Weaverly

Emerging

The third amalgamation warp is a wrap. Samples hemmed, washed, ironed, and laid out on my cutting board for a quick photo. These are from a 16-shaft draft. Click to enlarge.

I think the next amalgamation warp will be for my 8-shaft lobby loom, but I need a few more heddles for that loom. They're on order. At least I can wind a new warp in preparation. Now here's a picture of something that can't wait:

My daffodils are emerging! Even if we have a couple of frosts, I think most of them will make it. These gals are tough.

Ketchup

Getting close to the end of this warp, I began foraging for one more weft color. I found a cone of forgotten 16/2 cotton tucked at the back of a shelf at the tippy top of my cotton stash. It looked like a an ordinary coral color on the cone, but after weaving it on the lavender warp, it took on the appearance of ketchup!

And that does it for now. I cut off the cloth, and will work on hemming this evening. Ten amalgamation samples! 

Still reading: Barbara Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China." An oldie but goodie.

Blueberry

Blueberry is what it says on the faded and curling label inside the cone of this 20-year-old weft yarn. So here is Blueberry, the last amalgamation sample of 2018 and going on to be the first sample of 2019. It's been a whirlwind of a December and I'm looking forward to clearer skies and smoother sailing in the New Year. I wish the same for all of you.

And you know the drill: click to embiggen.

Dark and Light

I wanted this versus of the amalgamation series to really stand out, so I chose a black weft for max contrast on the lavender warp. 

Mission accomplished. Then I spotted a bobbin wound with gray linen singles in the bottom of my bobbin box, and decided to give that a try. It's looking really good, but you can't really see the pattern unless you cock your head at a certain angle:

Here it is a little closer. You can see the holes from the temple along the selvedge. I'm expecting those will mostly come out in the wash. So will the reed marks. 

Now I must check my new stock of yeast for viability, as I'm responsible for the dinner rolls at Tuesday's dinner at friends'. Details, details.

The Blues

On this kind of day you get the blues. Rain, more rain, then gray skies and rain again.

Nothing for it but to weave. Even my weft is blue.

Eventually I get in the zone and forget everything but my shuttle.

As long as I don't make the mistake of listening to the news.

Into Purple

More amalgamation, another treadling variation. I'm seeing reindeer. I think it's time to take a break.

Silly Names

In the heat of designing, I tend to give silly names to new threadings, just to get that part of the job over quickly. This particular warp is named "Triple Mountains," because there are three little peaks in the design line. You don't really see any mountains in the cloth; little dumbbells maybe. So be it.

It's the third warp in my amalgamation studies. To say I'm having fun is a gross understatement. 

 

As usual, click to embiggen.

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: