Weaverly

Snapshots

In odd moments between food preparation and general merrymaking, I did get a little bit of weaving in this week. It's amazing what you can accomplish in stolen moments.

The current crop of amalgamation samples is off the loom, hemmed, & washed. A couple of quick snapshots:

The same draft for all, but the weft colors varied widely. This one in aubergine is my favorite.

Just finished reading The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King. Not my usual read, but I did enjoy it. A special surprise: Rogers's early music mentor at Dartmouth was Kunrad Kvam, later my beloved choir director for the Voorhees Chapel Choir at Douglas College in the late 1950's. 

 

Multitasking Lite

There was actually a sneak peek at my most recent warp in the last post -- it was a coiled-up warp chain. Said warp has now made it onto the dobby loom. A view yesterday from behind the heddles:

...and here it is in front, ready for action.

And as of this afternoon, some progress is being made. Amalgamation on 16 shafts. I'm sampling various colorways, and so far this is one I like:

Did I tell you about Friday's hike at Raven Cliff Falls? It was a winner. We didn't get close enough to the falls for a fancy picture, but trust me, it was a beautiful hike and a gorgeous day in the woods.

At this time of the year I feel especially lucky to be living in South Carolina. 

Back in the studio, taking a break from weaving, I spent some time on the computer, messing about with non-parallel interleaved threadings. This one needs work, as it has several overly long floats, but I think it has promise. 16 shafts.

Now for the Department of Books. Recently finished reading Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff; All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days, by Rebecca Donner; and The Narrow Road to the Deep North, by Richard Flanagan. 

Red Sky…

Red sky at night, sailors' delight. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

There are many versions of this rhyme, some biblical, some folkloric. I used to hear it from the fishermen in my family. I thought of it this morning when I looked out the front door and saw this astonishing sight.

If I were a sailor, I would definitely take warning, but as I am a weaver, I proceeded directly to my loom and finished winding on the second of the four blanket warps.

Threading was quick at 8 epi. 

And now we're ready to go. Take warning!


Finished reading "The Cadence of Grass" by Thomas McGuane.

Bits & Bobs

Doodling around at the computer, I came up with this 16-shaft draft with amalgamation. I'm still tinkering with it, but will probably use something similar as my next warp on the dobby loom. Click to enlarge.

Meanwhile, I've been enjoying hiking. These pictures are from yesterday at the Carrick Creek Trail at Table Rock State Park.

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Just finished reading Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller. Gorgeous.

 

Green and Yellow into Red

Happy Autumn Equinox, everyone. It's officially when green turns to yellow and red, although that's a little slow here. The last few days have been rainy and super-saturated with color. 

Red has been creeping into my weaving as well. The scarf in singles linen advances slowly because I have to take special care with the selvedges. 

But I love the yarn and do not mind the slow, meditative weaving. I am hoping that this will change into a soft and drapey fabric after washing.


On the dobby loom there is also some red, but in this case the weaving is faster. Clack clack and repeat.

This runner was cut off yesterday. I usually hem these things immediately and wash them, but in this case I couldn't decide which side is the "right" side. So I let it sit overnight. The warp is still the Eggplant and Wasabi Euroflax 30/2 linen and the wefts in this case are red and beige. 

In the Department of Books, I just finished reading Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín. 

A Gathering of Friends

Wednesday's monthly meeting of The Weavers' Guild of Boston was a banner event for me. The Guild had invited me to be their featured speaker, and 100 participants showed up on my screen for this Zoom event. I had such fun scrolling through the thumbnails and seeing old friends!

After the business meeting and before the lecture, participants were sent to breakout rooms, randomly assigned, and I got a chance to chat with more old friends. 

The lecture went well and there were none of the technical glitches that sometimes plague Zoom events. Thank you WGB!

It was hard to wind down after all the excitement. I went outside to see the moon before bedtime. After nine o'clock most of the neighbors had gone to sleep. The sky was gorgeous.

The next day was rainy. Here you see evidence of an attempt at multi-tasking: on the way to lunch, holding an umbrella with my left hand while shooting the raindrops with cell phone with right hand. 

It appears that green is still the color of the week. Broccolini for dinner.

And another reminder from the cosmos: find your calm.

I'll tell you where I find my calm:

Winding a new warp with 16/1 linen, just in from LoftyFiber. 

And in the Department of Books, just finished reading The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud. 

 

The New Moon, and Steps Forward

Yesterday evening, I saw the new moon. Actually I didn't know if it was the old moon or the new one. I've not been paying enough attention. I had to look it up. But I think it's the new one.

In the studio, I cut this linen runner off the loom. It was tied onto the old cotton warp. In linen it's so much better. I washed & ironed it this morning. There is an unexpected iridescence. 

But there is also a naked loom. Dear me.

Choices to make. Alternatives to consider.

I think I've got it sorted out. Now to take some steps forward.

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In the Department of Books, I just finished reading Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.

More Samples, and an Interesting Book

The most recent doubleweave sample is interesting to watch on the loom, when you can see both sides, as in this view.

The piece is now off the loom, hemmed, washed, dried, and ironed. Here's what I'm calling the right side, or face...

...and here's the reverse side. Actually either side could be called the face, but once you decide, that determines which way you sew the hem.

The sample is 10/2 cotton @ 32 epi and ppi. Warp dark blue and pink, weft turquoise and gold. Now I'm going to try it in 30/2 linen, in other colors. Tying on, the usual bird's nest.

But all comes out OK in the end.

Is this a cosmic message?

Time for a walk around the lake. I don't usually see all the black swans in one place, but here they are. Three out of four, anyway. Number three in diving for food.

At the farm, they are setting out cauliflower plants. 

And back in the studio, I am enjoying this brand new book, which arrived from the U.K. a few days ago: The Draught Book by Jeremiah Fielding, edited by Foster, Dunbar, and Harper. It's an excellent study of an 18th century Lancashire weaver and his drafts, set out in original notation as well as modern format, with photos of woven samples. The historical section is fascinating reading, and the mostly monochromatic utilitarian fabrics are clearly depicted. Highly recommended.

Studio Time

A late night in the studio. Sometimes you just can't go to sleep unless you beam the warp and get it out of harm's way.

The next morning, I got this far.

And a day later, some weaving is actually happening. 

This is an interleaved threading, based on an original overshot draft and woven as doubleweave on eight shafts. 

Kinda fun! 

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In the Department of Books, I just finished reading The Girls, by Emma Cline. Very noir, and very good. This is not one to cheer you up, be warned.

Choices

A lakeside view from yesterday. 

Today was a different matter, with torrential rains and tornado warnings.

In the studio, the linen double weave runner is cut off, washed, dried, and steam pressed.

Here's a view up close:

I tied a new linen warp onto the remains of the previous, this one blue and gold end-and-end. I'm weaving it as a type of Jin, with one shuttle.

And now a break for yoga class (masked and distanced). A community jokester has added signs at the water fountains (click to enlarge):

Which one would you choose?

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Finished reading: Trust Exercise by Susan Choi, Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman, Monkey Boy by Francisco Goldman.