Weaverly

Out of Doors

Yesterday we took a ride to Asheville to attend Fiber Farmers Day. The vendors were safely ensconced outdoors in horse stalls at the WNC Ag Center, and we felt quite comfortable among the browsers. It was such a treat to be among fiber folk again, and I did go home with a few ounces of lovely gray shetland roving.

Closer to home, we dropped in to see Willy, who is building a boat. He has just applied the paint, and it looks lovely. There will eventually be a stripe between the two colors, he tells us.

Back in the studio, the overshot experiment has been cut off, hemmed, and washed, and here it is laid out in the back yard.

A closer look. The draft is based on Conestoga, from Davison, with a few of my own tweaks. Click to enlarge.

 

Weighty Matters

Temples: I'm not a fan, as I've gotten stabbed by the little teeth way too often. Nevertheless, I recognize their value in preventing draw-in while weaving, and I've used them for years.

However, on my new loom, there's not enough clearance between the bottom of the shed and the shuttle race, so I've decided to try weights instead. It was just a matter of assembling the hardware. First, some plastic tarp clips. Some folks refer to them as alligators. Then screw eyes inserted into the loom frame. Yes, I drilled holes in my new loom. Then some strong cord.

And finally, the weights. I started small, with little pouches filled with rice. Four ounces on each side for starters. Not enough. Went bigger. Larger pouches filled with dried beans. Total around 10 ounces each side. Works like a dream! Easy to add or subtract weight depending on the project. 

Afternoon light yesterday was too brilliant and I pulled the shades. Here's the bonus—a light show.

Local Color

Yesterday was Dye Day at Pat's studio. Here are Patti, Pat, and Ruth about to begin work. Pat is reviewing some basics. Just in case.

A few hours later, the colorful result. Skeins, skeins, and more skeins, and a few warps. We all went home happy. Thanks, Pat, for sharing your studio and your knowledge with us.

Back in the home studio, a couple of finished scarves from one cotton crackle warp, both with the same treadling. On the left, a rayon weft. On the right, handspun cotton. The character and drape are totally different.

I enjoyed this warp so much that I tied on another to the end of it, this one purple rayon and pale green cotton. Same treadling, too. The weft this time is light gray silk.

Bruce and I had planned to go riding out in the country today, to see what we could see, and we were not lucky with the weather. Constant rain. We went anyway. Here is a picture of the iconic Union County (SC) Courthouse, as seen through the front windshield of the car from the parking lot across the street. 

Department of Books:

Recently finished Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy, and All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage.