Weaving a Personal Logo
- By Karen
- August 20, 2019
- 5 Comments
This logo goes back to at least 1982. It is on the underside of a bowl I made that year in my one-and-only pottery class. kmi for Karen Marie Isenhower. This personal logo will be woven into my upcoming pictorial tapestry. I know how I want the image to look, but it’s not easy to weave it successfully. I am practicing on a sample warp.
I am starting with the little cartoon that I used when I wove the Lizard tapestry last year (see Quiet Friday: Lizard Tapestry), thinking I can improve in the weaving of it.
Nope. It’s not any better. I am redrawing the cartoon to spread the letters out further.
Nope. Now, the letters are too spread out.
Finally, I reach a happy medium.
Yes. This attempt is successful. Now I am ready to weave my personal stamp into the new tapestry project.
You were made on purpose for a purpose. When the Grand Weaver created you He started a masterpiece with your initials on it. He develops the cartoon and lays out the colorful butterflies of yarn, with your personal logo in mind. Finish what He started. It takes a lifetime. In the end, my personal logo, never quite perfect, will diminish. And His royal insignia, embroidered in threads of gold, becomes the label on my life’s tapestry.
May you see your great value.
With you,
Karen
5 Comments
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Tried and True: Five Reasons Sampling Makes Sense
- By Karen
- August 13, 2019
- 12 Comments
Why sample? It means using more warp and weft. And it means waiting longer to start to the “real” project. What do I gain from it, anyway? Is it a waste of resources and time?
I can’t imagine putting on a warp that didn’t have room up front for sampling. There’s more than one reason to put on sufficient warp to weave a sample. It makes perfect sense, especially if there is anything new or unfamiliar about your planned project.
Five Reasons to Add Extra Warp for Sampling
1 Space to play. I want plenty of room to play, and to practice techniques that are new to me.
2 Room to try out designs. By weaving a portion of my designs, I am able to determine what works, and what adjustments need to be made.
3 Warp for testing weft colors. Only when woven can I see the full effect of each potential weft color.
4 Time to gain a consistent beat. When I start the main project, I want to have woven enough to be able to “feel” how firmly or softly I need to move the beater.
5 The best reason of all! It’s always good to have enough warp on the loom that you can invite friends and family to enjoy some weaving time. …Before your main project is in progress.
May you give yourself room to play.
Yours truly,
Karen
12 Comments
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Joyce Lowder says:
Lovely, Karen! Your advice is well taken! Also love seeing your friends checking out the draw loom. 🙂
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Beth Mullins says:
Sample, sample, sample. I love to sample. When I need a break from big projects I’ll dress the loom with a narrow warps and play with new-to-me drafts. Great advice!
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Hi Beth, It’s rewarding to try out new things on samples. That’s where we get some of our best ideas for future projects.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
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Charlotte says:
It is lovely, visiting your Blog, today. There is a Casita gathering Feb. 12th on Lake Belton. If you and Steve could sign up, I think you would thoroughly enjoy it. We play games, at night. Have music (mostly guitars, ukuleles), enjoy potlucks. I usually spend a few minutes with Sarah in her Saori studio and then…we piddle. I can send you more information, if you think you might be free.
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Good morning Karen,
I’ve done samples in others textiles, but never considered samples in weaving. Must do. It would have been one less garage rug when weaving overshot.Thank you for your wisdom.
Nannette
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Hi Nannette, I know exactly what you mean. I have garage rugs, too. Haha.
All the best,
Karen
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Vivian says:
Ha ha ha! What a novel idea. What a delight that you invite friends and fa,ily to try your loom.
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Hi Vivian, I truly enjoy seeing others find the pleasure in weaving.
Yes, sampling advice is age-old.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Gail Pietrzyk says:
A sample also gives you an opportunity to test finishing methods–especially if you are using some unlabeled mystery yarns.
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Pictorial Tapestry Weaving
- By Karen
- June 4, 2019
- 21 Comments
Inspired by some of Joanne Hall’s exquisite large tapestries, I have been taking steps to learn her techniques. This fascinating style that is unique to Joanne enables her to weave large tapestries at a comfortable pace. My Lizard tapestry last year was a step in this direction. (See Quiet Friday: Lizard Tapestry.) One thing that the lizard taught me is how much more I need to learn. So, you can imagine my delight in having the opportunity to take a Pictorial Tapestry Weaving workshop taught by Joanne Hall last week! (Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference in Fort Worth was the setting.)
Things to remember: Don’t beat hard. Bubble the weft more. Color theory is invaluable for adding depth and intensity. Simplify the cartoon. And countless more bits of insight and instruction! I am invigorated in my pursuit to develop these tapestry skills. Expect to see a tapestry on my 120cm Glimåkra Standard in coming days.
I find myself pondering how experiences fall into place in our lives. There are times when the stepping stones seem to be set out before us, showing the way, when we don’t know exactly where we are going. The Lord knows where I am going. He knows me. And he kindly sets out the next steps. Perhaps he smiles as he sees our delight when we figure out that we are the bundles of yarn in his tapestry.
May your joy in learning never cease.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
21 Comments
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Petrina says:
Thank you for sharing this. It is so interesting.
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Hi Petrina, I’m glad you find it interesting. There’s so much to discover!
All the best,
Karen
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Beautiful! Looking forward to seeing your progress. I don’t have the patience for tapestry.
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Hi Beth, You might be surprised. In some ways it is similar to the inlay I’ve seen you do, but on a larger scale.
In any case, I’m pleased that there are so many directions we can go with yarn and threads and a loom.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Annie says:
Wow! Karen, you are always doing something amazing! Thank you for sharing the workshop since I was unable to attend any this year.
I am curious as to how you were able to bring your loom. It doesn’t look very portable.
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Hi Annie, The whole conference was a great experience. Maybe you will be able to attend next time, 2021 in San Antonio.
These Swedish looms are easy to take apart and put back together. Think of it as large Lincoln Logs. The side gables are the biggest pieces. The rest —beams, crossbars, treadles, lamms— all fit into two large duffel bags. The gables and the duffel bags fit in the back seat of our Toyota Tacoma.
Karen
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Oh my darling Karen! It is wonderful, reading your blog, this morning. En route to the Navajo Nation, our vehicle died in Albuquerque. What a story I have to share…His goodness to us…to place His people in our path…each one learning of us and needing prayer for themselves and their families. What a miraculous day He had planned.
Thank you for being YOU! Thank you for taking such grand pictures from our workshop with Joanne. It passed by us all too quickly.-
Hi Charlotte, I love the accounts of God’s faithfulness.
Glad we got to share some learning time together.
All the best,
Karen
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Betsy says:
So fun to re-live the class through your pictures! Love your lily, that came out very well. I still haven’t put the Julia back together, I want to give it new dowels, so a trip to Lowe’s is on the list.
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Hi Betsy, I’m so glad my CM loom had a sister in the room! It was fun to get to weave side-by-side with you.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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It is so uplifting to learn from your heroes. It is a well of kindness that keeps on giving. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate the breakdown of technique and you were able to make tapestry seem just a little more approachable.
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Hi Vivian, “Hero” is a good word to describe Joanne. We are fortunate that she is so willing to share her expertise.
If tapestry weaving seems more approachable, then I’ve accomplished one of my goals. Thanks!
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Joanna says:
Hi Karen, thanks for another great post. Joanne’s wildflower tapestry is a marvel. I’m wondering where she managed to find so many colors in what appears to be the same weight of yarn. Was it perhaps woven in the era of the famous Paternayan yarns (gone now and sadly missed)?
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Hi Joanna, That’s a great question about the yarn. If Joanne sees this maybe she will leave a comment.
In the workshop we used mostly 6/2 Tuna wool and 6/1 Fårö wool. We made butterflies with the equivalent of 4 strands of Tuna wool. Using several strands together introduces great ability for variety of color and shading.
I agree that Joanne’s tapestries are marvels.
Happy weaving,
Karen-
Back in the day I did a lot of needlepoint using Paternayan Persian wool yarn. The yarn came as 3 strands of 2-ply yarn and that put-up, combined with an incredible color range, enabled the stitcher to create the exact shade needed. It spoiled me. Do you know the date of JH’s wildflower tapestry?
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Joanna, I’m sure your needlepoint images were spectacular!
Joanne Hall’s Texas Wildflowers tapestry was installed the summer of 1995.
Karen
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Anonymous says:
Hi Joanna,
As Karen said, we used 2 ply Swedish wools, Tuna, 109 colors available from Glimakra. We can extend the color choices by also using the Faro yarn,an additional 74 colors, using two strands as one. I did some dyeing for the Texas Wildflowers tapestry, as it is hard to get clear pastel colors.
Joanne
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Amazing. Beautiful.
Right place. Right time. The rose path warp on my loom is exceeding my filler on some rag rugs. This technique has inspired me to weave the last rug as a tapestry in a simple design from stringers of red currants.
Always an inspiration. Always a blessing.
Thank you.
Nannette-
Hi Nannette, I would love to do some tapestry rag rugs at some point. I was thinking about that earlier this morning. Good for you!
All the best,
Karen
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Cindy says:
What a treat to open your blog for the first time since I signed up and see my little pear! I had so much to learn and Joanne stuffed as much as she could into my sponge of a brain. Not sure where it will lead, but such an intriguing path!
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Hi Cindy, Your pear deserved to be seen! It’s good to go as sponges. It will be interesting to see where all this leads!
All the best,
Karen
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Weaving Plans on Paper
- By Karen
- December 18, 2018
- 14 Comments
I doubt myself when I start weaving something. But it’s a good time to question everything. The first twenty centimeters are designated for sampling. Is this the right sett? How is the weft density? What treadling order will I use? Which weft color(s) works best?
It helps to see it on the loom. I plan on paper, and get excited when I see a ready warp on the warp beam. But nothing is settled until I’ve passed the sampling tests. The plan on paper is what I think I want. And then, unanticipated adjustments and changes are necessary at the loom. In the end, I expect the actual weaving to be better than my original plan.
More sampling of treadling patterns.
Testing weft colors.
When we think we must have what we planned, we give up a better way. We lose our way when we insist on having our way. Jesus came to us as an infant (the Christmas message), leaving his rightful heavenly position. To follow Jesus is to deny myself like he did. Some of the testing means telling myself no. In return, I gain the life I could not see on my paper plan.
May you give up some of your favorite plans.
With Advent thoughts,
Karen
14 Comments
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Beautifully said, Karen! Too often, I don’t want to deny myself, but when I follow Him, I am at peace, as I know He wishes, all the time. So there is much joy in giving up my plans. Thanks for sharing and reminding me. Thankfully, we have Him to follow, every day! His love is not measured by our standards, and it is everlasting! Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🙂
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Beautiful! Both the sample, as well as your message of encouragement. I hope to get better at letting go of my ‘paper plans’ in life.
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Hi Anneloes, I’m with you on that. Sometimes I really cherish my ‘paper plans’ and forget the Lord has a better way.
Happy letting go,
Karen
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Ruth says:
Life is what happens while we are making plans is a favorite saying of a dear friend. Your reflections on paper plans and letting go to follow Christ’s example coincide with that statement and remind me to follow Christ’s path and not my own. Blessings to you and yours as we follow the light of Christ during the coming year.
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Ruth, Your friend’s saying rings true with me. How much better to willingly let go of how we thought things should be, than to hold tightly to our ‘paper plans’ and miss the joys of living life to the fullest. What a relief that we have Christ to follow!
Blessings to you,
Karen
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Beautiful weaving. Beautiful thoughts.
Merry Christmas from the great white north.
Nannette
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Thank yo Karen for sharing. I would have liked to have seen what your paper plans look like also, as they are part of the process. Your message is just what I needed.
Alison
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Hi Alison, I don’t think I have done a post on project planning. I’ll have to do that! My paper plans hold the calculations, yarns, draft, and other details. I always have that piece of paper close at hand as I dress the loom and weave.
I’m glad to hear that you gained something from today’s words.
All the best,
Karen
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Linda says:
Your reflections are such a blessing.
Thank you and may God continue to bless you.-
Hi Linda, My reflections result from things I’m learning. I’m glad they mean something to you, too.
Christmas blessings,
Karen
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Testing Color Surprises with My Little Helper
- By Karen
- August 28, 2018
- 12 Comments
Twelve shafts and twelve treadles are all tied up. I found and fixed one threading error. And I am still making some adjustments on the tie-ups to get clean sheds. But for the most part, the Standard is ready to go! I have a week with this loom, to weave towels for my daughter. This colorful double weave looks promising.
Arrangement of the heddles on the shafts give a clue to the three blocks in this twelve-shaft double weave.
Testing weft colors and patterns with granddaughter Lucia by my side.
Two-year-old Lucia helps manage the shuttles.
Design decisions for the towels will be made based on this beginning sample.
It’s surprising to see the array of colors produced by only four shades of cottolin thread.
When the loom is properly dressed and prepared, the weaving is delightful. Every pick of color is a pleasant surprise. Our Father knows our needs. He is the loom dresser. Everything is set up for the threads to make gorgeous cloth. Do we think prayer is all about asking God our Father for things? Yes, he does invite us to ask for the things we need. But let’s start with admiring his ways and works, with a heart of gratitude. Then, with the threads he puts in our hands, the future looks promising!
May your looms be ready for weaving.
Happy weaving,
Karen
12 Comments
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When God blesses us with variables your loom demonstrates I believe He not only wants to meet our needs but wants to bring joy to our souls. Some people weave tabby with their lives. Some people live their lives weaving lizards while exploring the subtle variations in the process. I believe God wants us to explore and enjoy all the good He has to offer and dresses our individual looms to do that..
Yesterday our second grandchild arrived. He is as perfect as his older sister. A day such as that makes it easy to forget all the threads that had to be re-sleighed along the way.
Blessings to all
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Hi Nannette, Congratulations on your new grandchild!
I’m grateful that God has given us so much to enjoy.
All the best,
Karen
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Laura says:
Love the pattern and colors….
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Lynette Glass says:
Can I weave something similar with four shafts? Do you have any four shaft doubleweave pattern ideas or books that you know about? I like your colors very much!
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Hi Lynette, You can certainly do double weave on four shafts. I don’t personally have much information on the topic, though. I do know that Jennifer Moore is known for her work in double weave and has a book and video about it, as well as workshops that she teaches.
I chose colors that were not in my usual palette, and I’m pleasantly surprised at how much I like them.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Susie redman says:
This looks stunning – the colours are so complementary. Are you managing this double weave on only one back beam?
Susie-
Hi Susie, I have only one back beam, and I don’t know the first thing about weaving with a second back beam. Is double weave like this something for which a second back beam is useful?
Thanks!
Karen-
Susie says:
Hi Karen,
I have only experienced double weave on a table loom and it was fitted with a second beam – one for each layer. My own loom is a Glimakra Standard too and I’m heartened to see that you can achieve double weave with one back beam. I had thought that it would be out of the question.
Many thanks,
Susie-
Hi Susie, You will have no trouble weaving double weave on your Glimakra Standard! I think this loom can do anything!
Karen
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Rebecca Neef says:
This is so beautiful and inspiring. What an adorable helper you have! I have a Glimakra Standard also, a 120cm model. Mine only came (used) with 8 shafts, although it has 12 treadles. Is yours a special model made for 12 shafts, or did you do anything special to accommodate the extra shafts? I’d sure love to be able to do some 12 shaft weaves on mine! Thanks.
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Hi Rebecca, I was surprised that my little helper would sit there as long as she did. There was a lot to keep her attention, I guess.
My loom (120cm) also came with 8 shafts. I wrote to Glimåkra USA and told them I wanted to upgrade to 12 shafts and they listed all the parts I would need to do that, and then I ordered the parts.
I don’t expect that I’ll use 12 shafts very often, but it’s nice to have them for a few special projects.
Happy weaving,
Karen
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Copyright © 2019
What a neat logo, it looks great!
Hi, Elisabeth, Thank you!
Karen
It’s fantastic!! I hope you’re able to figure out how to include your logo in all of your weavings.
Hi Beth, Hmmm, that’s a pretty big challenge. I’ll have to think about that. I do have the logo wood-burned into all my shuttles and other wooden tools.
Thank you,
Karen
Nice.
It is so easy to forget we are indeed artists because what we do is part of our life’s breath.
The logo is a reminder of the blessing.
Nannette