designing handwovens
the tea towels are finished
and – that’s it for tea towels for a while
finished in the washer and dryer
there are six weft colours and a small hand towel for me at the end of the warp
what’s next?
it is important to spend some time designing each new project
once the warp is wound and on the loom
there is not much you can do to make changes if you don’t like what you see
if you put on ten yards (yes I still measure my warp in yards)
at 32 ends per inch, 20 inches wide that is 640 threads
or 6,400 yards of fine Irish linen
my best ideas come when in the shower
you have to write them down quickly so they don’t slip away
I’m not a Saori weaver – but
years ago a friend gave me these books
and a group of Saori weavers visited the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
(that’s some pictures in the lower right corner)
20 years ago I wove a blouse/jacket from a pattern in the book
kasuri dyed cotton warp and handspun silk weft
it is comfortable and easy to wear
time for a new one
samples and projects from the summer of 2013
and a pattern from hand weaving patterns from Finland
will start the designing process
Handweaving Patterns from Finland – one of my favorite books – your copy looks as battered as mine.
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Alice – I don’t know how many hands it passed through before it reached me but I’ve read it and loved it for many years.
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I need to start making some towels that are more colorful. Mine have mostly had a neutral warp and then stripes of color but I’m boring myself a little! I like your brighter ones!
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Kerry – for years I wove tea towels as sample warps – a time to experiment with colour and patterns – after all they are just tea towels, right? People like the bright ones, they sell much more quickly
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It’s kind of hard to work in metric when the warping board and reed are not! Your tea towels are delightful and very colourful. Love!
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Louisa – when I wove in Japan it was all metric, now I use a warping reel so I go back and forth and can get myself very confused which, of course, can lead to some nasty surprises.
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Some beautiful Finnish designs. Love the tea towels
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Myra – many of the Finnish weave structures are actually quite simple and beautiful. Tea towels are good to use lots of wild colours.
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Spectacular tea towels. Seriously. You should be declared a Living National Treasure.
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Heather – and you comedian of the week! thanks for the laugh.
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The tea towels are beautiful, Jean. I’d definitely like to order two. One for me and one for son’s new kitchen. It’s amazing how many variations appear on one warp.
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Suzyanna – I’ll send you a close up of the colour choices and you can let me know which you want.
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