2nd Attempt at one weft double weave.

#10 Mercerized cotton ‘Espresso’

#10 Copper mist

#3 Gold metallic

#3 Silver metallic

This is another attempt at one weft double weave. There will be a design, but as of now I am not sure what it will be. Wish me luck.

First we wind the warp!

Then we wind it onto the loom!

Getting ready to thread the heddles.

Getting started with the actual weaving.  Notice how we have copper with silver on one layer and Espresso with gold on the other layer.

 

Had some trouble with the warp, so I had to cut off the beginning, re-establish the cross, re-thread the heddles, re-tie onto the front beam and start over.  I thought you might like to see the little samples.

UPDATE:    

As for this weave along, I am stepping away from my current project. It is on the largest wave loom (borrowed from my friend in Jacksonville, who’s parents own Gilmore Looms), and I am not sure that my living situation, as in where I weave, is conducive to this larger one. I just can’t get comfortable with it.

However, that is just the tip of the iceberg.  What is really happening is that this #10 I am using is simply too hard to see for doing a design. At the moment I can’t seem to find a reason to torture myself with continuing. After, what? 5 days or more, I have woven and unwoven so many times that I am still in the 1st 2 inches of the weave. ;-( Also, I can’t for the life of me imagine what I would do with another long thin band, as this warp is 11 foot long.


So I am going to sit this one aside, my frustration level is just toooooooo much. I will think of another project and put it on my mini, using number 3 like I did with the black, white and red piece I completed earlier in this WAL.


So for now I will be lurking for a while, thinking, thinking, thinking. I might try warp floats galore from Laverne's blog/tutorials!  Maybe I will draw for a while.

Completed one weft double weave practice piece.

Remember, this one is made entirely of left over yarn, I actually hate the colors and of course I am using my Gilmore Mini Wave loom.  I had no idea how much 'take-up' would occur, except that it would be alot with the two layers.  It is 27 warps wide, which came to 1 6/8 in. wide.  I started with a 5 ft. warp and ended up with a 27 in. long piece (without the fringe), maybe a foot or so of waste.  It isn't meant to be made into anything, at best I thought maybe a belt.  Unfortunately it is too short.  I found one little weird spot in the black side.  I am thinking it may end up being a small cell phone pouch for my tiny phone?  Maybe.

Dana's Cell Phone pouch!

Not only is the cell phone pouch completely assembled, but lined as well.  I can't believe that she just happened to have batik fabric that matched it so well.  I feel like I learn as much or more from her as she does from me in the tapestry workshop...I think it is very cute!

This is the front side.

This is the back side.

Here I just thought that you might like to see how great the fabric matched!

I guess I am going to have to start inverting some of my design work.  That way when folded it will not be upside down like the backs of my pieces are at this point.

Gotta say though, that is the only thing I don't like about them.  Yep, I am just a leeeeeetle bit proud!

Nice work Dana, we make a good team! ;-}

Keep watching I am almost done with my double weave piece.

New warp face technique!

Unfortunately, my Artfire site doesn't seem to be selling anything, so I have decided now that the 'have to' weaving are completed I can go on to do some just for the 'fun' of learning something new.

As you know, I belong to a couple of weaving groups.  I have been particularly active in the Ravelry backstrap and inkle groups  (the backstrap info translates well to my Gilmore Mini Wave Loom).  In the backstrap group we are doing a WAL, Weave-a-long.  I have been wanting to try something called 'One weft double weave'.  I did indeed complete two small pieces in the past, but quickly had to move on to something that went a little faster so that I could finish Christmas presents.  

This 'pick-up' technique allows me to eliminate the horizontal lines in the background of my work.  I want to try for solid backgrounds.  This also allows me to have a weaving with one color on one side and another on the other side.  If you do pick-up designs they show in reverse from one side to the other.  It also produces a heavier woven structure.  A little less drape in the finished product.  Perfect for things like belts and dog collars!

For now, I am simply concentrating on a 1 1/2 inch band with no design.  This is a much slower, and laborious technique that requires all of my concentration.  It makes it easier to produce lettering and my own design work as well...once I get the hang of it anyway.  In two days I have only produced about 12 in.  Remember I don't have a day job and can devote more time that most people to my weaving.  Still taking me alot of time for this technique.  But once I get it together...watch out!

So, as usual, especially since I am participating in the WAL, I am taking alot of pictures.  Here is the start of my project.

First warping.  This is the 4 1/2 yard warp board made by Gilmore Looms.

Here I am ready to start threading the heddles.

Here I have threaded the heddles and then tied onto the front beam!

Here we have the backside of the loom all warped up and ready to go!

Here we have a side view.  As you can see I not only have to use the two existing sheds, but I have to develope two more for each 'row' of weaving.  Two for the front side and two for the bottom side.

 

Here you see the very beginning.  Notice how much wider the piece looks before you actually start weaving.  Since you only use 1/2 of the warps with each pass it becomes much narrow as you weave.  This makes getting the very beginning of the weave very difficult to keep the same width as the rest of the weaving.  I think I did O.K. though!

I will definitely post pics of my progress.  I just don't want to mess up my tension on the loom by unrolling the finished weaving for now!  So stay tuned folks.

Socks DRAFT

This one is for Dana's cell phone pouch!

As my table for my sewing machine is tied up with the Christmas tree so she will also be assembling this one herself.

Just a picture of the weaving for now!

Dana's One skein project bag!

The panels that I posted a week or so ago has been turned into a complete tote. She calls it her ‘one skein project bag’! I am sooo excited. She lined it, put pockets on the inside and even used a zipper for the closure. She is a seamstress, she even works as a supervisor in a sewing (uniform factory) facility. She is my tapestry workshop student and it seems I will be learning to sew more often! She even bought me a sewing book for Christmas.

 Wow!  I just love it!

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2012

Boy I hope this year goes better than the last one.

Just a couple of pictures of my hard won weaving's after the car accident.

The purple and blue one was done on the backstrap...too much pain. The yellow and brown one was done on the PVC pipe loom.

 Unfortunately I don't have many good pics of the loom.  The pic above gives you an idea though.  If you look closely you can see threaded rods in the frame, these are great for tensioning!  (this is the bell pull piece.)  It works but is a bit labor intensive for rotating the warp and the actual warping process is a pain.  I warp a backstrap and then wrap it around the frame, you can seem the backstrap loom bars lashed to one another at the top.  Seems to make more sense to me if I am going to make a backstrap to just use it as a backstrap.  Go figure.  But it was alot less painful on the shoulder using the pvc loom.

 BROWN AND YELLOW PIECE PIC HERE



BLUE AND PURPLE PIC HERE


I also warped up a thin red white and blue piece.  I am determined to make a belt in the 'Captain America' colors for my friend Max's son.  I wanted to with the skulls, but double weave was over kill and it wasn't quite long enough.  I was pleased just to get skulls at all since it was a failed balance double weave warp, saved by converting over to the warp face double weave.  But I digress.


RED WHITE AND BLUE PIC HERE

Wow! Can you believe it?

I received this notification in my e mail late on Wednesday!  I truely can't believe that she wants to show my work to women who have probably been weaving since childhood.  How flattering is that!  Of course I have no problem with her sharing my work!

Backstrap & Floor Loom Weaving commented on your photo.

...

From:	Facebook ... Add to Contacts
To:	Pandula Arts

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Backstrap  &  Floor Loom Weaving commented on your photo.

Backstrap  &  Floor Loom Weaving wrote:
"Marsha,  I have been looking at your blog and work -- so fantastic!  I am learning backstrap weaving but never have enough time to practice!  I work with Guatemala artisan weavers thru 'Education And More' a nonprofit organization. I am going to print off these instructions and a copy of your picture of the pink scarf and see what they can design in weaving with a heart--- is that alright with you?  I want to see if they can weave hearts into some of their weavings.  Thanks"
To see the comment thread, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?photo.php&fbid=174164219291199&set=o.105831579471792&mid=385cc80G5af347d49bb2G50af6cG9&bcode=UFQDB&n_m=pandulaarts%40yahoo.com

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

___

Dana's One skein project bag!

These are pictures of the panels that will be making up the project bag.  It will open on the long side.  I am not at all thrilled with three of these.  I had a difficult time with the warp if you notice some of the horizontal lines are way off.  And I definitely had a difficult time with centering the designs.  :-(

I can always weave some new panels if these don't work.  I guess I will have to wait until the bag is assembled to know.

Wiggles

Soooo, the only comments I got on yesterdays posting was about the little brown dog!  Just a little mutt dog but I love her.  My other dog Lacy is 12yrs. old and pretty sedentary.  Wiggles on the other hand is pretty busy. She also stays very cold.  We think she is Chihuahua, Dachshund and maybe a little Pug.  Thus a Chugeenie!  I love the way her little forehead wrinkles when she is concentrating (like a Pug) and her tail curls also.  She is long of body like the weenie dog too.  Sometimes her little face looks very Chihuahua and boy does she shiver when it is cold.  Anyway Ms. Carol bought her a couple of little outfits.  Check it out.

Just a little update!

So here we go with an update!  There are weavings that I couldn't show before Christmas because certain people were not supposed to see them.  There are also pics of yarn gifting.  Just scroll down and you will get the picture.

First, it's Wiggles, ever watchful and eternally cute!

This is the largest Gilmore Wave loom that I borrowed from KraftyMax.  Here you see it with my roommate's Christmas present on it.  She wanted a band to hang pictures of her dogs!  This one was verrrrrry long.

Here we have the first panel for a '1 skein project bag' for my weave workshop buddy.  I will make 5 of these panels, 4 for the body and 1 for the flap.  Each will be different and she wants it to open on the long side.  We decided mutually that she will assemble it so it is the way she wants it.  She is a graduate of Florida State University is how I decided on garnet with a little bit of gold.  I will post completed pics when it is indeed complete.

Now for the Christmas presents of yarn!  Here we have #10 Bamboo crochet thread.

I also received alot of cotton.  Here you see # 3 mercerized cotton crochet thread!  Lots of yummy colors.

Here we have a combination of #10 mercerized cotton crochet thread along with the #3's.  These are the best yarns for warpface weaving.  I don't have it in me to fight with hairy yarns that stick to each other and make the weaving ALOT less than enjoyable.

 

I think I am set for yarn for a little while!  I am soooooo looking forward to weaving just for the fun of it and experimenting with some new techniques.

Now for the best ever!  Here you see Crystal Pistal's custom made cotton warpface scarf.  She wanted it long and since she is in FL cotton works fabulously!  


She loves hearts and I threw in the X's and O's.  If you look close enough you might be able to see that one of the X's is made up of little x's and o's!  You might also notice that the design is only on one side!  Plain stripes on the other.  You can read more about how I discovered how to do this here!  It is my absolute best piece yet and she LOVED it!

I, unfortunately didn't take pictures of all of my completed pictures.  Somehow I simply forgot to do it. ;-{  But I am told that everything reached everyone on time and all of my family loved their gifts.  Seems to big talk was how much my weaving has changed and improved.  Merry Christmas to me.


I hope that you and yours had a lovely holiday!  Me I am actually just glad it has come and gone.  Lots of fun...lots of work and stress.  


NOW ON TO THE NEW YEAR!

Creative glitches...hate 'em!!!

Well here it is December 21st...I only have 2 small things left to weave, everything else is packaged and out the door.  Seems, as usual, that I have been thinking about Christmas for months.  Oh yeah...thaaaats right I have.  Takes a pretty long time to do all of these gifts by hand.  Not a single thing was bought for my Christmas, except the yarn to produce the pieces of course.

Just a little bit of update...since I haven't posted in over a week.

Carol went to Jacksonville about a week and a half ago...got broke down.  So I have been on my own for ten days (makes for alot of conversations with my dogs) LOL.  At that point I guess I decided mentally to take a break for all of the hub ub about Christmas.  At that point the GLITCH set in.  I should never have stopped long enough to take that breath, because since then I couldn't seem to weave anything...until yesterday. 

I want to make a cell phone pouch, (she just got a new Droid) and a one skein project bag ( she says she needs a 'small' project bag) for my weave workshop student, Dana.  So I warped up after looking at empty looms for a week...double threaded (meaning two threads in each heddle) and 75 warp ends.  On another project, which must remain a mystery due to the holiday thing, this became exactly 4 in wide.  Keep in mind alot of my yarns do not have tags on the cones.  So I have no way, most of the time, to know what size my thread is.  I think one of the ones I am currently looking at on the loom is a 20.  Very fine!  Much finer that I would choose.  Thus I only got 3 in. on this project, instead of the 4 in. I got on the other project that I warped the same way.  Bummer.  Droid won't fit in a 3 in. wide pouch, especially after the sides are stitched up.

So ALL I could do was stare at it and rethink my ideas.

SOOOOOOOOOO I loaned her one of my own pouches for her phone while I figure out what to do.  Then I warped up the small tapestry loom and thought I would make her a bag of each technique.  A weftface phone pouch and a warpface project bag.  Even though I would use my own homespun for the tapestry bag.  Turns out the roving is prettier than the yarn it produces.  First time that ever happened...not feeling the tapestry weave (weftface).  So I benched that one too.

After several days I thought that since I need to piece the warpface together to produce something larger...because it is too narrow as it stands... I would make her one project bag in panels.  Each panel will be different.  Dana only wants it to be about 6 to 8 in. wide and 12 in. long.  I figure I need at least 6, 12 in. x 3 in. wide panels.  Once they are sewn together that will produce a bag the size I need. She wants the long side to be the one that opens so we even discussed her sewing the bag together herself so that she gets exactly what she wants.

She is a huge Florida Seminoles fan as she went to college in Tallahassee, FL.  She also likes jewel tones.  I had her some over and we chose garnet and kind of a coral with gold trim.  Unfortunately the coral looks much pinker next to the garnet...hope she still likes it.  This project is definitely challenging me. 

I completed the first 12 in. band yesterday.  I did the 3d effect and it is stunning.  I think this is going to work.

I was also loaned the largest of the Gilmore Wave looms.  There is a picture of it here on the blog, it is the loom with the blue/purple warp on it.  Mine is the smaller Mini loom by the same company.  This way I can do a few larger pieces of warpface before I return it to my friend KraftyMax whose parents own Gilmore Looms.

Since we have no art stores here in Moultrie I asked Ms. Carol to also visit Joann's ETC. (much larger than a normal Joann Fabric store) in Jacksonville, FL.  I have a hard time finding mercerized cotton here so I had her spend about $40.00 there for me.  Lots of new colors to play with now.  After I complete my last 2 Christmas projects of course!  I promised Carol 2 red, white, and blue inkle bands to hang her dogs' pictures with.  She has these cut out mat boards that spell their names and the boards are red/white and blue.  Behind each letter she can place a picture of the appropriate dog, cute.  Piece of cake. 

Then I want to concentrate on trying double weave...or at least somehow figure out how to have a solid background on my warpface lifts.  No stripes or specs...it is possible that double weave is the only way to achieve this - that I have been able to understand anyway.  Remember all of the info I get is via books and internet.  The only weaving instructor around is me.  Also keep in mind that my loom is just as much table loom as inkle loom.  Not all inkle information works exactly the same way with a cloth and warp beam on the loom.  Lots of translating going on.

So No all I have to do is post pictures of these various activities.  Most of those will be posted through out the up-coming days...I realize that reading my blog is not of the UTMOST importance during the holidays.  So I will only post occasionally during the next couple of weeks.  Things will go back more to the norm after the New Year.

Hope you and yours are happy and enjoying the holidays to the fullest and in the safest ways possible. 

What's on the Loom????

I started another piece to use my loom to it's maximum capacity...and then I got a serendipitous surprise.  But let's start at the beginning.

I had tried to bring myself back into knitting and of course since I bit off on a fairly large project, and doubled stranded the yarn, I missed stitches, twisted stitches...I just have to keep reminding myself that I don't LIKE knitting.  It never has come easy to me, especially when I spent 2 yrs knitting socks for Christmas presents.  I LOVE the END result but the PROCESS stresses me immensely.  

So now I have to come up with something new.  SOOOOO...I tried to tie up a backstrap loom...another dismal failure  definitely too large a piece for a beginner like me.  I use alot of the techniques that the backstrap weavers use in their weaving's, but I prefer to do it on a rigid frame loom.  SOOOOOOO.....another dismal failure and now to avoid wasting the yarn, I wound the double stranded cotton into a huge ball.  I actually managed to save every inch.

SOOOOOO.....now what do I do?

I decided to put it on the Gilmore Mini Wave.  Since it was double stranded I decided to double strand the complimenting thread as well.

Since these are 100% cotton crochet thread in size #10, even when I maxed out the heddles on my loom, I never actually got the maximum WIDTH I wanted.  This time I did!  Four inches wide exactly.

Now for the big surprise.  I discovered that in warping this way (that is 2 threads in the same heddle treated as 1 thread), that when I do my pick ups for the design work I can pick and choose one of the other out of the heddle.  I think this is a sort of double face weave.  The results are that the front has the pick up design and the backside has horizontal stripes...with no wrong side...in other words the 'lifts' don't show on the back. They are actually hidden inside the the 2 layers.   

In some double weaves the design shows on both sides in reverse.  However, that also means that it is warped up pretty wide and then since you only use half of the threads it is much narrower when actually woven.  My width stays consistently the same.  You just don't see the reverse of the floats on the back.  This is a good thing as I don't really like seeing the back side.  If you look at the pictures previous posted on this blog of my scroll pieces you can definitely see the little dots of weft floats on the backside.  On this new piece you just see pretty stripes.  Wonderful.

Here is a taste of what is to come...

                                                 
                                                        This is the back side of the loom.

                                       Here are the stripes which will later become pick up designs!

A Christmas present for my sister!

This time I made the scrolls out of the DARK brown  instead of the light brown on the small piece.  The pieces are opposites.  

The first one (from yesterdays post) is 19 inches long before fringe.  This one is 49 inches long before fringe.  Out of a 9 1/2 foot long warp I got about 6 feet.  More waste than usual as I knew I didn't want a 9 foot table runner/scarf.  So I cut off the first piece retied onto the front beam and started again.  I have found that the thicker the fabric roll on the front beam the more difficult a time I have with my tension.  I have also discovered that unrolling the already produced fabric to look at the results of my labor will also create tension problems at times. 

Since I rarely use a chart and make up my patterns as I go...it gets a little difficult to be sure of spacing and symmetry unless I unroll back to the beginning and take a look.  Bad habit!

Anyway I almost wet my pants when I finally got to unroll this piece and look at the finished product.  All my own color choices and design factors.  

I don't think I will be doing scrolls again any time soon.  LOL

I wrote this post on Thanksgiving Day and I also posted pictures on Weavolution and Ravelry.  Later in the day, all fat and happy with turkey, I checked my mail and found the latest post from Laverne Waddington on her blog.  She has backstrap groups on each website as well!


The biggest surprise though is that she has once again, posted pictures of my work.  Click here if you want to read a very interesting and informative blog. 

Here are the pictures.