Second scarf syndrome

It's not as bad as second sock syndrome, a knitters complaint. When beginning a new project, such as a scarf, many weavers will put on enough warp for two or more, to save time. The fun and challenge is to make the second one different from the first, even though you have the same kind of yarn, and the same threading. You can vary the treading and the colors, and get something completely different. Here is a picture of my second piece from the table runner in pastels that I showed a few posts ago. The warp is the same linen and silk blend, and the treading is mostly the same too.

This second one is clearly a wrap, based on the drape and grist. I used a very fine silk for the weft this time, instead of the relatively coarse tussah in the first one. I also wove a border in overshot near each end. I like including this clue to the pattern. You can see the relationship to the elongated shibori pattern.

I was very happy with the results of the first dye bath. The copper color bled to a silvery background that may not be apparent in this photo. But I had wanted a greener shade. And, I needed to make a tiny repair where one of the shibori knots got caught on an edge thread. So I dip dyed the scarf with the green.

Currently I have an afghan on my big loom. I am planning my next woven shibori project. Maybe I should get a start on my annual kitchen towels. Or, maybe make some bright pillows for my gray couch. This time of year gray is just gray.

Second project of 2013

This year, I am focusing on using yarn from my closet, aka stash, as inspiration for projects.
You might not be surprised to learn that I have quite a bit of yarn, in amounts large and small. Weaving is a great technique for using up smaller amounts of yarn, in combinations that can be surprising.
Pictured on this page is an untrue plaid scarf, inspired by yarn left over from a previous project. It is a rayon and silk blend, hand dyed by someone I met at the Third Coast fiber festival last September. I paired that with tsumugi silk from habu and, silk stainless steel, also from habu. I have been wanting to try weaving with the stainless for sometime now. A young lady name Audrey Chamberlain showed me a scarf that she used it in a few weeks ago. Intriguing!

I measured the warp in an asymmetrical, but balanced pattern, using the three types of yarn in the warp. The same yarns were used in the weft, attempting to weave different sections to "square" before changing yarn. That caused the little see through windows where the stainless crosses the stainless.
The drape and texture of the finished object was a pleasant surprise. Very soft, and it has a flow to it.

Another intention for this year is to have all of my looms warped most of the time. This week is warping week. The 8 harness Jane loom has just been warped for collapse scarves in Madeline Tosh Praire. The weft will be a hand spun over twisted silk.

Rigid heddle has just been warped with stash from my closet (mountain goat from mountain colors) for a brooks bouquet scarf.

Today I measured off a warp for an afghan for my my living room in chrome by yarn hollow, with brocade for the weft. You might not ever see me again once I finish this one, the yarns are soooo lux. Pictures to follow. Thanks for reading.

First project of 2013

Woven Shibori

The loom is warped at 20 threads per inch, for 15 inches wide, using Lino from Handmaiden. This yarn is 65% silk, 35% linen. A teeny bit hairy. It come in hanks of 800m/100g.

The weft is a tussah silk, probably around 2500 yards per pound, two ply.

I used Honeysuckle Twill from Davidson's, page 132, for the threading. For this piece I treadled for pattern IX for a few inches, switching to XIII for the majority of the middle. I put four shots of plain weave in between pattern shots for the beginning and end 6 inches or so - and 6 shots of plain weave in the middle section. The woven length of the piece on the loom totaled about 80 inches. Finished dimensions after hemming are 13.5 inches wide by 77.5 inches long.

I used 3/2 cotton for the pull/pattern threads throughout. They left tiny holes, that I find pleasing. When I did the pulling, I pulled from one side, compressing the fabric all in one direction. I believe that may have slightly stretched the finished fabric along one edge, as it doesn't lay completely flat.

After cinching, I soaked the fabric in soda ash for 45 minutes, and then painted both sides with procion dyes. I had envisioned a blue and gray coloring - in very muted and subtle tones. However, when I looked at my dye collection I was dismayed to find no black. Only red, yellow, blue. Yes, I know how to mix these primaries to get a wide variety of colors - but my heart was set on shades of gray. Switching to a different vision, I worked with more of a Spring theme for the colors, painting both sides with a variety of blues, reds, and greens.

The hand of the fabric is crisp. It could be worn as a scarf with attitude, but I think it really wants to be a table runner. Or, could become some lovely pillows.

I have more warp left. The next one will be woven with a very fine silk thread. I have added in a border of overshot for the ends in A1 silk from Habu. Nothing to see yet - so no pictures.

Funny little rugs

Two of my daughters have asked for rugs. Small, like for a bathroom or tiny kitchen. I wanted to do something with diversified plain weave, as it is a nice sturdy structure. Here is a photo of the very beginning of rug one, on the loom. The yarns are Provence and Sprout, both from Classic Elite. This weave structure calls for a dark heavy warp, plus a light, light weight warp. This is woven with a dark lightweight weft and a light, heavy weight weft. This combination creates solid forms. My weaving looks nothing like what I expected, though I really like it. 22 inches to go. Then I get to try a different pattern and color combo.

Woodland Weaver Woven Shibori Workshop

I had great fun with some of the Woodland Weavers a few weekends ago. We met in a fire station. Spent the morning weaving on rigid heddle looms, with supplemental Shibori wefts. They served a delicious lunch. It had been so long since I had sloppy joes, I couldn't quite remember how to eat them. I managed though, and greatly enjoyed it.
In the afternoon we began pulling threads and dying the samples. There were some challenging moments. I found holes in the bottom of my steamer pot. No worries, one of the weavers has brought an extra, just in case. Then we blew a fuse and the water stopped heating. Again, no worries. One of the weavers found the fuse box and we were back in business. See, weavers are like that. Prepared for anything.
Here are just a few pictures of the samples they made. Aren't they pretty?

Put some hemp on that baby!

My trip to Santa Fe have me lots of train, plane, and bar knitting time. Enough to just about finish this cute little baby sweater: Elegant Empire from Lana Knits. I used the yarn "Hempton" a blend of 30% hemp, 30% modal, and 40% cotton. Made in Italy. It comes in some beautiful colors, this one is called cypress. As I was working with this yarn I noticed the luxurious feel and drape. Now I really want a summer sweater for myself made from this yarn. This baby sweater took two and a half balls for the 6 month size. At a cost of 7.25 per ball, that is a pretty reasonable cost for a baby sweater. You could machine wash and dry this sturdy yarn, but why would you ever do that to a hand knit? Nice to know that if the recipient ever does toss it in the machine, it will survive!

The Land of Entrapment

My youngest and I recently took a trip to Santa Fe, NM. I had been there before, a few times. It is indeed a magical place, one that calls you back.

We did all the things that we McRays do on Mom-Daughter trips. We bought ourselves some cowboy boots. We went out dancing. Walked home from the bar in the middle of the night. Visited some East Lansing friends. Ate very well. Saw a ton of art, some of it great. Took a cooking class.

The stand out experience for me was our hike to the "White Place", so dubbed by Georgia O'Keefe. This is a grouping of white cliffs near the little town of Abiquiu. It is not well known. It is all on private land owned by a Mosque. There are some small discreet signs that make it clear you are welcome to be there.
On leaving your car, you begin to walk toward some tall white cliffs. From there you enter a huge canyon of white. Continuing down the river bed trail, the canyon narrows until you come to the end and find yourself completely enveloped with smooth, white, rolling rock walls. We were there in the late afternoon, and the light was quite dramatic. Not wanting to be there in the dark, once the sun dipped behind the west wall, I hurried us out of there. My one regret from our magic week.