Weaverly

A Good Sign

Yesterday evening Greenville Yoga celebrated its 10th anniversary with a community gathering. There were artisan showcases, writers featuring their books, music, food, and good conversation. I displayed some of my journals and towels, and enjoyed reconnecting with my classmates in a new setting. There was a gentle rain, but as we were under a big tent, it didn't matter. I enjoyed watching a little two-year-old who had discovered a luscious mud puddle beside the tent and spent most of the evening stomping around in it. And at the end of the party, as I was packing up to leave, I saw a giant double rainbow!

 

A Surfer's Brunch

For my faithful readers, here is a sampling to taste.

First, from Mimi, the story of a renegade sheep who hid in a cave for six years to evade shearing. Photos too! Thanks, Mimi, I couldn't have made this one up. 

Then from Bhakti, the story of her class for beginning weavers at Penland this summer. Her generosity of spirit really shines through. Eleven new weavers launched! She has included some nice comments about my visit. Much appreciated. 

And thirdly, here are the five towels woven in 4-color double weave this past week. I know a lot of you have done some very inspiring and innovative work in this technique, but this is the first time I've ever tried it, notwithstanding my other projects with parallel threadings (see Echo Weave in the sidebar). The challenge of creating interesting patterns for 8 shafts added to the fun. I'll be doing more of these.

 

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Subdued

More subdued in color this time (wefts are gray and rust) but giddily exuberant in pattern. 

Progressive

This 4-Color Double Weave has a progressive twill treadling with a very long repeat. Actually, it won't repeat at all, because the dishtowel will be finished before the end of the repeat. I would not have woven this in pre-computer days! And now a closeup. Click to enlarge. Warp (excluding borders) is dark blue and yellow. Weft orange and rust.

A Neon Effect

Similar to the draft of a couple of days ago, but with different weft colors, the effect here delivers another surprise, a neon effect. 

The wefts are orange and light blue. Light blue crossing dark blue warp gives medium blue; light blue crossing yellow warp gives a muddy putty color; no surprises with either of these. But what does surprise me is the way the orange weft seems to outline the other color areas with a flashy neon glow.

Having lots of fun with this one.

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Right Here, Right Now

Two Random Observations

First: on Sunday, late afternoon, the sun shone in through the blinds illuminating my upstairs loom in interesting stripes:

Second: Monday morning doing errands, I stopped in at my designer bank, where everything is color coordinated, and saw this green pot full of green lollipops on the tellers' counter:

They also had a basket of dog biscuits on the counter. Those, however, were brown, not green.

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2+2=8

...or 9 or 11 or...

It is amazing how many colors emerge when using just two colors in the warp and two more in the weft. They combine in unexpected ways, according to the weave structures.

These are 8-shaft double weaves. Click to enlarge.

Reentry

Back on the dishtowel trail. It's hard to get into the old routine. For one thing, the ground won't stop moving. But I'm trying my best. Finished warping the 8-shaft loom after three false starts, and now it's going OK.

Four-color doubleweave. There's an odd red halo effect going on, an interesting surprise. You never run out of surprises in weaving.

 

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Niagara Falls

The first time I have ever seen the Falls, ever. I am speechless.