Tried and True: Color Gradation
- By Karen
- December 11, 2018
- 6 Comments
When I decided to use up some of the quills that have collected, I stumbled on one of my favorite techniques—color gradation. The weft colors change gradually instead of making distinct weft stripes. Remember the placemats on the little countermarch loom? I am weaving the last few.
Using up thread left on quills for some color gradation play.
Color and weave effects on plain weave. 8/2 cotton weft is doubled.
The quills on a double-bobbin shuttle don’t always empty at exactly the same time. The quill that has thread remaining on it goes in a box for later use. Those quills in the box are what I’m using here. For this placemat I’m letting gradient color changes happen in varying increments, according to the amount of thread left on the quill. I have five shades of 8/2 cotton, ranging from coral pink to pumpkin.
Color “sisters” play well together.
This is the perfect setup for some subtle color gradation: Five closely-related hues, a double-bobbin shuttle, and a supply of leftover quills. For best effect, I arrange the colors in order, from light to dark, or dark to light.
Color Gradation
- Weave a section with two quills of color A (the lightest color)
- Weave the next section with one quill of color A and one quill of color B (one shade darker than color A)
- Weave the next section with two quills of color B
- Weave the next section with one quill of color B and one quill of color C (one shade darker than color B)
And so on…
What could be simpler?
Pumpkin color adds a pleasing subtle accent to the corals and reds in the cloth.
May you make something beautiful with the little bits that you have.
Happy weaving,
Karen
6 Comments
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No Hurry at the Little Loom
- By Karen
- September 25, 2018
- 6 Comments
I hope you haven’t forgotten about this sweet little loom at our Texas hill country home. It is refreshing to be able to start right back up and weave another placemat. This is a breeze, even with two double-bobbin shuttles. Color and weave brings plenty of design play. Over the weekend I was able to squeeze in enough weaving time to finish one more placemat.
New placemat begins. Two red picks will become the cutting line that separates placemats.
Peaceful setting for unhurried weaving.
There is no hurry or urgency with this project. Other events, transitions, and necessities have taken precedence the last few months. It’s nice to have a ready loom that doesn’t hold a deadline. Simple two-treadle plain weave during a transitional season is a welcome respite.
Two doubled-weft picks of dark coral make a line of contrast in the color-and-weave cotton placemat.
Faith is trust. It’s the simple framework we long for when life gets complicated. Trusting the Lord is like knowing what to expect when you throw the shuttles, yet still being pleasantly surprised as you see the fabric form in front of you. His grace removes the hurry and the worry. We find his grace through faith. And isn’t that exactly the respite we need?
May you have a break from hurry and worry.
Happy weaving,
Karen
6 Comments
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Hi Lynette, I write about things I need to hear. So you and I have this in common. The Lord is so good to meet us where we are.
Love,
Karen
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There is beauty in the simple to do and the complex. In the cottage pudding and the gingerbread construction. In the purity of the weave in the dish towel and in the detail of color and stitch in the lizard tapestry. The building of a submarine and the weeding of a bean patch.
I think being able to see the beauty in our daily work is a gift from God. Of course, the occasional WOW!!! is welcome.
Blessings,
Nannette
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Hi Nannette, Thanks for the reminder to see beauty in the simple to the complex. I agree, it’s a gift from God to see it.
All the best,
Karen
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Guest Weavers
- By Karen
- May 29, 2018
- 6 Comments
We finished another placemat over the weekend. We, meaning a few guest weavers – and me. I had a small tribe of eager weavers, aged eleven to seventeen. I didn’t give beginner work to these beginners. We did what was required for this color-and-weave project on the loom—double-bobbin shuttles, two (and sometimes three) shuttles at a time, two-pick stripes, advancing the warp, placing the temple, and more. Another placemat completed, with only one broken warp end along the way. I call that a win!
Quietly watching me, and taking in the details, this young weaver grasped the essentials, and began weaving in a graceful manner. After just a few minutes, Madison told me she could do this all day. That sounds like a budding weaver to me!
Sean is an attentive listener, closely following every instruction. He happily donned the weaving apron. And the Gingher snips on a woven band were hanging around his neck, ever ready to be used.
Jenson joins in to lend his observation skills while his brother does the weaving.
Ashley is someone who takes initiative. She enjoyed the challenge of learning something new, and quickly was weaving with very little assistance.
Isn’t it delightful to share what you enjoy, and then see the spark of delight and accomplishment on a young person’s face? This is another good reason to make and keep family friends.
May you share your delights.
Love,
Karen
6 Comments
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Julia says:
It is always fun to see the eyes of new weavers light up when experiencing for the first time the magic of making cloth! I’m curious about the weaving apron – can you speak about it some more?
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Hi Julia, Yes, It is fun to see the expressions when they see magic happen at their fingertips.
The apron? You’ve given me a great idea! I will write about the weaving apron on my next Tools Day post. For now, suffice it to say that the apron protects my clothes and protects the cloth on the breast beam.
Thank you!
Karen
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Beth Mullins says:
You’re making such a positive impact in their young lives. I’m also curious about the weaving apron. Does it hold magic? 😉
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Hi Beth, I like the idea of making a positive impact on the next generation. At the same time, I find that they are making a positive impact on me, as well.
Thanks to you and Julia, I know what my next Tools Day post will be—the magical weaving apron. 😉
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Joanna says:
I volunteered to demonstrate moderately hands-on weaving on an antique rug loom at a local history museum to school classes a couple of years ago. We get kiddoes from kindergarten through fifth grade. Before the first group I had some doubts about how it was going to go. Wow! Fantastic! I think more budding weavers are on their way and I’m excited for school to start in the autumn.
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Hi Joanna, It’s always great to see young people become interested in handweaving and other handwork crafts. That sounds like a fun loom to weave on, too!
Karen
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Not the Easiest Way to Weave
- By Karen
- April 3, 2018
- 6 Comments
I considered making a matching set, but at the loom I get an inclination to explore. Hence, no two placemats are alike. A change in the weft changes everything. New colors emerge! Slate and apple green on a coral warp become periwinkle and avocado. If you look closely, though, you can still see the underlying coral and camel stripes of the warp.
Second placemat uses red and orange in the weft. These colors work with the coral in the warp to bring out a distinctive color-and-weave effect in the design.
Three double-bobbin shuttles—this is not the easiest way to weave. I am carrying the colors up the selvedge, so it gets tricky when all three shuttles end up on the same side. Nevertheless, this is the joy of weaving a challenge. How and where to set the shuttles down, and which hand picks them up—ever aiming for efficiency. Newly-formed colors and technical pursuits—this is a handweaver’s thrill of discovery!
Beginning of the third placemat shows variation in pattern and color choices. Three double bobbin shuttles put my manual dexterity to the test.
Coral and camel warp stripes form the base of the design. Pattern variations are produced by varying the number of picks per weft color.
Imagine the thrill of discovery that awaits us in heaven! Love permeates heaven. Like a narrow-striped warp, love is written into the fabric. The environment there is love, where pride and selfishness don’t exist. Blending of colorful personalities will be such as we’ve never seen. All to the glory of our Grand Weaver. And how marvelous that through Christ we’ve been given everything needed to practice that kind of love here and now. Double bobbin shuttles, and all.
May you rise to the challenge.
Love,
Karen
6 Comments
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Ruth says:
Karen,
Thanks so much for the color show this morning. It is snowing once again up north and I am so ready for spring and color. The close up of your placemat makes my heart sing! And the double bobbin shuttles with their color are beautiful. Blessings to you and yours.-
Hi Ruth, These are indeed fresh springtime colors! Hopefully, you’ll see warmer weather soon.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Liberty Stickney says:
Beautiful colors Karen! Geez, I have problems with 2 shuttles, someday I’ll make it to 3!!!
Libby-
Hi Liberty, Three shuttles is a little crazy. I may make it easier on myself for the placemats after this. I’m enjoying the colors, too!
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Elisabeth says:
I really like that they are all different but have the same warp (core). It’s almost llike human beings 🙂 They are all beautiful!
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Hi Elisabeth, I see it the same way. I think it will make an interesting set. Yes, humans are all made in the image of God. What could be more beautiful?
Thanks,
Karen
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Tools Day: Swedish Bobbin Winder
- By Karen
- March 13, 2018
- 2 Comments
There’s nothing quite like the beauty and functionality of a well-designed tool. The Swedish hand bobbin winder is one of those tools. A bobbin winder is essential. Steve made a superb electric bobbin winder for me that I normally use. But at our Texas hill country home, my Swedish bobbin winder comes into play. And it is a pleasure to use. I clamp the bobbin winder on a shelf in the cabinet where I store my few weaving supplies for this location. The tube of thread sits directly below on a simple homemade spool holder.
Swedish hand bobbin winder is set up in my supply cabinet. It is easy to remove and put away when I finish winding quills.
Narrow spindle on the bobbin winder is the size that works for winding quills.
For these color-and-weave cotton placemats, I am using double-bobbin shuttles. So, with the impressively simple Swedish hand bobbin winder I am winding matching pairs of colorful 8/2 cotton quills.
Double bobbin shuttles are handy for weaving this doubled weft color-and-weave pattern.
May you have the pleasure of working with well-designed tools.
Happy weaving,
Karen
2 Comments
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I am glad I found your blog. It visually explains how weaving should look when done right. AND—– (very important) has been kept up to date since 2013.
Thank you.-
Hi Nannette, What a kind thing for you to say! I aim to give visual explanations, so I’m happy to hear that from you.
Yes, I have been posting twice a week ever since I started in April 2013. Thank you for noticing!
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Copyright © 2019
Such a lovely way to play with color. I often transition from one color to another without a hard line by weaving 1 pick with new color, 4 picks with old color, 2 picks with new color, 3 picks with old color, 3 picks with new color, 2 picks with old color, 4 picks with new color, 1 pick with old color and transition complete. Will try your double bobbin change next time I am ready to play with colors. Blessings during this advent season, Ruth
Hi Ruth, Thanks for sharing another way to transition the colors. That’s a great way to achieve a lovely gradient.
It would be fun to do a sample piece with various ways to do color gradations. Or, that would be an interesting study group project.
Advent blessings to you,
Karen
We turned on the Spurs game the other night and I took one look at the other team’s uniform and said “gradient!” Not something you often see in a basketball uniform, lol.
Love the placemat!
Hi Betsy, That’s too funny! Who else is even going to notice such things? …unless we call it the popular name-“ombré,” meaning shaded in French.
Happy weaving,
Karen
I realized on a recent project the subtle transition between two light colours, in different tones added depth. I decided to shake up the mix and make the transitions much narrower in the next project and didn’t have as near an interesting effect. It needed large areas each for contrast.
I love your pattern too
Hi Vivian, I have noticed the same thing. The areas with a longer transition make more satisfying gradation.
Thanks for your input!
Karen