9 posts tagged “weaving”
Been babysitting a dye pot today, so not time for SPT until the sun was setting. I wove this looooong scarf-like thingy on my LeClerc Iris loom a few months back and have been putting off showing it to you sweet folks because it's really not 'perfect'. It's really more like a wall hanging or a table runner for a large table...but I felt like going turban on you, so I wrapped it around my head and viola...my SPT.
It's hot as the blazes today...and this hat just doesn't provide any shade! Ha, go figure. It's not a hat at all, but a basket that I started (and stopped) weaving months ago! I just like being silly.
Don't laugh! So, I wasn't ready to commit to drilling holes in my new/used loom until I was sure that I liked the treadles. My husband cut the wooden 1x2's and the vinyl tubing for spacers. We will eventually cut the steel rod to fit between the two front legs of the stand and use short 2x4 pieces with a hole drilled through them lengthwise to put the steel rod through and secure the 2x4 pieces to the front stand legs to keep it all secure. Actually, it doesn't really move at all right now and I haven't had any problem with the treadles being directly on the carpet. A hard floor might pose a problem, I don't know. Anyway, using the make-shift treadles sure does beat having to move the levers by hand. This is my preference, of course. Some folks like to use the hand levers. It is nice to have the choice to use either method. I might have to drill holes and reroute the cords when I warp a larger project on it, tough. Not sure if the cords will interfere with the warp threads. (Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?)
And...Remember this cool artist's tool belt that Serial Crafter of Craftster.org made for me? I tied it to my Iris loom and it is SOOOO handy to keep my bobbins, scissors, dowel rods, etc. in! It isn't in my way at all and it's just so lovely, too...makes me smile when I see it!
So, I think I'm ready to move on to a larger project. I made ten and one-half bookmarks with my first warp. Everything went well...only two broken warp threads. One while in the middle of weaving and one at 'almost' the very end of my warp. (Thus...the 1/2 bookmark.) Heh-heh. I was too lazy to fix the one warp thread, so I cut it off short instead. Too bad I was so lazy. I think it was my best one thus far.
The warp is Mercerized cotton. The weft yarns are: single-ply cotton embroidery thread, cotton sock yarn, cotton/ramie blend, wool/nylon/angora blend, cashmere, designer acrylic thread and acrylic needle punch thread.
Most all of it was recycled by me out of sweaters and a yard-sale scarf. (Including the cotton warp.) It was really fun to see the different effects made by the different wefts. I ironed everything according to their content, of course.
Here they all are with my beloved vintage Berlitz German Self-Teacher and a $20 bill for scale. Well...off to plan my next project!
We had a wonderful time last Wednesday night at Fiber Therapy as our memeber Brenda demonstrated how to weave baskets. She was so kind as to bring her basket weaving supplies and let some of us have a go at it. Check out the results! (click on photos for larger views)
Some of the group brought their reading material and knitting. It's a great place to come and hang out...even if you don't have any works in progress with you! You'll learn a lot and be able to ogle everyone else's fiber creations!
So...we have a lot of fun at our Fiber Group on Wednesday nights, ya know! Well, we asked our lovely member Brenda to teach us basket weaving! We had three interested members all weaving baskets for the first time last night. I haven't received the photos from Brenda yet, but here's MY basket! It's a Cherokee Double-Walled basket! That's right...two layers thick! It's super sturdy that way and I must say...I'm a little bit proud of it, being my first! Brenda thinks I'm a 'natural'.
What can I say...if a 5 year old in some sweat shop can do it...so can I! (Sorry...just putting my ego in check!)
Last night at dinner I opened a fortune cookie.
My husband rolled his eyes.
This morning, a generous stranger gave me this AVL Floor Loom.
Any questions?
Texas has a brand new group of Fiber Crafters meeting just on the
southern Tarrant County Line in Burleson, Texas. (Just below Fort Worth
and Arlington)
Surrounding areas are Crowley, Joshua, Keene, Cleburne, Alvarado,
Everman, Arlington, and Fort Worth just to name a few.
We are going to welcome everyone who's into any 'portable' fiber craft,
such as:
Spinning
Weaving
Knitting
Crochet
Embroidery
Cross Stitch
Tatting
Lucet
Knotting
Punch Needle
Needle Felting
Rug Hooking
Inkle Loom
Beading
Etc....
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS 7:00-10:00 p.m.
at Mountain Mudd Espresso Cafe 108 S. Main, Burleson, Tx.
(Schedule and location subject to change as we grow. Check
www.recyclemicol.vox.com for updates.)
Directions:
Take the Renfro Street Exit (on your right) off of I-35 headed
towards Waco (will be two exits past Alsbury Exit)
Turn Right at the light Go straight a few blocks and when you cross
over the Rail Road tracks, you'll see a parking lot with the cool old
buildings of Old Town Burleson on your left.
Turn Left into the parking lot and Mountain Mudd is the third or
fourth building in the strip.
There are a number of good restaurants within a block of the coffee
shop, so come and eat before if you wish. (Babe's Chicken, Bar-B-Q,
Frisco's Mexican Resaurant and an old-timey Malt Shoppe)
That's just on the southern Tarrant County Line. (Just below Fort Worth
and Arlington)
Surrounding areas are Crowley, Joshua, Keene, Cleburne, Alvarado,
Everman, Arlington, and Fort Worth just to name a few.
If you're in the area, come join us!
-RM
Who am I?
My name is Micol Day, also known as RecycleMicol. I come from a long line of artists and musicians. I enjoy creating art, crafts of all kinds, playing guitar and singing, among other things.
I have an on-line Etsy shop for your shopping pleasure.
I am a wife of 8 years, and a mother to two wonderful emo-children. (By that, I mean very dramatic and emotively driven.)
Soon, I'll create a list of all the fields of art in which I am currently skilled. The list will continue to grow, as I am continually adding to my own particular set of skills.
I am a Friend of Craftster.org. (User ID RecycleMicol) Finding inspiration for driving down new avenues of art is not hard to do when you visit this eclectic community of artists and crafters from all over the globe. I credit these artists with inspiring the most recent of my crafting epiphanies.
I Love my God, my mother and my country. I'm a believer in taking care of those who can't take care of themselves and helping those who have the ability to take care of themselves learn a trade and be successful.
I am a world-traveler in spirit, if not in flesh. My goal is to one day travel as an Ambassador of America's Arts and Crafts Revival to people in many countries, bringing back the techniques of the world's more 'endangered crafts'.
I hope you like reading my blog.
