be thankful
the backstrap weaving for August is finished
it’s the strip at the bottom
woven with 2 ply handspun yarns, wool for the weft and a hemp warp
all the pieces woven so far are sewn together
as this is very rustic (that’s what I’m calling it!) I’ve been experimenting on different seam stitches
might as well learn something
at the beginning and end of the warp I hemstitch
in order to attach the next weaving I press the hemstitch knots to the back and secure with a running stitch
this is not elegant but a useful and warm way to use the samples
there is 465gms. of 2 ply handspun wool and silk (on the right) waiting to be alum mordanted
white Icelandic, brown Corriedale and silk hankies
the only purchase I made at Fibrations was 200gms. of beautifully prepared Cotswold roving
Cotswold is an old British breed, now considered a rare breed
read more about it here http://www.cotswoldwoollenweavers.co.uk
click on history and then Cotswold
it is a pleasure to spin on my IST Crafts rim weighted Turkish spindle
I had to order 2 longer galvanized pipes to make my tapestry loom wider
while waiting, the time is well spent researching and working on a new design
as each tapestry gets a little larger and weaving takes more time it is important to be very sure about the design
this is a start – the baby dress (right) was taken to the hospital by my birth mother
she died and my adoptive mother kept the dress for me
I hope to weave it in the background
the book “Threads of Feeling” is the catalogue from an exhibition at the Foundling Hospital, London, 2010
http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/events/threads-of-feeling
the Selvedge article (issue 36 Sept/Oct 2010) gives more details on some of the fabric scraps
left by mothers to identify their babies in the improbable chance they would come back to claim the child
it is a heartbreaking story – more on my blog here
there are still too many children in the world who desperately need help
Jean, it’s a rich tapestry design you are working on, a beautiful weaving together. I’m sure it will hold healing for all the world’s unrooted children over the centuries. Heartbreak and healing.
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Velma – don’t know how the wealthy and powerful can call themselves civilized when they argue about whether incarcerated children need a bar of soap. It just makes me mad and I don’t know what to do about it.
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I love all your projects but this new tapestry project gives me chills. What an emotional undertaking . . .
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Kerry – I’m sure it will have its moments but now all I’m worried about is if I can do it technically.
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I lived next door to the Thomas Coram’s foundling hospital when I was a student…my daughter played in their park, still one of the bigger green spaces in the middle of London…it is heartbreaking to think of the children’s mothers hoping against hope.
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Kjerstin – the babies were accepted om a lottery system (due to space etc.) and twice as many were rejected as accepted. Many were just abandoned on the streets of London. It is shocking to think about.
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Your joined backstrap strips are beautiful; the soft colours and textures make me wish I could feel it.
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Kate – thank you, it is a good learning project and is using up some handspun yarn.
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