Weaverly

Small Victories

Morning in the woods. The first thing that popped into my head when I saw this tree was "V for Victory." Does anyone say that anymore? It did make me think a good day was in store.

Honeysuckle is everywhere. If you put your face right up close to the monitor you will be able to smell it. Delicious.

No, I did not pay this gentleman to pose with his bicycle in front of the gazebo. Isn't he perfect?

Some of my friends are Master Gardeners and know the names of every plant and tree and weed in the woods. Not I. I don't know what this one is, but it is very showy right now, and I love the way the leaves light up when the sun shines through them just so. 

Back in the studio, I'm working on a third runner (towel?) on the Bateman variations warp. I've modified the draft a bit, slightly elongating the blocks. The pattern weft is pink slub cotton, and the tabby is red tencel. 

A closeup. The little diamonds show up more clearly with this yarn combination. It's always fun when that happens. There's never any predicting it.

I recently received this book in the mail. It's got a number of interesting overshot drafts in it, drafts which are a little different than the American ones I am familiar with. My copy is already bristling with blue sticky notes.

Here's one I am interested in sampling. It's my modification of a draft the authors call "Dalkulla." What do you think?

A Day in the Life

A day in the life. Maybe a couple of days, actually.

It's been really busy around here. Some wonderful folks have come to visit, and it's been such fun to show them around my studio. I love it when I get the really good questions. My favorite is the one about how I got started weaving. I always credit Mrs. Julia Loso, my 6th grade teacher. Thank you, Mrs. Loso. Thank you thank you.

The Bateman weave (Park Weave, specifically) is off the 8-shaft loom, washed & dried. It looks pretty good after its bath. Nice squishy texture. It will be a good towel.

Around the lake, everything is looking extra verdant, especially after the recent abundant rains.

Farther afield, C and I have been exploring. This morning we strolled along the streets of Slater Marietta.

Here's the old Post Office. 

 

Some of the signage is showing its age. 

The residents have a fine sense of humor.

Always good to share adventures with a friend.

Back at home, I am very intrigued by the concept of polyvalence, as introduced by Olivier Masson. Many thanks to Muffy & Beryl for guiding me along this path. I'm still not sure of my way, but every day brings new insights. This afternoon I added color to a warp, and was very surprised at the result.

Turtles & Such

This morning I spied thirteen turtles sunning themselves on an island in the lake. Count them! (Two are near the lefthand margine).

And speaking of turtles, my doodling is veering in that direction. But sadly, my dobby loom isn't wide enough to weave this.

In the Department of Books, I have just finished reading Eleanor Catton's Birnam Wood. Recommended.

Conestoga Rolls On

Conestoga, continued. Now It's washed and on the wall. Shrinkage: none in weft, a couple of inches in warp. Go figure.

Here it is before washing:

And here it is after its bath. Frankly, I really can't tell the difference. Very surprising.

There's still more warp left, and I'm playing with it. But I had the urge to wind a new warp to tie onto this. Here's the result, a variety of ends of cones of 10/2 cotton, wound three at a time, hit or miss, to be threaded randomly. The tonal value is in general light to midtone. I plan to use a white tabby, to further lighten it, and a dark pattern weft of some sort. It depends on what else I find on the shelf.

This has been a good stash buster. I emptied six cones!

Just finished reading Nevil Shute's Slide Rule.

Brown and Friends

On this miserable, rainy day it feels right to welcome brown and its many warm friends: amber, chocolate, burgundy, mud, and gold, to name a few.

My favorite photographer and I had lunch at the Asia Pacific. I started with a pot of lovely oolong tea. 

Then there was stir-fried squid and vegetables. Delicious. The sucker pattern on the squid tentacles is noteworthy.

Just by coincidence, the Park weave I am doodling with this afternoon has its own pattern of little circles in half-drop pattern. Or maybe it's not coincidence.

In Studio Annex Three (otherwise known as the guest bathroom) I am giving the Conestoga project a nice warm bath.

Conestoga Time Again

First of all -- thanks, Jane & Val, for the reading suggestions. Always fun to se what other weavers are reading. You never know! 

Hereabouts they are having an exhibition of my work in the long hallway adjacent to the concierge desk. Most of it is jacquard work, from the years when I had the TC-1, roughly 2000 - 2019. There are a couple of dobby pieces, woven during covid. It's fun seeing everything out of storage bins and on the wall. 

I finally finished the first overshot panel on the new Conestoga threading. I wove until the handspun Icelandic wool was used up and then cut off. There's still plenty of warp left. Here's the piece temporarily hanging between two patio doors in the living room, just enough space for a snapshot. It's about 19.5 inches wide. I think I will wash it this weekend, and give the wool a chance to bloom.

And a closer look. Click to enlarge.

I wondered what this would look like with a totally different pattern weft. I also wanted to try this pattern with rounder wheels (less oval). So here it is with 5/2 cotton for pattern weft, and a blue tabby, probably 10/2, both from my stash. 

It's such a good feeling to use up stash yarn! Of course more than likely I will buy twice as much to take its place. Game on.