Weaverly

Going in Circles

It is interesting to compare two different types of treadling for this networked design on 8 shafts. Click to enlarge.

They both have the same threading. The draft on the right is treadled as drawn in and features a 3.2.1.2 twill tieup. The treadling for the draft on the left was actually designed in the liftplan with a "ribbon" and two different twills, a 1/3 right twill and a 3/1 left twill. 

Neither one has floats longer than 3. Neither is better than the other. Which one to use is purely a personal preference. I myself prefer the one on the left as it has more contrast. 

It's also interesting to wrap each treadling or lift plan to the right to see the 8 different weaving options of this 8-shaft design. 

The screen shot is from TempoWeave software using Parallels on my Mac.

And Yet More Trio

I may be approaching the end of what I have to say about Trio. It has certainly kept me engaged. Is it really worthy of pursuing further? I sometimes think that a "system" with so many exceptions is not a good system.

On the other hand, finding new ways to use our old familiar tools without additional investments is a worthy goal. Bottom line: I had fun!

Rewarped

And yet another Trio System warp. I know it's been a while. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Yes, this is a system for working with blocks. I see them everyplace these days.

Happy Spring, y'all. I know this is an indoor picture of my Christmas Cactus this morning, but for Pete's sake it's cold out there!

 

Gremlins and Whatnot

It appears that Typepad has been down lately. Apologies. I try to resolve these issues without taking up too much weaving time, but finding a balance is challenging! The weaving goes on.

In recent weeks I've been completing a UFO and that feels good. The more of those UFO's you can stomp out the better. This one is a vest made of scraps of my handwoven fabric, and it's almost done. I have to choose a button, think hard about a buttonhole, and sew in a label. I like to stitch my labels on an old Bernina with a primitive script and just put a name and date.

In addition to arranging the scraps on a linen background, the work involves a lining and some quilting-type stitches to make sure nothing shifts around after the lining is installed. Very fiddly, but it helps to have good music and occasionally an episode of Texriles and Tea.

The time passes very quickly with textiles in the hand. Don't you agree?

Department of Books:

I have finished reading People of the Book and Memorial Days, both by Geraldine Brooks; Theory and Practice by Michelle De Kretser; Stone Yard Devotional and The Weekend by Charlotte Wood; and Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar.

I have stopped putting links on the books I've read. It seems to confuse Typepad. You can find these yourself if interested. I will never post the name of a book I absolutely hated, but please note the I don't necessarily recommend all of these equally. I do find something I like in each of them, however. And when a book is an absolute 10, I will be sure to tell you. I do come across a 10 maybe once a year. Big smiley face here.

Happy reading and happy weaving, my friends. Be well.

 

 

Sunrise and Sunset and In Between

A surprise sunrise a few days ago. That glorious peach color lasted only a few minutes, but it was worth the price of admission. 

That same day there was an equally wonderful sunset. I was a bit late snapping the shutter on this one, but trust me, it was beautiful. In the foreground is my new Norwegian cradle loom, and the horn rigid heddle is from Wizard's Cave. 

Here's an experiment with networked satin on 16 shafts created entirely in TempoWeave. The satin has a counter of 5, and the width of the liftplan template is 4. Max float is 7, which is what you'd expect with a satin on 8 shafts. The extreme spikiness of the design is a result of the relatively large size of the initial (8x8). 

_________________

Department of Books:

Finished reading The Priory by Dorothy Whipple and Lesser Ruins by Mark Haber.

Amusements

The coffee this morning was exceptionally good. Must remember to order some more marmalade.

Finished a scarf I was weaving on the RH loom. Warp and weft were both handspun wool tweed. No fancy tricks here, just good solid plain cloth. Washed and dried. It feels yummy.

Entertaining myself with creating some simple overshot drafts. Here's the one I started with, tromped as writ. Of course I wouldn't weave it that way, but this does give an idea of the general shape.

And then here is an altered version of the threading, treadled as overshot. Add tabby.

And the back.

Trio of Grays and Browns

Today is a typical cold and rainy February day for this part of the country. To reflect the mood, I've been working on a series of Trio drafts in grays and browns.

The profile drafts for the threadings and treadlings are multiples of ABABACDCDCBAB and repeat. What differentiates each from the other is the tieup. They all share the same threading, treadling, Warp color sequence, and single color weft. Four shafts.

 

 

Department of Books:

I've just finished reading Butcher's Crossing by John Williams.

Strike Up the Band

I've changed my weaving routine a little as we transition from winter to spring. I've decided to spend some time getting acquainted with my new Norwegian cradle loom, made for me by Michael Lusk. This little beauty doesn't have a finish on her yet, but I decided to put on a trial warp anyway. 

Observant viewers will notice I am using a double holed heddle here, even though a single would have sufficed. I just grabbed whatever was available. 

Here's a closeup of the band in progress.

I can weave with the loom sitting in my lap and it is quite comfortable. It also provides a handy storage space for tools and extra yarn (and for my phone!).

Meanwhile, there is a pumpkin pie in the oven. I plan to eat it tomorrow while watching the Super Bowl. And when not weaving on my cradle loom, of course.

More Trio Samples

End of Trio sample warp! Cutoff party today. High fives.

This group of four samples has all been woven on the same warp, same threading, same lift plan. The ONLY difference is the weft yarn, each one a different color.The little red thread tags indicate start of weaving, front side. The top row in the photo is front side, the bottom row is back side.

Click on the image to magnify. 

Warp red, beige, and turquoise 8/2 tercel 24 epi. Wefts: samples 1, 2, & 3 are 6/2 cotton; sample 4 is 8/2 cotton. Four shafts.

I've got another Trio warp all wound and ready for the big loom, towels maybe...if the creek don't rise (I say that a lot these days. I'm now officially making that into an acronym: ITCDR. You heard it here first!)

____________

Dept. of Books: I just finished reading Foregone by Russell Banks. 

_____________

And BTW, on another topic entirely, I just uploaded a networked twill for 16 shafts to Handweaving.net, draft #80970. Enjoy, but please give credit if you weave it. There are some pictures of this draft on my post of Jan. 10, 2025.

Happy Birthday Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was born on this day in 1882. She's my favorite author. One of the first projects I wove on my TC-1 when it was brand new is a vest with the image of Virginia on the back, and some actual text from her diaries on the front. 

Happy Birthday Virginia Woolf.

And a slight change of subject...a snapshot of the Trio system blanket on the bed this morning with a little extra sunlight peeping in. You can clearly see the mismatch of the pattern as the two halves were sewn together. I have never gotten the knack of consistent beating, but I don't let stuff like that bother me any more.