This Beats Housework, More Show and Share

spring at ground level

We are continuing with our electron version of show and tell.  Members may not be meeting but we are certainly still very active and time spent in the studio sure beats housework.

The group participating in the "optics of weaving" course are completing earlier assignments and getting ready to work on "iridescence".  The Exploring More Group is heavily into exploring double weave.  Some members are using their "stay home" time to finally tackle projects have been put off due to other commitments and some are just enjoying a creative break.




Linda D. has one empty bobbin (stash reduction at its best) and a set of 7 towels that are a mix of cotton, linen and cotolin.  These guest towels have a textured surface and colourful patterned bands.

Linda's hand towels

Marilynn's place mats

Marilynn used what she learned from the Optics of Weaving course to create a set of coordinated place mats in twill and log cabin.  Notice how the colour changes in the warp create narrow stripes when the warp is woven as twill.

Jackie's double weave scarf

Jackie completed her double weave scarf in spite of a cranky knee.  She created narrow weft-wise bands by switching layers.  The yarns are fine merino wool.  She is looking to set up her table loom since it doesn't require any knee action. 

Ngaire's scarf

Ngaire finished her second double weave piece.  The weave structure is deflected double weave.  It is made of 2/8 orlec and 2/10 cotton.  Check out the interesting edge detail.  She added some straight twill to the edges.

We are learning that there are several different ways to approach the edges when using deflected double weave and that needs to be worked into the overall design. 

Linda W washed sample of DW

Linda W's deflected DW

Linda W is experimenting with deflected double weave and different weft yarns.  She wants a cloth that has a lot of surface effects due to differential shrinkage.  The warp is a mixture of Orlec and 2/20 wool.  The finished sample went through the washer and the dryer.
 

Sheila's blooming leaf

  Sheila's weaving in progress was show in the previous post.  Sheila decided to use a classic overshot pattern, 'blooming leaf' as the design for her deflected double weave scarf in silk.  The scarf has been wet finished but since both layers are silk there is movement and fulling but differential shrinkage is not a factor.

And last but not least Pat also tried her hand at deflected double weave using a wool and tencil combination.  The scarf was gently wet finished so there is fulling but not much shrinkage.  Pat decided to go for outrageous colours just because she had so many small cones of tencil to use up.

Pat's colourful DW scarf

Working from Home Show and Share

Blanda Blue 

Our guild is about more than the fiber arts.  It supports social connections between people with similar interests.  It is a platform on which individuals build friendships and it is a support system when people may find themselves in need.  We bond over projects, through interest groups and while working together on common problems.

Like many other organizations our guild activities have been cancelled as a result we are working from home.  That means those social opportunities to share our trials and triumphs (as they relate to our craft) have been curtailed.  So we will use this space to for an "e" version of show and tell.  Here is what some of our members are up to.

Marilyn's scarf in progress

Marilyn put a scarf length warp on her rigid heddle loom because she just needed something to do!  Don't we all these days.  The yarn is a silk blend with a 10 epi sett.  The textured plain weave will be accented with ladder ribbon at either end.

Shadow weave scarf

Pat finished her 8 harness shadow weave assignment from the Optics course.  The warp is 2/20 mercerized cotton and the weft is 2/16 bamboo.  Four colours create this deep rich purple with subtle patterning.
Rita also completed her shadow weave piece.  You can see the two colours in the fringe area.  Two very different looks.

Rita's shadow weave

Sheila is working on the Exploring More topic of double weave.  Her 16 shaft loom is set up with two colours of silk.  The green extends on the left side and the gold extends on the right.  The pattern is based on "Blooming Leaf".  Her design is unusual as most designs with this technique involve small pattern repeats not one overall pattern. Dramatic changes will occur when the cloth is wet finished.

Sheila's deflected double weave in progress

Rita has been busy cutting up old jeans and ties that she bought at a thrift shop.  She claims to have silk taste and a denim diet.  She has turned her recycled rags into a lovely and very sturdy rug. The ties had to be taken apart and cut into a long strip.  The first photo shows a close up of a "tie" vs "jeans" stripe and the second shows the rug in full.

close up of stripes

silk tastes and denim diet rug

Some projects are still in the planning phase.  Linda had to reject her first plan because her mislabelled "wool" yarn turned out to be acrylic but undaunted she has switched materials and plans to do her double weave piece with the lovely combination pictured below.  She has chosen a neutral colour pallet for a pair of deflected double weave scarves

Linda's yarns

Celebrating The Migration

gulls and fishing boat

In early March on the west coast we get to witness a great avian migration.  Flocks of tourists visit our shores on their way north.  Gulls, ducks, geese, swans and a host of smaller birds come in by air.  The seals, sea lions and orcas come by sea.  The people come by land to see them all.

Locally we celebrate this annual event by holding a Brant Festival, the Brant being a small goose that stops here to feed on the herring before heading north.

felt and drift wood village

 Our guild had planned to participate in the Brant festivities with a show and sale but due to concerns about the COVID 19 virus many of the April events have been cancelled including our event.  
Elegant Threads and More has been cancelled.  

golf towels on loom

Earlier in March, the looms in our studio were set up for two projects that were designed around the "Brant" colours.  Those colours represent the ocean (blues) and the colouring of the Brant goose including black, grey/beige combinations and white that shows as the distinct neck band on the bird.  It can be a difficult colour combination to work with but our studio group has come up with some lovely designs in subtle colouring.

weaving in progress

The projects are based on the same warp but each weaver adds their own design elements by choosing the weft yarns and the treadling order.

Unfortunately you won't be able to see the results of our labours for a while. Hopefully we will be able to schedule the event at a later date.

tea towels in Brant colours