a successful finish
ta-dah!
it feels so-o good to finally get this off the loom
washed, hemmed and ready for the next studio tour – whenever that will be
lessons learned
- when there is a major threading/ pattern problem, get on and fix it, don’t wait seven months
- the wide range of weft colours produce very different individual pieces
- natural dye colours really do all look good together
three different fibres all dyed in the same natural dye pots
wool for the blanket, cotton & hemp for the towels and silk in the skeins
cotton needs greater quantities of dyestuff and two different mordants
in this case- a tannin (myrobalan) and then alum and they never are as bright and beautiful as wool or silk
all from twelve months of experimenting in 2020
the colours (on my computer) are very close to the real thing
warp is a natural brown handspun cotton and commercial green cotton for the borders
natural beige hemp for the central panel
it is an interesting colour study to see the blends in the borders
the yellow yarrow is going into the freezer to dye with later
all the remaining cottons – scraps!
now what to weave with all the bright silk colours??
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com 
They are beautiful. I doubt if I could use them as tea towels! They are far too nice to risk getting them mucky or stained! And knowing how much work went into them they would have to be treasured. I love the way that dyeing using plants gives vibrant colour that is gentle at the same time – very different from chemical dyes. And amazingly they do all go well together.
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Sue – years ago I wrote a poem about using woven tea towels. I just sent it to Suzanne (comments below) as she has bought many towels from me – and uses them! I’ll put it on the blog. The massive disposal of chemical dye residue from factories around the world is shocking. After using natural dyes for years I find chemical dye colours harsh, flat and boring. Obviously everything can’t be dyed naturally but we need to start looking at how we use fibre/cloth/textiles – the earth needs a more responsible approach.
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It does indeed. We are used to things being cheap with the true costs to the planet ignored. Cheap food, cheap plastic ‘stuff’, cheap textiles .. But until there is a seismic shift in the way the world works it is going to be very hard for each of us to live within one planet’s provision. I do what I can within my means.
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Sue – I am so impressed with the “magic roundhouse”, the thinking behind it is what we all need to embrace and continue to do in our daily lives. Wish I had a similar group nearby. Actions like that show others that it can be done and how. Well done to all involved. Every little bit matters.
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Thank you Jean. I am very lucky to have found the group.
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SUE – 🙂
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What a satisfying end result, all so beautiful. Those soft colours really do blend together.
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Kate – thank you, now to warp the loom and start again.
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They are beautiful! Is there any chance one might be available before the studio sale?
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Suzanne – Hi, how are you, have you had your shots? The earliest the studio tour could be is November so they are all available with the exception of second from the right – I gave it to the neighbour because she gave me one of the plants for dyeing. I can send you individual pictures if that would help.
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I’m well! Thank you! Have had my shots for quite a while but I’m still being cautious and keeping my mask handy when out and about. I hope you will be having relief from the heat wave soon. That is way too hot. We have been very lucky so far; keeping fingers crossed!
I love the tea towel in the very middle with the big blue stripes if it’s still available! They’re all exquisite but that’s my favorite!
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Suzanne – the local heat has gone down to something reasonable – still above normal but wild fires throughout the province are out of control and one entire village burned to the ground with only 15 minutes notice for the residents to get out. Still don’t know if there were any who didn’t make it. Hope California doesn’t experience the same weather patterns.
There are no blue towels, sorry the colours must be off – the middle towel is green, dyed yellow and then top dyed with indigo. The towel beside it with wide stripes is dark purple dyed with logwood. I’ll take a picture and email you.
I too am still being cautious and wearing a mask – no wild parties or events.
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I love them! Well done you!
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Kjerstin – thank you, I’m so happy they are done and the loom is free.
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