Some Weaving, Some Travel

I have been weaving, but I have not been writing about it.  After getting back from the wedding in Texas, I had a two day turnaround and I headed to the Intermountain Weaver's Conference in Durango, Colorado.  

I have attended this conference for years.  I have been on the board (the group that does the basic planning of the conference) a couple of times (in fact, I was on the first board for the first conference).  I enjoy this conference, it's not overly expensive, we attend a 3 day workshop with national and international teachers, and there are vendors to buy great textile stuff.  Some years my workshop is better than others, but I think that is common for all conferences.  This year I tried a new thing...they had one day workshops...I took three of them.  I had lots of fun and learned some things and learned some things about teaching my students.

My room mate, we have been going together to this conference for years, was on the board this year, so I ended up being in Durango for more days than usual.  I decided to play tourist and see the sights.  I had not taken the Durango to Silverton train for 30 years, so I signed up.  This is a slow moving steam engine going up a beautiful canyon to an old mining town.  I had a great trip and the sights were great.  

Train Engine going around a curve.

I was in the last car, so I only got a few pictures of the engine.  But the chugging and the smoke was great to see.  When I washed my face in the evening, the washcloth was grey from the smoke!

Animas River

We rode up the canyon made by the Animas River...yes the river that turned yellow orange the next week because of the contaminated water spill from the old gold mine.

Contamination at the top of the river.

Just as we were leaving Silverton, you could see the contamination from the years of small amounts of the leakage from the mines.  

Mine tailings on the hill

Beautiful downtown Silverton

On the mountains behind the city showed the remains of mines.  But the town was set up for tourists...fun buildings, stuff to buy and restaurants.  I had a fun time walking around the city.

I spent the next day helping set up for the conference, then three days of classes.  

I got to work on needle felting and made a head and figure.  I did not get it put completely together, the head is separate and the body is as yet unclothed, but I was impressed that I could do a face that small and get hands with fingers.

Some of the Felt figures

I wrapped some blue roving around my figure's body, but I was amazed with how well I was able to do the face.

My second day was with Anita Mayer.  Just playing with various dye techniques.  There were several stations set up around the room and we moved from one to another.  We dyed fabric, discharged fabric, applied paints and foil.  We had lots of fun and got great ideas for adding layers of design on fabric.

All of us busy at the stations

Anita's clothing was an inspiration for our experiments

My last day was Rigid Heddle weaving with Jane Patrick.  I teach rigid heddle weaving and I decided what better way to improve my teaching than working with the master.  Jane demonstrated many of the "pick-up stick" pattern that can be done on a rigid heddle loom to give more pattern possibilities.  We have her book for reference and getting the information from her will add to my abilities in teaching it.

Spanish eyelet variations

 She had great examples of several techniques that I have trouble with and want to improve...and often they were techniques that she really enjoyed and loved showing me the possibilities.

Shawl from Schacht Newsletter

She even had the shawl I saw in the newsletter and that I have already bought the yarn to make.  I can't wait to get it on the loom and do it.

Overall I had a great time at the conference.  I met new people, enjoyed evenings of wine and talk, and arranged to go to a workshop in October.  Lots of great new ideas to try and new work to so.

A Weekend in Texas

My niece was getting married in Texas.  My Mom (Grandma) wanted to go, but couldn't travel alone.  I am no longer working, I have never been to Texas. I over booked July without noticing and I did not need to add another weekend out of town, but Mom wanted to see the wedding and I wanted Mom to see it.

I always thought of Texas as desert, hot and dry, but I was in the south of Texas and it is HOT and WET.  The temperature was about what we were at home (98 to 99 degrees) but the humidity was unbelievable.  I am used to humidity of 15-20 percent and we were in 85 percent.  I could hardly breath when I first got there.  And I am not used to feeling the air laying on my skin.  Luckily we found plenty of air conditioned rooms for Mom to relax in (and me too).


The bride looked beautiful.  Her dress was, as she put it "awesome."  Even better, I had helped fit the dress to her.  She needed the bodice shortened and I was glad I was able to do it.  We had done the dress changes a couple of months ago, before she left for Texas.  I was so happy to see how great she looked in the dress.

Here's the beautiful bride with Grandma

It was a wonderful thing to share this occasion with my sister, my niece and her family.  I also got to meet the groom's family and enjoy a great dinner and party afterword.

I'm sure the professional pictures will be much better.

The day after the wedding, we got to go to South Padre Island and play on the beach.  Mom and me got to put our feet in the Gulf of Mexico.  There was a nice breeze coming off the water, so we felt great, until we had to walk back to the parking lot...hot and humid!

Mom, Daughter and Granddaughter at the beach.

All in all, we had a great time, but we also had an adventure coming home.  

My Mom carries a little Swiss army knife in her purse and she had not flown for several years, so did not realize the problems that would cause.  I managed to get it in the checked luggage on the way down, but on the way back she put it in her carry on instead of the checked in luggage.  She knew not to put it in her purse!  I did not catch it, but TSA did.  When they took it, Mom's face showed how upset she was and they suggested that we go back to check-in to see if we could put it in the suitcase.  (This is a small airport, and there was a chance.)

Alas, it was not to be.  Mom was upset and said we had better just turn it in.  We went through the check out again, I gave the knife to another TSA agent and he saw how upset Mom was...She had bought the knife in Switzerland some fifteen years ago, and it had her name engraved on it.  He suggested that we see if the airport office had a box or envelope that we could mail it home. (Like an idiot, I did not have the phone numbers for any family still in Texas that could pick up the knife.)  

We went to the office and asked about a box or envelope.  The gentleman there said to Mom, "You must be Barbara."  The story had already got around the airport!...like I said it is a small airport.  He sent the office manager to find something, he had a business envelope and I proceeded to tape the knife securely to the side of the envelope, and tape my address to the window in the envelope.  The he told me there was not post office and they did not have stamps...I remembered a couple that I had stashed in my wallet and put them on.  All we could do is hope for the best.

When we left the office, the TSA officer that had suggested we try to mail the knife, met us and said that he would take care of getting it in the mail.  Mom was so pleased that she wanted a picture with him.  We went through check out a third time and relaxed while we waited for our flight.

Mom with TSA.

Small airports are able to be a little more personal than the big ones that handle so many people and bags.  We were lucky to have the help that we did.

I do understand the worry of people with knives on airplanes...I'm glad that TSA is there to keep us safe.  But I also understand and agree with the man in the airport office.  As he said, "I can't see an 89 year old woman running down the airplane aisle with a inch and a half knife, yelling Take me to Switzerland or I'll do your nails." 

There is, of course, a good ending to this story.  Four days after I got home, the knife came in the mail.  The envelope was crumpled and slightly torn on the back...but the knife was safe and it is back in my Mom's purse!

Mom's knife came through the mail in one piece.

Gratuitous weaving picture

I had to add a picture of the 3 shaft bound weave I've been doing.

Linen

I spent May out of the country, and June trying to get my head back in place.  I have had a hard time coming back up to speed.  
May was wonderful in the South of France.  We took classes, ate great food, traveled around the area, welcomed our kids for a couple of weeks and relaxed.

I have had a hard time coming back to earth.  I still am not sleeping well...but last night was an improvement.  My classes have started and I am enjoying teaching.  I finally got to some weaving.


I was able to get some old linen...you know...when they used to make a really great smooth linen.  This was Bernat Linen Special, about equal to a singles 20 linen (20 lea). I needed to weave some samples for exchange, and decided I could use this yarn.  I got one tube each of several colors and wanted to make a mixed stripe warp and an over twisted weft.  I decided that I could weave the samples to test the collapse, then weave a collapse scarf.  I was really thinking about a summer scarf that is light and airy. 

It turns out that the yarn is all very similar in value.

I didn't think it would make the mixed warp look that I wanted.   

I had read a blog talking about using three colors in 60%-30%-10% of colors to make a good balance, so I decided to try that with natural, blue and yellow.  I still wanted a random stripe, so I wound 10% of the ends in yellow and put them through the reed in a random stripe.  I wound 30% of the blue and added that stripe sequence to the reed, then I wound 60% in natural to fill in the remaining dents.  I know that warping front to back is not a good idea with singles linen, but it is only a 5 yard warp and I figured I could wind it slowly and all would be well.

all yarns in the reed

I didn't have that much trouble winding it on, and I liked the random stripe I had designed. Because of the trouble with the selvedges I had on the last linen warp, I used 40/2 linen for the last two ends on each side for strength, this worked very well.  

For the over-twisted weft, I used a technique that I learned in a workshop with Theo Moorman.  She used to combine yarns to make a boucle like yarn for areas of her tapestries or to blend colors for her technique.  She showed us how she twisted the yarns together as she wound them on the bobbin.  I used a single ended hand winder to add twist to my weft as I wound it on the bobbin.  

You add twist like a spindle, or walking wheel, holding the yarn at a slight angle off the tip of the spindle.

After I added the twist, I used ten rotations of the handle for each 18 inches, then I put the yarn perpendicular to the bobbin and wound the yarn on.  This method, mostly, keeps the yarn taut so it doesn't back twist.  I wet the bobbins and let them rest overnight before weaving.

I wove up the lengths for the samples I wanted to send.  I decided to send a washed and an unwashed sample to show what happened with the yarn.  There was not as much collapse as I wanted, but the samples worked out well, and I got them in on time which really made me happy.

Before and after washing

For my scarf, I decided to twist the yarn a little more on the spinning wheel.  I still counted the twists that I added...I probably varied some, I did it watching Netflix.  (It was a lot like plying a yarn, nothing interesting, just treadle and let it go on the bobbin....boring)  The scarf wove up quickly, but every so often, the yarn would double back on itself and I would have to stop and untwist it to continue.  I had no problem with breaking and I kept the tension slightly loose so that I could get an even, very open beat.

The only problem, besides the back twist, was when I wound on the cloth beam.  I usually use a length of one sided corrugated cardboard to eliminate the bumps from the tie-on knots, but my cardboard was old and too soft to do the job.

I noticed after I wound the first wrap, I got an open space in my weaving.

I actually got three of them where three knots did not get smoothed over.  One on each end and one in the middle.  Since I was planning on the weft shifting in the wash...all I could do is replace the cardboard and hope for the best.

When I finished the weaving, I decided to twist the fringe to control it and trim it off to about two and a half inches.  After the first wash, the collapse was great, but the linen felt stiff.  I used a rolling pin to flatten and soften the linen a little.  I washed it a second time, then rolled it up wet and put it in the freezer.  I had read once that freezing and putting in boiling water softened the linen.  After a night in the freezer, I dropped it in boiling water, then hung it out to dry.  It softened up a bit more and I took some pictures.

After two washes and freezing.

On the close-up, you can see the crimp and the slight shift in the weft.  I think I will throw it in a wash a couple more times to continue to soften the linen.  I am pleased with the results and now need to get some towels on the loom.

View of Gordes I took on vacation

I Emptied a Loom

I am so excited...I emptied a loom. Not just any loom but one that has been hanging over my head like the "sword of Damocles".  I started some linen towels as gifts, and was very pleased with the window pane check of gold on the natural towels.  I planned lace centers on the check and also in the windows.  It started out so well.

Nice lace and color pattern planned.

I chose some singles #10 linen and there were a few problems at the first, I had fuzzy bits that developed at the lease sticks.

I really started watching the cross.

The warp was about seven yards long and on the second towel, I started breaking the edge threads.  Not the very edge but the second or third thread in.  I spent a lot of time adding temporary warps, then when they broke, and I added the original edge thread back.  I tested several methods to keep the edges better, and wetting the warp and weft seemed to be the best.  

Dry edge, fine thread for hem, and wet edge

As you can see the wet edge and wet weft made a much better edge and the warps were breaking less.

Other things got in the way and I stopped weaving on this loom.  I think I was tired of the mess and repairing the warps.  The loom reached a sad state of affairs and became a place to put stuff.

At least I did not put anything too heavy on the warp.

The warp had been wound on the beam with cardboard so long that the warp had "crimped".

Crimped warp at the back of the loom

This week I "cracked the whip" and got myself weaving.  The first day I managed to finish one towel, it was number seven.  The second day, the second towel turned out to be just a square mat...but it will look good on my table. 

I ended up with some tension problems, which was probably part of the reason that I quit weaving and had a hard time getting back to it.  Because the lace was only on a portion of the warp width, those areas loosened up slightly and I'm afraid that my last couple of pieces will have some uneven sections once they are washed and hemmed.  I only did plain weave on the last two pieces just so that I could get them done.  

I you can see I only had inches to spare.

Anyway the towels fresh off the loom look good.  I need to repair, hem and wash them now.

I actually emptied two looms this week.  I finished the warp on the PCH loom...and I have another seven towels to repair, hem and wash.

The picture is much bluer that they really look

I really am happy with this week's work.  I probably should be ashamed, I looked up in the notes and the linen warp went on in December of 2013!  But I will not let that dampen the thrill of having it off the loom...!

All in a Day

I have been enjoying my days; reading, weaving, knitting and just enjoying the weather. 

I finally started working on some socks...It took three starts on the first one before I was happy with it and twice on the second one.  These are not anything special...I was just not getting it.  The first sock...first it was too big around my leg when I put it on, then the pattern was not working, so I let it "ripen" for some time and then finally started with a new pattern.  Actually it is a very old pattern from a book I got some twenty years ago.  I like the lace pattern and it works well with the flashy yarn. 
When I started the second sock, the stripe was only slightly off from the first sock.  I decided that the stripes should be the same on both socks or way off.  I decided on way off and restarted the second one.  The color is quite flashy, and even has glitz in it, but I think that they will be fun to wear.

I have not worked on the Swedish art weave, the family wanted to use the kitchen table and so everything was moved off.  I need to get it back on and get started again.  I think I only have enough warp for this third one, so I need to get it done.

 Today, I cleared off the Baby Wolf, so I will be able to get the linen towels done.  They are a priority for me to get done.  

The towels on the PCH loom have one more, I think, I had planned for six towels, but it looks like I will be getting a seventh.  I will probably make weave with the purple and gold again.  I found more purple in my stash, so I will be able to weave a third one in that color range.  I didn't like the orange/natural weft and I don't want to do a second one with that combination.  I guess I will see how the warp holds up.

With black weft

With purple and yellow gold weft

I finished one of the bags and got the lining in it.  I need to work on the others... I bought the supplies but need to put the time in.

This past weekend I did a warp demo at the Gem Fair.  I had a good time, I hope we get some more students at the Craft House.  I also bought some fun stuff for me...A framed butterfly...one of those beautiful blue ones, a carving of the infinity knot that I use as a logo and some  shawls to cut up for top.

The butterfly looks great on the cabinet

I got my ceramic Bottman bunny out for Easter.  It is a pot with lid and a sculpted bunny on the lid.  I had a break in the lid that I repaired a few years ago....I was so upset about the break that I didn't look at it for several years.  But now I can enjoy how beautiful it is.  She is about two inches high and the detail is wonderful.

Happy Easter

May in March

I know that it is spring, but I remember my flowering pear tree looking like this in May.

All the spring flowers are out and looking wonderful.  I do love the look of this time of year.

Flowering Pear Tree

Crocus

Daffodils

Peach Tree

I am worried that the peach tree will not have fruit it when it is blooming so early, but the tree is young (this is only the second year of fruit) so I don't mind if it is just a few.  It looks so beautiful.


I have been getting some weaving done also, but not so many pictures of that.  The second pillow top from the Swedish art weaving is off and the third is started.  I am starting with rolakan on the third and I think I have unwoven as much as I have woven.  But I want to get comfortable with this structure, it makes great vertical lines.  On the second piece, I used this technique and did diagonal lines...not such a good thing.  The lines can be just as good with a simpler technique.

I have also been cleaning out the studio.  Several layers of "I'll just put it here for now" have been put away and some of the class materials have been put away instead of just leaving them stacked up on the floor.  I am pleased to see some floor space!

And I have been filing projects away.  When I finish a project I file the project sheets and samples...or at least I used to.  Now too often, I have a sack of samples and notes.  Last night I got several typed up and filed.  I will not be doing this for every project, but the ones I might repeat or that I will use in a class need to have their information in a good place.  

I have also finished some UFO's and one I just "frogged".  If I am not enjoying it, why do it?  My husband was talking about our lives and said "I maybe have 20 years, I want to enjoy them and have fun."  I agree with him.  I am not at the spring of my life, and I need to enjoy my time, love my self and have fun.  My weaving is fun...and writing up and looking at what I have finished is fun. 

At the PCH studio, I decided to weave the towel warp that I put on.  Six towels in 10/2 pearl cotton in BRIGHT colors.  I bought a kit, and am running out of one color of yarn.  Yes, I should have followed the plan instead of making up my own design!!  The light was bad in the studio, but here is towel #3 on the cloth beam.

Colors are red and blue/green in the warp and yellow/orange and purple in the weft.  I don't know if I want these colors in my kitchen...but I'm sure I can find someone who will want them.


I got together with my sisters and we are finding ways to use up materials that we have around the house.  One of my contributions are the empty cones from weaving yarns.  We covered them for Christmas...mine were pretty simple.

But I really liked the ones we did for Easter.  I did one with eggs.

My sculptor sister made the little bird that is on the top of the tree, and I did buy the eggs for the tree, but we are buying too much new stuff!

And one with paper roses.

I was pleased with them and want to keep them up for a while, even if not everyone in the house liked them.