Weaverly

A Small Book

Finally got something usable from that double weave warp I've been messing with the past few weeks. It's a book cover for a handmade book. The warp (which runs sideways in these pictures) is mercerized 10/2 cotton at 40 epi, The structure is doublecloth, in which the two layers are tied at intervals. The top layer has a weft of coarse hemp in natural, and the structure of the layer is granite weave (a satin derivative). The bottom layer has a weft of blue cotton/linen in 2/2 twill. The hems are tubular double plain weave with the edges turned in and hemmed. The spine area has closely spaced picks of black weft to delineate where the spine stitching will go. The warp has double black stripes every inch or so, also to help with the stitching positions for the spine. This picture shows the top layer, which will be the outside cover of the book:

And here is the bottom layer, which will be the inside front & back covers:

Here you can see both sides of the cover, after the pages have been added:

The finished book, front cover view.

And a closeup of the outiside of the spine, showing the longstitch binding in brown waxed linen thread.

The main challenge of this project was to indicate the location of the spine stitching in the weave structure, and that was accomplished with the black warp & weft stripes. It made the actual binding process very easy!  

Life Around Here, at the Moment

The numbers are not very good this week, and getting worse. I still have a place to walk, however, and for that I am thankful. 

The sun was peeping around a corner this morning. Very coy.

In my kitchen a new tea cozy has appeared. I love hot strong black tea. This cozy was knitted of scraps of handspun. 

And in the studio, weaving is on pause while I finish some sewing projects. Here is a rather nice pocket on a pair of linen pants. It took me several false starts to get the pockets just right, so forgive me for gloating.

Thanksgiving will be quiet. I'm planning to ignore it, really. That's the best thing to do this year. Next year I'll pull out all the stops. 

Dept. of Books: just finished reading Elizabeth Taylor's "The Soul of Kindness." Very fine. She's one of my faves. Also recommended: "The Wedding Group," "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont," and "In a Summer Season."

Holding My Breath

There are no words. Well maybe one word. Patience.

Things That Make Me Happy

Goodness, but it's been a rough week and guaranteed to get rougher. But lucky me, so many things have come together to make me happy today. I thought I'd share. 

A large shipment of trees has arrived overnight and is waiting for final placement. They will help soften the lines of all the recent construction around here.

While watching the World Series, I've been plying some of my previously spun singles. This is a longwool breed of some sort. There might be enough for a small rug taken all together. Yes, lots.

On the dobby loom I continue with the double weave project. This little piece makes deep furrows. One layer is warp satin, and the other is plain weave. The stripes are quite narrow and intentionally rippled (thank you, Photoshop Elements). This one actually feels more interesting than it looks. 

And my avocado! It was dormant for several months in its little glass jar of water, and suddenly it woke up. This morning I potted it and I hope it will survive the change. I think it will. 

Last night after dinner I got out my newest sewing machine, bought just for its buttonholer, and made five perfect buttonholes in this gray linen shirt. Very happy to have finished the project. I cut the shirt out in July, but just got around to stitching it up. I think it needs a pair of wildly patterned pants to go with it. Perhaps an Indian block print. Hm-m-m.

Don't you just love it when yarns group themselves into colorways, totally unplanned? I never would have combined these on my own, but I saw them sitting on the floor next to my bobbin winder, and I thought: Yes.

Bruce is thinking stripes these days, and he caught me at the breakfast table with the morning light on my face through the Venetian blinds. So here I am, all  striped up.

Yarnies Prevail

What do you do when your loom needs repairs and you are in quarantine? Spin, of course! There's never a shortage of wool around here. I found an unidentified undyed roving, grabbed my current favorite spindle, and watched an episode of The Great British Baking Show while spinning & plying a few ounces of yarn. Very satisfying.

The tablecloth, BTW, is a gorgeous linen jacquard from fabrics-store.com. It's been washed a few times and is softening up nicely. I've made several garments from the linens I purchased from these folks this year, and I highly recommend their products and service.

Thanks to Bruce for the photo. 

Signs of the Times

Which way do we go? For all of us, new ways of thinking & hard choices.

No loom time the past few days, but always time for a few new drafts. Here's an amalgamation on 4 shafts. Adding color makes me think of restaurant tablecloths from when we used to go to restaurants. Click to enlarge.

It seems as if I am committed to making my own clothes this year. How did that happen? I don't remember. But I enjoy it.

Byways

Weaving activity is at a temporary standstill, but sewing goes on bigtime. I've developed a new relationship with linen fabric, and find that it is a joy to sew and an even bigger joy to wear.

There are new challenges to meet, such as neck gussets on this historical frontier shirt. This pattern is not for sissies!

Weaving has gone underground but is still very much alive in my head. I try to do a daily draft just to keep my skills sharp.

And of course I love my morning walks. Still avoiding the Swamp Rabbit Trail because of the crowds of (largely unmasked) bikers and walkers, but there is good opportunity for walks on the neighborhood streets. 

Just finished reading a lovely book, Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen, by Mary Norris. Hilarious and very moving.

Retrieving a UFO

This particular UFO has been sitting around for about two years. It started as a narrow cotton warp intended for using up odd half-filled bobbins of cotton yarns in the weft. I wove stripes in hit-or-miss order, whatever color came to hand, in plain weave and the occasional overshot accent. I ended up with several yards of this stuff after it came off the loom and went through the washer. Time to take it off the shelf.

First I cleaned and oiled the sewing machine. 

Then I cut the fabric into shorter pieces.

Then I sewed them together to make a wider fabric. 

And finally I cut out a simple shirt pattern. There was not much left after cutting!

I used a piece of linen for a neck facing.

The actual sewing didn't take very long. Just two pieces plus facing. 

Finished. What do you think?

Please hold the comments about my selfie technique.

 

Life in the Slow Lane

Job One for today, after the morning walk, was to clean and oil my sewing machine. This dear machine, acquired in 1972, has been a loyal workhorse and friend. I haven't looked in her innards since our move, and it was definitely time. I am embarrassed. She was full of lint and never complained.

I gave her a good brushing out and vacuuming, and a few drops of oil. I put in a new needle. Now she's so happy she almost sings!

Such a coincidence: a package of linen arrived. I zigzagged the ends and put all the pieces in the washing machine to preshrink. What gorgeousness. All ready to go.

As I now limit my weaving & sewing to 1/2 hour at a time, there is plenty of opportunity for reading on the back porch.

Just finished reading The Other Bennet Sister, by Janice Hadlow. Jane Austen fans will enjoy this reimagining of the story of Mary, the middle sister in the Bennet family, the plain, bookish, and nerdy one. The book is faithful to the spirit of the original Pride and Prejudice, but gives a contemporary twist to the Mary's character and struggles. A very satisfying read, although a bit on the longish side. I loved the sly references to P&P. 

More images of the home front—here is afternoon sun in the breakfast room:

—and of course today's stint at the loom.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and be safe.
 

Red Pants

There is a house I pass every morning, and occasionally the clothes are out on the line to dry. Today the red pants caught my eye. Now I want my own pair of red pants. I can't put that thought out of my mind! I've been working on drafting a pants pattern, but I've had to put the project on hold for various reasons. It's always good to have a "someday" project ready & waiting. That's my someday project. Red pants.