Category: Weaving

Dish Towels for Denise

I planned these dish towels for Mark’s cousin, Denise, over a year ago. It took me a long time to decide which colors would best match her wall paper. Then I spent some time planning the weaving draft, before warping the loom and weaving. The towels were woven on a 4 shafts (on an 8 shaft ashford table loom) at 20 epi and 22 ppi. I was pleased with how they turned out and delighted that Denise liked them.

Two of my favorite weaving tools..

A beautifully made and well-balanced yarn swift from Hornshaw Woodworks and a bobbin winder by Fiber Artist Supply Company. Here are the two tools in action together as I wind a bobbin from a hank of yarn. I also use the swift when direct or indirect warping from a hank of yarn. I never bother to wind the yarn into balls first unless I plan to use it for crochet instead of weaving.

Warping with the greatest of ease…

Here is a look at my homemade warping trapeze! This little diy project cost less than $10 and has been a huge help in warping the loom by myself—especially when working with very fine yarns. And it all breaks down and stores behind the studio door!

  • Two 2x2s, 6 feet long with two holes drilled into each. Sanded and finished with Howard’s Feed and Wax
  • Position 2×2 on each side inside loom frame
  • 2×2 at right side of loom
  • Insert dowel rods, 5/8 inch diameter, 4 feet long (extra length keeps them from slipping out)
  • After securing warp to back beam, drape warp over trapeze bar and add weight
  • A view from the side
  • Warp weighted over trapeze bar
  • A close-up of fishing weights. 4oz and 8oz used here; I adjust as needed based on yarn weight and size of groups.
  • As warp is wound on, move length to lower trapeze bar
  • Stores behind door!

A-tisket, a-tasket, look at my new loom basket!

I always seem to need an extra place or two while weaving to set down shuttles, scissors, etc. I ordered this long custom basket from the very talented Julie Ballard at The Suburban Pioneer.

It fits perfectly on the crossbar of the Erica loom and does exactly what I need! As a bonus, the small spinning basket from Julie’s collection hangs on the castle knob—functional and cute! Not to be left out, the blue loom bench basket is a nice addition for the weaving bench that I use with my Ashford table loom.

I added some pictures so you can see how the baskets are attached.

 

Not just another scarf

This scarf came about in a rather special way. My cousin Rene called and asked if I would make a scarf for his sister, Marcia whose dear friend, Sister Betty, passed away this year. (Apparently there was an amusing story involving Sister Betty, a black and yellow scarf, and a plumbing fixture.) I thought it would be nice to find a weaving draft with a cross pattern and when I came across one called ‘Remembrance’, I knew that had to be it. I had never done Overshot before, so it took a while to get the hang of two shuttles. (Overshot requires tabby or plainweave after each pass of the shuttle carrying the pattern yarn.). The scarf was a joy to weave. I finished and mailed it just in time for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days—I don’t know what could be more fitting!

Weaving info: The scarf was woven on 4 shafts on a Louet Erica table loom. I used 8/2 bamboo for warp (20 epi) and tabby and 5/2 bamboo for pattern. The scarf measured 8.5 inches wide and 78 inches long off the loom, and after wet finishing was 7.25 inches wide and 73 inches long (plus 6 inches twisted fringe). Fabric felt stiff off the loom, but was amazingly soft and had wonderful drape after wet finishing.