Beaming Double Weave
- By Karen
- February 26, 2019
- 4 Comments
This is double weave on twelve shafts. One layer is the gorgeous lapis lazuli blue. The other layer is neutral almond for contrast. I am spreading and beaming this 6/2 Tuna wool warp with two sets of lease sticks—one set for each layer/color.
When you have two sets of lease sticks, though, it is a serious challenge to get the two colors to alternate correctly as you move the end loops to a separate stick. The ends on the stick are then transferred to the back tie-on bar. I did breathe a sigh of relief when everything was finally lined up and in order.
And I’m reminded again how beautiful a beamed warp is. It’s worth the challenges.
That beautifully ordered wool on the back tie-on bar, now hidden from view, is an essential element for quality handwoven cloth. Kindness is that way. It’s a core trait deep in one’s character that is revealed in interactions with others. Kindness makes you beautiful. It’s not something you try to be. It’s something we wear. It’s our inner being dressed in the character of Christ.
May you be dressed in kindness.
Affectionately yours,
Karen
4 Comments
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Weaving Rhythm Awakening
- By Karen
- January 29, 2019
- 18 Comments
All the looms are bare right now. Four empty, quiet looms. But they won’t be quiet for long. I have thread/yarn and plans ready for each loom. I hear a rumbling as the looms begin to wake up. Before long, the weaving rhythm will be fully awakened in this place!
12/6 cotton rug warp in Pear and Brass for Rosepath rag rugs.
6/2 Tuna wool in Lapis Lazuli and Almond for a 12-shaft double weave blanket.
22/2 Cottolin in Sapphire and Yellow Ochre for towels.
The room is undergoing some renovations, too.
Unbleached 16/2 cotton for I-don’t-know-what-yet. But I will soon!
Book pictured is Drawloom Weaving, An introduction to warping and weaving on a drawloom by Joanne Hall.
May you see your best dreams unfold.
Happy, Happy Weaving,
Karen
18 Comments
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Debbie says:
You are gathering quite a herd of beautiful looms!
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Hi Debbie, I can’t deny it. Each one fills a purpose. However, the reality is that I can only weave on one at a time. So I think I’m done gathering looms…for now.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Hi Kelly, I am very fortunate. This really is a dream come true for me!
All the best,
Karen
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Betsy says:
Oh, look at my baby all dressed up in a drawloom! I thought you couldn’t put a drawloom on a horizontal CM loom, but I guess you found a way. Very interesting! One of these days i’d like to see that. 🙂
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Hi Betsy, Your baby is just waiting for you to come and see her! As soon as I get her all dressed and ready I’ll let you know. I’d be thrilled for you to come out!
Yours,
Karen
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Hi Nannette, It will be fun to share how each of these develop! Thanks for being interested.
All the best,
Karen
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Alice says:
You are an inspiration, my dear!!!!
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Hi Alice, Aww, you’re sweet. I’m blessed to get to do these things.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Robyn Tanchum says:
What a lucky girl you are to have so many beautiful looms! I too am a lover of Glimakras. I love their simple beauty, the way they whisper while you weave, and the ease of treadling. Can you help me with a warping question, please? Where do you put the raddle when you warp back to front? I have tried Joanne’s method of putting the raddle on the back beam, but I would prefer to rest it further toward the front, perhaps on top of the castle or even resting, clamped, to the shafts. The lease sticks would be in their usual position per Joanne’s method.
Also, I wonder if you have any tie-up tips for the original Ideal that doesn’t have the “doorway”and extra room that the Standard has. I find the tie-ups truly tough to reach. Thank you! I LOVE your blog!-
Hi Robyn, I have never used a raddle. I just pre-sley the warp ends in a reed. So I don’t have an answer for you on that one.
For the Ideal, I do most of the tie-ups from the front of the loom. It can help to set the treadles on a box so that you can have both hands free for the tie-ups. I also usually put in all the treadle cords first, and then attach the cords to the treadles. That seems to make it a little easier. I also take breaks so I don’t strain my back.
I’m so happy to have you coming here. Thanks for asking great questions!
Karen
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Shari says:
Amazing! You are the Gkimakra poster child!
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Annie says:
I am so happy to see your draw loom dreams come true, Karen. Life is good!
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Process Review: Comfy Throw With Fringe
- By Karen
- January 22, 2019
- 16 Comments
This throw has fringe. It seems appropriate for a homestyle cotton wrap. Fringe says comfortable, casual, and playful. I do not mind the time it takes to twist the threads to make this tactile edging. It’s a satifying close to a worthwhile project. After all, who can resist running their fingers through soft twisted fringes?
Reminisce with me through the start-to-finish process of making this eight-shaft undulating twill throw for my lovely daughter-in-law Lindsay.
May you have plenty of fringe benefits.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
16 Comments
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Hi Maria, Thanks! The hand and drape are just what I was hoping for.
This had a lot of weft-wise shrinkage. On the loom, 109.3 cm width x 166 cm length (43″ x 65″), not including fringe. Finished piece after wet finishing is 86 cm x 149.5 cm (34″ x 59″). That’s about 21% shrinkage in width and 10% in length. The fringe length before twisting was 20 cm (8″), and finished is 12 cm (4.75″).
All the best,
Karen
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Susan Gruen says:
Love the colors looks so soft
How did you wet finish?susan Gruen-
Hi Susan, The cotton does feel nice and soft, which I like.
I washed it in cool water on the delicate cycle, and no spin. I used Eucalan wash and included a couple Color Catcher sheets (which both turned dark blue). I squeezed water out of it with a large beach towel and then put it in the dryer on a medium heat setting, along with the beach towel. I pulled it out of the dryer while it was still a little damp.
I will tell my daughter-in-law that she can throw this in the washer and dryer without worry. It may shrink a little more, and it will be wise to use a Color Catcher for a couple more washes.
Thanks for asking,
Karen
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Marjorie says:
How big are your tie-on bundles? You are such an inspiration to me! Love your color choices!
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Hi Marjorie, I am honored that you would consider anything from my hand an inspiration for you!
I tie on in 1-inch bundles, and 1/2-inch bundles at the selvedges. These small bundles help evenly distribute the ends and make for an easy start to weaving.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Nflood says:
Thank you for your inspiration. Love to see the progress pictures.
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Hi Nflood, I’m happy to know that you enjoy seeing the weaving progress. I enjoy looking back on the whole process, too.
All the best,
Karen
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Laura says:
Like your threading hook, what brand is it?
Your throw is beautiful! Thanks for all your inspiration. Where to you find the time?!-
Hi Laura, I use the Vavstuga Reed Hook. It fits really well in my hand. You can get it at Vavstuga.com.
I’m glad you like the throw. I tried wrapping up in it, and I like it, too! 🙂
Where do I find the time? Haha, I never feel like I spend enough time at the loom. I always wish I had more time for this!
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Maggie Ackerman says:
This really beautiful. I love the colors. I noticed you had 2 knots in your twisted fringe. Could you tell me why?
Maggie-
Hi Maggie, You asked a great question!
I tie a preliminary knot on each group of fringe ends first. I do it for two reasons – 1. It’s easier for the alligator clip of the fringe twister to grasp a small knot than a group of threads. 2. After wet finishing I cut off the knot, which has all the fuzzy ends from going through the washer and dryer. And I’m left with clean-cut ends. I have a video about using the fringe twister that explains it a little more: How to Use a Fringe Twister. It’s part of this post – Quiet Friday: Cotton Scarves. And here’s another post about twisting fringe – Tools Day: Fringe Twister.
And one happy coincidence – Today, I happen to be wearing the cotton scarf that’s in the video.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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This throw is gorgeous! I love the color and drape. Wow! It looks like the way you tie on to the loom allows you to get started weaving right away.
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Hi Alice, You make me smile with your enthusiasm!
Yes, two things make it easy to start weaving the warp right off. 1. Tie small bundles, as mentioned earlier. 2. Tie on a leveling string. This is really the magic. You can read about it in this post – Tools Day: Leveling String .
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Hemstitching Thread
- By Karen
- January 15, 2019
- 6 Comments
Hemstitching gives a secure and pretty edge for the fringe on this cotton throw. At the beginning of the throw, I measure out a length of the weft thread for the stitching. And now, at the end, I roll off enough thread from the shuttle’s quill to use for the final hemstitching.
I’m always afraid of cutting the length of thread too short. So, I measure off four times the width of the warp, with a pinch extra just in case. That’s too long, and I know it. But I do it anyway. And then, I have a very long thread to pull through every stitch, with the tangles and knots that go with it.
In trying to be perfect, I miss perfection by a long shot. If I measure out more than enough of my own goodness, surely I’ll have plenty to enter heaven, right? But the perfection of heaven requires perfection. It’s impossible for me to be good enough, smart enough, or successful enough to reach perfection. Heaven is for the imperfect. We, the imperfect, enter heaven’s perfection by trusting in the only perfect one, Jesus Christ. His goodness, measured out for us, is precisely enough.
May you know when enough is enough.
Happy weaving,
Karen
6 Comments
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Joyce Lowder says:
Great analogy between perfection here and in heaven…and about recognition that getting into heaven required the death of Jesus. Beautiful weaving and instructions, also! Thanks and God Bless! 🙂
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Linda Cornell says:
Amen and Amen! I also measure out way too much thread for hemstitching…knots and all!
May God Bless you!
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Ruth Salmons says:
Thank you for sharing what Christ is to you – and wants to be to all of us!
And, my perfection is not perfection either – and I always measure out “4 times plus a pinch”. LOL-
Hi Ruth, As hard as we try, perfection is out of reach. You do that, too? I feel better already. Haha
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Weaving History Carries Memories – Year in Review Video
- By Karen
- January 8, 2019
- 8 Comments
Transition. Changes. Adventure into the unknown. That describes 2018 for Steve and me. When I review my weaving history for the year, everything on the loom is attached to a memory. Like an old song that awakens our thoughts to past experiences, the Lizard tapestry certainly sparks in me revived memories of our transition season and the moving of looms. See Quiet Friday: Tapestry in Transition.
Steve unscrews a bolster that holds one side of the warp beam so I can remove the warp beam.
I began 2018 with a plan to weave coordinated fabrics for our Texas hill country home—towels, upholstery for bar stools, and placemats, explained in this post: Harmonized Weaving for the New Year. Accomplished! I also committed to weaving a gift for each of my three daughters (daughter and two son’s wives), as described in this post: Weaving a Gift. Accomplished two out of three! The final gift is nearing halfway on the loom right now.
Cotton throw has hemstitching at the beginning. The ends will be twisted for fringe when it’s taken from the loom.
Eight-shaft twill in an undulating pattern. Single-shuttle weaving gets me off to a fast start for 2019.
2019 is a continuation of transition, changes, and adventure, as we tiptoe into this retirement chapter. A drawloom is in the forecast, as well as some travel tapestry weaving, and more rag rugs, towels, scarves, and throws. And anything else we can think up. It’s going to be a good year! Thank you for coming along. I’m grateful to have you as a friend.
May you have much to look forward to.
Blessings to you,
Karen
8 Comments
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Beth Mullins says:
You’ve had an exciting and productive year. Wishing you all the best in 2019 and beyond.
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Diane Leblanc says:
I look forward to each post. I have had my loom for 38 years and it is retirement that finally gave me the time to weave and learn as I have always wished for. I am learning so many things I am inspired by weavers in my guild into their 80’s who are still weaving and learning. I wish us both a good weaving year in 2019
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Hi Diane, It is wonderful to have fellow weavers like you on this journey with me. Learning new things is one thing I look forward to in 2019!
Happy weaving,
Karen
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ellen santana says:
well i’m real happy to have you too. i did that undulating twill in wool a couple of times and it shrank like crazy. do you find that in cotton also? happy new year to you and your husband. ellen
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Hi Ellen, It’s good to hear from you!
I haven’t done undulating twill in cotton before, so we shall see about the shrinkage. I’ll be sure to mention it when I take measurements after washing.
Blessed new year to you,
Karen
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Hi Nannette, It’s a treat to get to share what I do and think with friends like you.
All the best,
Karen
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Copyright © 2019
So much more to learn.
Thank you for showing the way.
Nannette
Off topic… My goal today is to post photos of the Wasaukee February 15, 2019 snow fall that the fuel truck had to deliver to. And my Yooper husband played in. Thank you for the the intense color of your post. White on white is nice in small doses.
Hi Nannette, I’m glad to add some color to the beautiful white on white that you’ve experienced.
All the best,
Karen
Beautiful! What are you making? And, what is on the back beam? It looks white and the beam looks wider. Your posts are inspiring in so many way. Thank you
H Elaine, Thank you!
You may be referring to the aluminum beam cover I have on the back beam (I have one on the breast beam, too). It protects the wood from getting grooves in it from the beam cords that run over it while beaming the warp. It’s a normal-size back beam, but I can see how the aluminum cover makes it look wider.
I’m making a small wool blanket.
Happy weaving,
Karen