fibres
happy to be weaving
I measured four blue ends together and then threaded them randomly for an unplanned stripe
the weft is a handspun indigo dyed singles cotton – and plain weave
it is a short warp so the weaving will go more quickly than threading the loom
after many years of weaving I finally discovered how to check for threading mistakes before proceeding
a close up picture will show mistakes
if you are doing a complicated pattern be sure you have a complete pattern
spinning the peduncle tussah silk
it is hard to believe this beautiful soft fibre comes from the hard stem on the cocoon (lower right corner)
as I weave the cotton I’m trying to decide what to weave with all the soft, natural silk
over my many years I’ve fallen in love several times – and again, with this wonderful, magical fibre and the people who care for it
and then I found a book I couldn’t live without
I have two knitting pattern books by Kaffe Fassett but this is not a pattern book
edited by Dennis Nothdruft, including chapters by several people who have worked with Kaffe Fassett over many years
every page filled with inspiring coloured photos
what inspires all those incredible patterns, colours and designs – I want to know
but Nature is still the ultimate designer
another birthday
birthday greetings
a naked loom and the wonder of wild silk
it only took 2 1/2 years but this pandemic warp is finished
4 small hand towels and a piece at the end for a small zipper bag (when I get a zipper)
the pattern is a Summer and Winter variation – the back and front are a little different
and now for a new warp – odds and ends of fine blues from the stash
weaving a piece of fabric to include in the boro stitching
when you’ve been weaving for 40++ years there are a lot of odds and ends and not so many years to use them up
time to get on with it
Karen Selk, author of In Search of Wild Silk was the guest speaker at the Victoria Handweaver’s and Spinner’s Guild
what a wonderful story she has to tell of experiences in India over a 30 year period
I don’t have the words to describe the wonderful variety of wild silks she has to display – overwhelming
muga – eri – tasar
fabrics that look so simple and tell the story of the village people who have worked so hard to produce amazing yarns and fabrics
thank you Karen for telling their story
you have to click on this piece to see how exquisite it is – tiny stitches
for show and tell I took some of my silk spinning
on the right are a Mother’s Day present from a very savvy daughter-in-law
50 gms. each of tussah and peduncle tussah (the dark one) and a cocoon and stem
I was going to warp the loom to weave silk but now will wait until I spin that dark fibre
spinning a fine two ply there is enough fibre to keep me going for the rest of the year
keeping busy
confession! – I can’t stop spinning and I don’t need any of it
except for plying all my spinning is done on a drop spindle – to slow down the production
the fibre on the right is tussar silk (my latest purchase) resting on top of the final few silk hankies
the two skeins on the far left are the wool “stuffing” left over from doll making – including 35gms. from the Hittys
next to that is 100gms. of silk hankies spindle spun and wheel plied with extremely fine Japanese reeled silk
when I signed up for the studio tour it was to get me back to weaving – that’s done
so now I am bribing myself to weave everyday – one of my happy times is when I can see the end of the warp
yeah! – some of that silk will be next
the weather is slowly warming up but Bella couldn’t sit around without clothes for too long
pantaloons came first, without any fine lace I finished the hems with a bit of stitching using cochineal dyed thrums
I thought using felt to sew the dress top was a good idea but worried that one layer of the felt wasn’t strong enough for buttons and button loops
a second strip of felt as an interfacing added some strength
we’re getting low on tiny mother-of-pearl buttons
the silk and felt were dyed with cochineal so it all came together nicely
now Abby and Bella are getting to know one another
Abby thinks Bella needs a necklace and some overalls – and we’re going to need another chair
the Chocolate vine (akiba quinata) is blooming for the first time
the tiny flowers are interesting and the colour matches Bella’s dress
if anyone is wondering if I have made a decision regarding the Master Weavers challenge – I haven’t
I’ve never been so indecisive in my life – one day it is GO and the next day NO
I’ll keep you informed
fini
there is always a good feeling when a project is finished – but those 15 minutes each day will be missed
putting the pages together is like a puzzle
it really helps to number each page
then fold the corners of page 3 and insert, through the slot under page 1
fold the corners of page 9 and slide under page 8
finally fold page 17 and slide under page 16
the pages are thick with handwoven fabrics and extra fibre bits – it is fat and squishy
construction is explained in detail on Ann Wood’s blog http://www.annwoodhandmade.com
even if you are not interested in the book her blog is a delight
with that done the bears and I retreated to the garden
Arthur inspected the one gentian that the deer left and admired the miniature daffodils grandson Iain brought for my birthday
Gilbert and Little Bear think the checkered lilies are pretty cool
I never get over the pattern and colour inside the common red tulip
and so farewell to April
100 days
how time rushes on – this is the 100th day -almost finished!
slot and tab construction – sewn together in sets of 4 pages
the final four need to be buttonhole stitched around the slot openings
and then they will be fitted together
the new doll is finished tooshe is choosing dress fabric – that’s what girls do
her name is Bella – after my maternal grandmother
and all that fibre? it is left over from the stuffing material, clean, soft and very spin-able
what is a spinner to do? spin it of course
15 gm of pure white 2 ply, is it too thick for a sweater?
shibori dyed silk and antique lace (maybe grandmother’s) for the dress
a trip to the garden centre was necessary, the dreaded deer found a way in
we are going to try filling the gap at the end of the cedar hedge with a small trellis
and of course more flowers are always needed
but now the lawn needs mowing – the deer don’t eat that
sanity
Spring has finally arrived – it is a good time to have a mid-life crisis – actually it’s a senior-life crisis
my feelings won’t be hurt if you give this a miss…
I’ll be celebrating (not sure that’s the right word) a major birthday on the 21st, in case you ask – 80 years
how did I get that old – where did all those years go?
and now I’m asking myself do I have the years – and the umpfh to plan one more MAJOR project???
regular readers will know that I like to challenge myself – the 100 days project is nearing an end
day 1 of page 19 – handwoven scraps
I have spent a month preparing to present, to the guild, my friend Anke’s Master Weaver’s course and all the samples and paperwork
that seemed to go well and although I tried to encourage someone to accept the challenge there was no indication that anyone was interested
the course consists of four levels
Basic, Intermediate, Senior and Master – the master level has an in-depth study or thesis
the final page in “Exploring the Moorman Technique for Clothing”
full sized kimono – warp mercerized cotton, weft 30/2 silk sett at 45 e.p.i.
and a post card from Theo Moorman
a tape hanger for tea towels- linen, sewing thread and embroidery floss sett at 80 e.p.i. – Moorman Technique
the course is self-taught – no workshops or teaching component and the participant sets their own time line
I’m telling myself I only have to commit to the first level – I may not be functional long enough to complete all four levels
although 40 years of weaving doesn’t necessarily make one a great weaver let alone a Master it’s not the actual weaving I find daunting
the basic and intermediate level will either need a new/different loom and the space to set it up
or be woven on an 8 harness Woolhouse table loom with a floor stand and 4 treadles) – my 16 harness manual dobby loom isn’t acceptable
…it’s the major amounts of paperwork!
every sample has a detailed record sheet and there are several written studies on fibres and techniques
the Guild of Canadian Weavers thegcw.ca website is well worth a visit – written in the introduction
“Together we thread the past with the future through the stories we share and the cloth we weave.”
can I do this ? do I even want to?
It’s not 100 days – Anke took 5 years
am I crazy – anyone want to join me?
to those of you who read to the end, thank you