Weaverly

Twenties Two

In the jargon of weaving, "twenties two" is written as 20/2. Yarnies will recognize it as a specific grist of cotton yarn, and it runs about 8400 yards per pound. I used a lot of it when I was doing jacquard weaving. I'm trying to do some destashing here and have used a goodly amount of 20/2 this week.  

First of all, I made a new warp for my dobby loom. It's lavender cotton at 40 epi.

Here are the first few inches, to do some error-checking. Happy to report: no threading errors. 

I'm also using a bit of 20/2 in my rigid heddle teaching samples. Here it is as warp and weft, four strands of 20/2 held together as one, in a 12-dent rigid heddle. It requires a bit of finesse in the warping, but is very doable.

It's excellent weather for weaving. Look what's been going on outside:

Fortunately, we haven't lost any power.

The Lazy Woman's Photography Studio

The samples from my second amalgamation warp are hemmed, washed, and ironed, and before I put them away to join their sisters, I set up a quick photo shoot on my ironing board. Enjoy.

Yesterday while grocery shopping I saw this astonishing sight. Bright blue orchids. My fellow shoppers suspected they'd been dyed. I don't know about such things, but they did stop me in my tracks (the orchids, not the shoppers). 

Department of books:

I just finished reading At Paradise Gate by Jane Smiley. Enjoyed it. Actually, I've never read anything by Jane Smiley I didn't like. And The Greenlanders is one of my favorite books ever. I've read it twice.

Celebrations

This second warp of amalgamation samples has come to a close. Here is the penultimate sample:

And here is the very last one:

And here's a wad of cloth, just cut off the loom and ready for cutting apart and hemming, and then the washing machine.

Now a look back to this past Sunday, the first night of Chanukah. Yes, dogs like Chanukah too.

A Warp Continued

More amalgamation. Today a yellow weft against the gold warp.

The patterns/between/the/patterns resemble crepe. Perhaps they are crepe. 

Now a mauve weft.

Another angle. With these low-contrast combinations, sometimes another angle shows up the pattern better.

All weavers notice this eventually: the pattern of the heddles being the reed, especially with a regular threading repeat. It makes me think of organ pipes in a cathedral. 

Department of books: just finished reading Mary Morris's A Mother's Love. Very fine.

December Miscellany

Yesterday at the North Carolina Arboretum with good friends to see the Blue Ridge Fiber Show one more time. Definitely worth it!

In the rain soaked gardens, these fine chairs:

At the Baker Exhibit Center, Reclaimed Creations by artist Sayaka Ganz, using recycled utensils. 

Back at home, some spinning wheel action. Here's a bobbinful of merino.

And of course a little weaving time. Another sample on the amalgamation warp:

A little closer up:

The Wheels on the Bus…

And that's all I have to say for now.

Circles, Wheels, Reels

There's a new warp on my dobby loom. Amalgamation again, this time a design with smallish circles. The warp is a warm golden yellow. For the first sample I tried a purple weft for max contrast.

Then I changed things up with a more muted combination, same draft. Funny how the warp color appears to change as the daylight alters over a couple of hours in the studio

As long as we're talking about things that go 'round, here's my warping wheel which I'm about to put on the market. Now that I no longer have looms with sectional beams, this old friend's got to go. It's a first generation warping wheel from AVL, with a cross maker added. Pass the word along. No shipping; pickup only in Greenville, SC.

And a squirrel cage reel, also looking for a new home. An oldie but goodie.

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Now the book department. Two wonderful books I've read lately. Both highly recommended.

Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay

Fools of Fortune by William Trevor

Towel Parade

The nine little towels are finished and I arranged them on the ironing board for some high quality photography (just kidding). 

Here's a group shot:

Now here's a tricky one that my iPhone calls "portrait mode" with a theatrical spotlight. Oops, the lighting director didn't aim straight.

Well, enough of that. I'd really like to show you an entire towel so you can see the patterning. 

Amalgamation, 16 shafts. Click to embiggen.

End of Warp?

It's getting close. These may be the last 2 pieces on the amalgamation warp. I'm calling it warp #1, as there will be a lot of amalgamation to follow. The more I explore this structure, the more it intrigues me. I seem to have circled around to my beginnings in network drafting. The big weaving merry-go-round.

Looking a little closer:

And now the ultimate purple weft. There's always got to be a little purple.

 

What If…

Thoughts about amalgamation this morning. What if…

I'll bump this to the top of the list for my next warp. Sixteen shafts. Click to enlarge.

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In the reading department, I've just finished Eli Saslow's "Rising Out of Hatred." Well written, fair-minded, full of surprises, and couldn't be more timely. Highly recommended.