|
|
The title of this post implies that I somehow used semi-precious gemstones in my handwoven scarves. That is misleading. Instead, I wove with a bamboo-cotton blend in a hand painted colorway Tammy calls Sapphires.
I don’t think I’ve used this colorway in the past, but I’m sure I’ll be going back to it in the future. Being a gemtones girl, these colors call to me.
When given a choice among three scarves on the same warp but with different wefts, I usually choose the one with the most purple first, and the one with the same variegated weft as warp last. But not this time.
The scarf on the bottom, with the lilac weft, is my least favorite of the three. I can’t decide if I prefer the middle scarf, woven with a teal weft, or the top one with that Sapphires weft.
I think it’s the enhancement of three warp colors that pushed me into appreciating the scarf with the variegated weft. But then, this is always true of those hand painted wefts. So what’s different about this blend that makes me like the faux plaid look? I really have no idea.
While I was weaving we had one of those interesting spring storms that produces lots of hail as well as rain. It might be the biggest hail I’ve ever personally experienced. You can see it piling up next to my propane tank as the pachysandra stands tall nearby.
Meanwhile, the gardens I’ve already weeded & mulched were getting their own sprinkling of white on the darker mulch.
It looked interesting, and didn’t make me worry about the plants since the temperature wasn’t too cold. As it turned out, nothing was harmed at my house. I was glad that my car was safely tucked in the garage, and heard that some people had lots of dings on their vehicles post-storm. Others never saw a bit of hail. All within a radius of just a few miles. It was very isolated, which is always interesting to me.
Your turn: what weather patterns choose tiny regions near you?
I’ve had some of Tammy’s hand painted rayon boucle yarn in my stash for a while, and decided now was the time to use it. I build little ‘treats’ for myself, something I’ll let myself do when I reach a certain point. In this case, I decided I wouldn’t let myself use all that delicious new hand painted bamboo cotton yarn till I’d used up the rayon boucle.
Tammy’s surreal colorway is one that has looked quite different depending on the fiber. Sometimes it really speaks to me, sometimes it’s too dark for my personal tastes. The latter was the case with the rayon boucle, which is why it sat for so long. “Make it better,” I told myself.
I played Goldilocks for a bit.
At the top I used the same warp as weft. Too dark.
At the bottom I used a hand painted wisteria weft. Too light.
In the middle I used a turquoise bamboo weft. Just right. Unfortunately, I didn’t think I had enough of the turquoise to weave the entire scarf, so I had to be creative. I wove with about 25″ of turquoise at each end of the scarf, with a navy in the center. I’ve not done this before, but I think I like it. At least this time.
Now I can start on the bamboo cotton!
Your turn: do you set yourself up with goals and give yourself treats when you reach them?
More of Tammy’s delicious hand painted yarn, dyed just for me, arrived!
This batch is all a blend of bamboo & cotton, providing some of the best of both fibers. I tried a few new colorways to push my typical color sensibilities. Can’t wait to make them into yummy handwoven scarves!
Back in April I told you I was trying my hand at weaving with some VERY fine silk. Somehow time got away from me in showing you the finished handwoven silk scarf.
The scarf is wonderfully light and airy. It looks and feels like the picture my mind conjures up when I think the word ‘silk.’ Despite the fact that I have learned well over the years that there are many types of silk – many weights, many textures, many qualities of silk, this is the default type in my head. I think it’s a silk charmeuse. Isn’t that a great word? Charmeuse. I think it even sounds rich and luxurious. Comes from the French, meaning charming, which I certainly think this fabric is.
Or at least it would be — no, will be — once I have some more experience under my belt with it, and maybe a little help from a spinning friend to ply it for me. From the beginning, I considered this scarf to be a sample, a test piece, something that I was weaving to get the feel of the yarn and learn some of its ideosyncrasies. And I did learn some. Undoubtedly I’ll learn more in my future experimentation with it. And it will be different when it’s twisted and plied. Maybe I’ll love it, maybe not — only time will tell.
Anyway, this particular scarf won’t be sold. I haven’t yet decided if I’ll keep it for my own or gift it to a friend who’s not so fussy about its imperfections. Let me share them with you.
For reasons that are completely beyond me, there’s this ‘mushy’ section near one end. Although there doesn’t appear to be a treadling error or threads skipped with the shuttle, this imperfection sure didn’t come out in wet finishing and pressing. It looks like I took my thumb, pressed down really hard and forcibly pushed the threads into a rough elliptical shape. I suppose I could try again to wet finish, paying particular attention to this spot, but I don’t know that it would help.
Then there are the selvedges. This scarf has 72 threads per inch in both warp and weft. In order to achieve that, I used 2 threads together all the time. (Otherwise I would have had to have 144 threads per inch in each direction – an amount of work I wasn’t willing to contemplate.) Two threads went through each heddle, 2 threads were wound on the bobbin. As a result, there were plenty of times when one of those bobbin threads wasn’t pulled as tight as the other at the selvedge.
To the untrained eye, it might look like a very fine halo in places along the edge. Heck, the untrained eye might not even notice it. But I sure do.
Nonetheless, I’m pleased with this first attempt at using the tram silk, and eager to see how it looks after my spinning friend tries his hand at it.
Remember way back in January when I showed you a little bit of what I had on my rigid heddle loom? Well, I finally finished weaving the entire warp. I had to cut it off before it was completely done because my cloth beam was full.
I made lots of little pick up designs. Some are small enough to fit into little magnetized photo frames, others are large enough to fit into window cards. I bought the frames & cards to have small items available in my booth at a particular fall show. I thought the weaving would be quick so I could sell the finished products inexpensively. HAH! Pick up designs are not quick, particularly when, like me, you don’t want a lot of the same thing so you have to keep coming up with new designs.
Everything I’m showing you now still has to be machine stitched on all 4 sides to make sure it doesn’t unravel, pressed, and then put into its finished format. More time.
Next time I try this concept (and there will be a next time) I’m not doing pick up! I’ll make lace, or little overshot designs, or something I can do on one of my multi-shaft looms.
I’m not commenting on each of the designs – they’ll have to speak for themselves. Some worked much better than others; you’re not seeing the complete flops here, so just imagine what they look like!
 2 versions of flowers 
I’m really not happy with these candy canes, and likely won’t use them.
But I did like the outside diamonds, so tried a different interior. Much better.
I decided I wanted to try a clasped weft. This small format seemed the perfect time to give it a shot.
I like it!
I read the weaving blogs in my blogroll for inspiration. All these weavers stretch my mind and imagination. Others do too, of course, but I find them in places other than the blogosphere. Two years ago Ngaire, over at Dust Bunnies, made this AMAZING full-size piano keyboard scarf in rayon chenille. No way I was going to attempt that, but thought I’d try a small bit. Too much white showing, but other than that, I’m pretty happy with it.
I haven’t yet figured out what I have to sell either the magnets or the cards for. Hope it’s something reasonably affordable. If not, I’ll try another concept.
|
|
