Ten Centimeters of Tapestry
- By Karen
- June 1, 2018
- 6 Comments
Slow weaving is even slower when a full week goes by since you last touched the loom. If only I could sit here and do this every day, hours at a time. But other responsibilities…and other looms call for my attention.
First ten centimeters of the tapestry is complete. Plastic baskets hold the wool yarn beside the loom, sorted by color and value.
Color blending is achieved by combining various colors and weights of wool yarn.
We don’t see much of the main subject yet. I am intensely eager to see a distinguishable image. I suspect you may be eager to see it, as well. But I know it’s coming, so I gladly pursue this adventure, one row at a time.
Elements of shading and texture in the beginning background of the four-shaft tapestry.
Tapestry is being woven from the side. So, this is the direction the tapestry will hang.
Gladly. We need strength beyond ourselves to endure and be patient—with gladness. Endurance and patience with a glad attitude is an indicator of maturity. Strength for endurance is one of the treasures that God supplies when we ask. And he reminds us that he sees the completed picture. And that it’s worth the pursuit. Aren’t you glad?
May you find patience for waiting.
Gladly weaving,
Karen
6 Comments
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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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What to Do about Weaving Errors
- By Karen
- January 23, 2018
- 10 Comments
I’ve been waiting for a bright sunshiny day to thoroughly examine this tightly-woven linen satin dräll fabric. Today is perfect. Fixing errors must be done before the fabric is washed, when the weave will become even tighter. I am looking for unwanted floats where the shuttle skipped threads, and for loops at the selvedges.
In my examination I did find an errant float and a few small selvedge loops. Let’s get started.
Tools:
- Blunt-tip needle. Sharp needle tip has been sanded to a rounded tip.
- Thread. Use the same weft or warp thread that is in the area needing repair.
- Good lighting. If the fabric has a complex structure, good lighting is essential.
- Magnification. I take a photo on my iPhone, and then zoom in to see the minute details.
How to Mend Skipped Threads:
1 Locate the error. Here is a long weft float.
2 Thread the blunt-tip needle with a length of the same thread as the float.
3 Following the exact under-over pattern of the weave, start one inch before the float and needle-weave toward the float. I lay my iPhone nearby, with the magnified iPhone photo clearly showing the weave pattern.
4 Needle-weave the correct path of the thread through the float area. Continue needle-weaving along the same thread pathway, going one inch beyond the float.
5 Check the front and back of the fabric to see if your stitches match the correct pattern of the weave.
6 When you are certain that the float thread has been accurately replaced, clip the float and remove it (or, leave it and trim it after washing). Leave two-inch tails on the replacement thread, and trim after wet finishing. (I leave the replacement tails so I can find and check the repair after it is washed. This also allows for shrinkage before trimming.)
How to Fix a Small Selvedge Loop
1 Locate the loop.
2 Using the blunt-tip needle, gently ease the excess thread to spread over four or five stitches inside the selvedge.
3 The thread that has been eased in (just above the needle) will completely smooth out in wet finishing.
What skipped threads and loops would be found if I were examined this closely? Would I leave them and hope no one notices? Or, would I allow re-weaving and cutting away? A negative attitude is replaced with a thread of thankfulness. A loop of complaining is eased back in. The result is joy. A thankful heart knows joy. When the fabric is washed, the errant floats and loops are gone. What remains is the woven fabric with lustrous threads of joy.
May you have a bright sunshiny day.
With you,
Karen
10 Comments
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Re-weaving and cutting away in life – what a great analogy.
I am fascinated by your snips (scissors). Are they surgical snips? Those curved blades! I’d love a pair of my own.
Here’s to a day full of joy!
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Hi Beth, Finding those personal flaws can be a little painful for me, but putting in a better thread is worth it.
These snips with curved tips work great! I found them at a vendor at the quilt festival in Houston a few years ago. I picked up another similar pair at a needlework shop a couple years ago.
Joy to you!
Karen
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Annie Lancaster says:
Good morning, Karen! I loved your analogy! The lazy part of me would think no one might notice because change is difficult. But then the good Catholic guilt takes over and I must do something about myself!
The same with corrections in my weaving. My first thought is will anyone really see that? But I can’t unsee it, so it must get fixed!
One thing I never knew though, was that the loopy selvedges could be corrected. Thank you for sharing this technique, Karen. I am always eager to learn how to improve and correct, though I sometimes have to do a bit of self talk first!
Enjoy the sun today.
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Hi Annie, The wonderful thing about grace is that someone greater than us does the fixing. He can see clearly what needs to be done.
You are right about not being able to unsee a flaw. If there is something I can do about it, I will. If it can’t be fixed, then, I will chalk it up to the reality of being handmade.
The loop I showed here would probably correct itself in the wash, but it wasn’t hard to ease in the thread, so I did.
Happy to have another day with sunlight!
Karen
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Mary Still says:
Beautiful piece and I like what you say at the end! Bless You!
Mary-
Hi Mary, It’s a true pleasure to have you drop in with such kind words.
All the best,
Karen
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Linda Cornell says:
You are a gifted writer as well as weaver. Thank you for sharing both!
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Hi Linda, It feels like a privilege to me to be able to weave and write and have someone like you show interest. Thank you!
All the best,
Karen
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Marion Darlington says:
Life is but a Weaving” (the Tapestry Poem)
“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has plannedHe knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.… as quoted by Corrie ten Boom
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Awaken the Empty Looms
- By Karen
- January 16, 2018
- 6 Comments
The transformation of looms has begun! One by one, three empty looms are awakened from their rest. Two of three warps have been wound, and I have started dressing one of the looms. Soon, all three looms will be active as I weave coordinating textiles for our Texas hill country home.
Cotton and linen threads for the planned coordinating textiles.
Warp beam is clothed with a narrow-striped warp. A separate warp chain for each color and two sets of lease sticks make the beaming process a little tricky.
This loom at our hill country home has a warp designated for placemats. Color-and-weave effects will take the simple two-treadle plain weave up a notch, starting with the warp stripes. Is there anything as inviting as stripes on the warp beam? The loom that was bare now holds great promise.
Threading the loom happens in the brightest corner of the house.
Warp stripes form the base of interesting color-and-weave effects.
Love transforms people. Someone who feels empty is given purpose and hope when they are loved. A reason for being. A start toward something meaningful. Real love is extreme. Love is defined by the ultimate giving up of self-centered motives, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. This is the extreme love that we have been given, and have been called to give. We’ve known the joy of stripes on the warp beam becoming handwoven fabric before our eyes. And we relish the thought of sharing that joy with someone else.
May you awaken empty looms.
Happy weaving,
Karen
6 Comments
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Cindy Bills says:
I’m excited to follow your journey of weaving all the coordinating textiles for your hill country home. Thanks for including us on your way!
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Hi Cindy, I’m excited about it, too! It will be fun to see it unfold.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Martha says:
One of my favorite things is to open a box of cone yarns, it is like Christmas morning. Looking forward to seeing your new weaving creations.
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Oh Martha, I’m with you! Weaving yarns are so pretty boxed up. And opening a box of them makes me tingle with excitement.
Joyfully,
Karen
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Mary says:
I am getting a malware message from my security software. Have you been hacked somehow?
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Hi Mary, Thank you for bringing this to my attention. My website was hacked a few weeks ago, but that has all been resolved. Warped for Good may have been put on a blacklist by your security software. If you can find that list, you should be able to uncheck Warped for Good. Then, you can safely return to this site, knowing that your security software will warn you if it is a problem again. I’m sorry for the hassle.
Karen
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Copyright © 2019
Karen, totally understand. Working on a plaid that takes changes often. As a newbie on the loom it is a test of patience to see the finished piece – like an expectant parent – excited and wanting the child to be born. Can’t wait to see your progress. Love the rich wools!
Hi Rachel, That’s a great comparison – the patience of expectant parents!
These wools are fun to work with. I like the feel of them in my hands.
Happy weaving,
Karen
Good morning,
My rosepath rag rug waits while the social events of May filled my days. Now it is the garden running rampant with the leap from spring to summer. … Patience. God certainly filled May with wonderful things…. baby shower, high school and college graduations, preparing for Memorial Day….
My loom is very patient.
Visually what you are sharing looks like a warm rug to be placed with honor in front of a fireplace…. I want to reach out and stroke the colors…. I look forward to your next posting of this mystery project.
Nannette
Hi Nannette, Every day is filled with choices and priorities. Patience is often part of making the best choices.
Thanks!
Karen
Hi Karen,
It is truly beautiful already.
Joanne
Hi Joanne, Thank you! I’m having the time of my life with it.
Karen