Napkins = annoying

I got some weaving done on my very first napkin (yay) but a warp thread broke before I had finished an inch of weaving (boo). So I had to spend some time figuring out how I was supposed to fix it. I got the front end right, but I couldn't figure the back end out so I just tied a knot between the new ward and the old one. So far it seems to be doing all right :P



I have some pictures to share of an exciting cooking adventure, but that can wait until another day.

Other color

The last color set for my napkins. everything is tied up and ready to weave!

Playing Catch-up

I've been horrible about updating again! I've finished the Alpaca Tartan scarf, started and finished the Easter Scarf, and have started another project. None of my finished projects are washed, but that it easy to fix!

Here is the Easter Scarf:

The warp is 50% merino wool and 50% silk in "plum" and "daffodil" The weft is handspun rabbit fur (no animals were harmed!)

This is the start of my new project. They're a set of napkins as a gift for someone. I'm making 3 sets of 4 napkins and each set will have a different color stripe. They're going to be really cool because I'm making fringe all the way around! Super nifty!

Annita Magee

My weaving class went to Annita Magee's studio on Wednesday. Annita is a weaver who is also a very good tapestry artist. She showed us a bunch of her awesome tapestries and she sells some special yarns that some of us bought to use in our tapestries.
This is Annita^
This is one of her tapestries from Norway (I believe) the writing in he corner means seven brothers if I remember correctly
This is a cute tapestry based off of a small piece of a larger famous one with a girl and a unicorn
This is what she was currently working on.

here's a close-up, you can see where the yarn has gone around the warp (white up and down) threads. You can also see how tightly packed the yarn is.

Nancy Perry's Studio

Here's a whole bunch of pictures in random order from Nancy Perry's weaving studio/home. It was VERY cool and I am so jealous of the set-up she has! She works primarily with silks. She had GORGEOUS material all over the place and I just wanted to steal it all!

This is Nancy on a spinning wheel. Since all of us got so excited over it we get to have a spinning demo on Wednesday - so maybe I'll be spinning my own yarn for my last project ;)

This is a tapestry that Nancy had made, she said she doesn't do it much anymore though. Unlike 'normal' tapestry this has a back weft and then additional weft to make the white shapes - so the back looks like a plain piece of fabric.
This is Nancy's (huge) AVL (?) loom. It's honestly just a really basic weaving computer. I tried to get a video of her weaving but it didn't turn out and won't play on anything - I have no idea why.
Here is one of Nancy's hand dyed silk scarfs. This one was a really nice yellow color called gold rush, the picture really doesn't do it justice!
My mother squealed over this one so I took some pictures for her.

She did the same thing with this one

This is another hand dyed silk scarf is emerald isle green
This is Nancy with a huge stack of her hand dyed/screen printed sewing silk.







It was a great trip and really fun to see all the cool things she does!

Sampler Progress

I got some weaving done yesterday. I started with cord weave and have started on the pebble section. There is 3 inches brown, then 3 inches orange of cord then it starts in brown for pebble.



I'll post some quilting pictures tomorrow.

ready, set...

almost go! I've gotten all the tedious stuff out of the way for the weaving set-up and I'm almost to the fun part where you actually weave!
I was also told today that the baby (aka quilt child) hasn't been born yet - so I'm hoping everything is while with both mother and child (and father of course) since the Dad, my teacher, isn't teaching his classes right now. I'm glad to have another teacher in cahoots with me ;) it makes getting news a lot easier and probably a lot less 'stalker creepy'.

Lots of News!!

Okay, I'm going to try to work through all the craziness so that it makes sense. Go-Go gadget number list!

1) weaving is going well. My green sampler is all washed and finished, waiting to be graded so that I can send it to my Grandma (she sent me her first project from her quilting class, so I'm returning the favor)


These are the colors for my NEW sampler, which is in the icky process of getting everything set up correctly. This one will be twice as wide and a little longer than the green sampler.
I'm tying onto the remnants of the last project, but since it's wider there are 60 strings on either side of the original that are longer. It's confusing and it makes my brain hurt.
2) The person who the baby quilt is for had their baby on Monday! Apparently I had a skewed time line in my brain so I am sewing like a fiend trying to get the blanket done soon. I have finished: W for Watch, T for Toothbrush, and U for Umbrella. I am working on X for X-Ray and I still have to do: Y for Yarn, and Z for Zipper. This all equals unparalleled insanity.






And of course on top of the crazy crafting I have all of my school and personal life stuff too - I think I might explode before spring break...

And Another!

I just need to wash my sampler and then it will be all done and fancy! I also need to trim the fringe so that it is even on both sides, I'm not sure if I want to do that before or after I wash it. Because me and my Mom finished our first samplers so early we get to make a second one! Our teacher doesn't want us starting the next project until after spring break. I have chosen four different weaving patterns for mine: cord weave, pebble weave, a pebble variation, and something called bed ticking which is basically what they use to make old school mattresses out of. I am making mine wider and longer to be used like a shawl. The first sampler is 10" by 36" this one is going to be 20" by 48" when it's finished. I've chosen a really nice orange and a soft muted brown that really makes the orange pop. :)

Almost Finished!

My very first weaving project is off the loom! Super duper woo-hoo! I have lots and lots of pictures and yet none of the project actually off the loom (weird I know, I got too excited). So here they are!
Here's the start, everything's tied up and I've started with plain weave. The weird colored stuff at the bottom is called 'header' and it's just junk that you weave in to even out all the warp threads (up and down bits) and you take it out when you're all done.Up close plain weave or tabbyTabby on the bottom and 1/3 or 1/4 twill on top ( I don't remember which it is)

Twill
Twill and (incorrect) basket weave
This is the twill and the mistake basket weave which I had to undo and re-do correctly. This is actually called double plain weave/tabby I think, I actually really like it. It makes me think of fish scales, like koi. I might want to do an experiment with that with some white and orange.

Twill and correct basket weave
twill and correct basket weave
basket weave and 2/2 twill
basket weave and 2/2 twill
basket weave and 2/2 twill
2/2 twill and herringbone
2/2 twill and herringbone. I actually quite like them next to each other like this since they are related. If you want me to get into the down and dirty of HOW they are related just let me know and I'll try to explain it.
This is so exciting! I love the wood color of the loom with the greens.
herringbone and rib
herringbone and rib
This is the last picture I have (I told you it was a lot!). I'll take some more on Wednesday and I might even post some of my mom's sampler (she cut her's off today too!)