pound One of the challenges when weaving is to choose the 'best' yarn for your project. The first question I ask myself is, what kind of cloth do I want to make?  What 'job' does it need to do? Then I ask myself the density (epi/ppi), along with weave structure.  Then I work out the design, and if I will use more than one weft colour (either within the warp, or just to make multiple things in different colours) and how will those colours be arranged if more than one will be used. A new weaver can follow a 'recipe ..read more

  spool rack set up - this is one half of the rack I had no intention to do two posts today, yet, here I am... When I did the class on sectional beaming for Sweet Georgia I recommended that people put the yarn on the spool rack using the bottom row of pegs first and then work upwards.  I still advise this - although the circumstances have changed for me  and I am now leaving the bottom row empty. This year has done...things...to this body which has meant I needed to change what I was doing to take the stress off my joints/muscles.   I *used* to be able to squat ..read more

  100% cotton towel Finally found the spoons to get the latest towels posted to my ko-fi shop.  These are part of the group that I used the 6/2 cotton on, and I toyed with keeping them.  Truth to tell, pretty much all of my smaller towels are handwoven, now - I had to ask myself if I truly needed more.   But the past couple of weeks were also fraught with all sorts of medical appointments, plus I finally gathered up enough energy to deal with getting my hair cut - something that was woefully long beyond needing to be done. I rarely post photos of myself.  I h ..read more