beginning to weave

Saturday morning, the start of a new beginning weaving class

it’s the 18th class I’ve taught in my studio since retiring 5 1/2 years ago

the studio is small, only three students at a time

that’s good, lots of one on one time

my last year of work, teaching weaving to the handicapped

I designed a teaching program that packed as much information and tricks into one project as possible

we weave one project – a cotton, log cabin scarf

with extra warp, samples come at the end

they learn to wind two threads at a time – and weave with two shuttles

how critically important sett is and how to determine EPI

the nature of different fibres and designing for different uses, rugs and placemats as opposed to scarves and wearables that require drape

take-up and waste length – and vocabulary

winding a warp, tying the cross and choke ties

hanging a warping board on dry wall doesn’t work , I’ve found a way to  sit one on a card table and tie it to the back beam of my floor loom

my Mom taught me “where there’s a will there’s a way”  – good advice

we also use a warping reel so they can see the difference

personally I wind my warps on an old vertical warping mill that measures much longer warps and goes fast

any equipment that speeds up the process and does a good job is my ideal tool

next week – warping/threading the loom

I’m giving stitching a bit of a break

spinning something easy, commercially prepared/dyed, wool/silk blend

three different colour-ways I tear into pencil roving and spin together

relaxing beside the fire in the evenings

and in the garden

a miniature iris

but the bugs or slugs found it before I did!