After two iterations of the runners based on Bateman Park weaves, I was totally bored and decided to weave off the remainder of the 8-shaft warp in plain weave with a hemp weft from my stash.
To the bitter end!
And then I cut it off (cutting-off photo credit to Bruce):
After hemming and wet finishing, here's one of the runners on the porch floor:
The plain weave section yielded two nice towels.
And finally, time for a walk, despite the drizzly weather.
Yesterday morning we got up early, fixed a breakfast of bagels & lox, and sat down to watch the F1 Grand Prix from Monaco. I love it all, the commotion, the drivers, the announcers, the brass bands, the chutzpah.
While I watched, I twisted fringes.
Polyvalence. After a wash & dry & pressing, I was able to compare the first version (white warp, black weft) with the second version (4-color warp, black weft).
The addition of color is truly amazing. A hidden aspect is revealed. There are now four distinct color images, each one slightly shifted widthwise from the previous one.
It reminds me of those pictures you have to view with specially colored glasses in order to make sense of them.
Department of Books: Have finished reading The Privileges by Jonathan Dee and I Came All This Way to Meet You by Jami Attenberg.
It has been a busy week, with comings and goings, highs and lows, that sort of thing, but today I vow to get back on a regular schedule, and concentrate a little harder. First order of business is a walk. All is now fully green, the weeds perhaps the most picturesque of all.
The polyvalence sampler is now off the loom & washed & dried. Fringes twisted. The circles are definitely down the middle. Thank you all for the input. You were right.
I've changed each successive circle four pixels to the right, so there are now four distinct variations, repeated 2 1/2 times. I may just pick my favorite and stick with it. TBD.
The next step is tying a four-color warp onto the white one. Here it is last night, just before bedtime.
Here it is this morning, at first light. Tencel & cotton.
In the Department of Books, I just finished reading James Salter's 2013 novel, All That Is.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
On the lime green warp, I was able to weave up to the bitter end. Here is a view behind the heddles. Can't make a shed if you get any closer than that!! There is just enough warp left in front to tie onto. More about the new warp later.
I usually warp back to front, which means that the end loops are free to slide around on the warp apron stick when the tension is released, so I add artist's tape around the stick to stabilize the old warp during the tieing on.
Meanwhile, I'm seeing stripes everywhere today, both indoors...
...and out.
The three scarves were cut off, washed & ironed. The tencel yarns have a beautiful drape.
I opted for a plain fringe to showcase the yarn, and left it rather short. This had the added advantage of letting me eke out three scarves from the 6-yard warp.
I used floating selvedges.
Interesting to note: the broken twill is less drapey than the straight twill. That figures, as the floats are longer for straight twill (maxfloat3) than for broken twill (maxfloat2).
In the Department of Books, I have just finished reading Nights of Plague by Orhan Pamuk. A little bit of sly humor, a lot of political satire, and a compelling evocation of life and death on a fictional Mediterranean island during an outbreak of you know what. Heavy going at times but worth it.
I'll start with the drama: the Christmas cactus, gift of a friend three years ago, has put out its first bloom of the year. There may or may not be another. That's it, one blossom a year, and nowhere near Christmas. I love it. She looks like a little dancer twirling in her red dress.
Another scarf on the green warp, this time with purple weft. This view was in daylight.
Here's scarf number three on the same green warp, photographed by artificial light. The weft is mauve.
A walk this morning in slightly drizzly conditions. The enormous forsythia hedge near the Student Center is <<<almost>>> in bloom. Maybe another day will do it. This is a breathtaking sight.
Of course these little fellows are not bashful at all. They're all over the place. How about that orange and white vibe.
The wildlife at the lake are quite tame. The heron is fearless and allows me to get pretty close.