Blog – what a clunky word. This is my first experience with blogging; I’ll not bore you with my naiveté about blogging, except to say I’m beginning it makes me feel old. When I was young I was somewhat disdainful of older people who did not “get” my rapture with the computer, even though at that time it was only a mainframe that I had to travel 30 miles to play on. They just didn’t see the point, had only read about them and were not interested in using one, if they had any idea what the use of such a piece of equipment might be. Well, thinking back to those folks, I decided that I would give blogging a try, so that my old gray head didn’t seem to be quite so ossified.
So… the two primary loves in my life at the moment (other than m
y husband and son) – goats and weaving. Here are photos taken early this morning of my three angora boys (well, they used to be boys anyways – don’t tell them that they’re not anymore). Peanut is wearing a moustache from eating white pine tree needles and bark. He gets covered with pitch and then any dirt that come
s along sticks to him. He often looks like Inspector Clouseau. Wilbur is taking a momentary break from trying to taste the camera and Sweet Bill Goat is just coming out of the barn for another big day in Bill Goat Land. Perhaps you can see in the background that snow is still hiding in the woods. We have promis
es of spring, but reminders of winter.
Next are photos of
what just came off my loom and what is being threaded currently. The first is a short three-yard warp of 16/2 Bockens linen that I wove into hand towels. I haven’t cut the towels apart and hemmed them yet, but I’m very happy with the weight, drape, and sheen of the linen. It is a 2-point twill weave in M and W threading, with a natural color warp and a royal blue weft. 
Second is my weaving guild homework for a class in double weave. I’ve warped on four yards of 8/2 cotton, one color for the top layer and a darker color for the bottom. Each layer is sett at 18 threads per inch, making for 36 thread per inch crowding into my 12 dent reed. We’ll se how that works! I’ve got instructions to weave a sampler of several double weave techniques. Some of these are as follows. To weave them as two separate layers, and then both layers together open on one selvage and closed on the other, so that when it’s taken off the loom it could open up into a double width. Another section will be the two layers exchanging places, so first the dark will be on top and then the light – it makes little crossway tubes. And then a section that is just closed on both sides so that it makes a lengthwise tube. I suspect that this is the method that was used to weave the seamless robe that Jesus wore and was cast lots for by the soldiers at his execution. After those and a couple of other techniques that I can’t at the moment remember, I’ll be weaving a pickup sample for each of the participants in the class (13 all together). Pickup is when you pick up threads to form a pattern from the bottom layer to the top layer. I’m a little nervous because this homework is due on April 15th which is, of course, tax day as well. You guessed it; I don’t have my taxes done yet. I’ll try and take more photos of this project (the weaving, not the taxes). Please pray that I manage to carve out enough time to get both done in time. Working for a living sure does get in the way of real life, although I’ll not complain too much. I’m fortunate in this economy to have a job. That’s all for today. God bless you.
So… the two primary loves in my life at the moment (other than m
y husband and son) – goats and weaving. Here are photos taken early this morning of my three angora boys (well, they used to be boys anyways – don’t tell them that they’re not anymore). Peanut is wearing a moustache from eating white pine tree needles and bark. He gets covered with pitch and then any dirt that come
s along sticks to him. He often looks like Inspector Clouseau. Wilbur is taking a momentary break from trying to taste the camera and Sweet Bill Goat is just coming out of the barn for another big day in Bill Goat Land. Perhaps you can see in the background that snow is still hiding in the woods. We have promis
es of spring, but reminders of winter.Next are photos of
what just came off my loom and what is being threaded currently. The first is a short three-yard warp of 16/2 Bockens linen that I wove into hand towels. I haven’t cut the towels apart and hemmed them yet, but I’m very happy with the weight, drape, and sheen of the linen. It is a 2-point twill weave in M and W threading, with a natural color warp and a royal blue weft. 
Second is my weaving guild homework for a class in double weave. I’ve warped on four yards of 8/2 cotton, one color for the top layer and a darker color for the bottom. Each layer is sett at 18 threads per inch, making for 36 thread per inch crowding into my 12 dent reed. We’ll se how that works! I’ve got instructions to weave a sampler of several double weave techniques. Some of these are as follows. To weave them as two separate layers, and then both layers together open on one selvage and closed on the other, so that when it’s taken off the loom it could open up into a double width. Another section will be the two layers exchanging places, so first the dark will be on top and then the light – it makes little crossway tubes. And then a section that is just closed on both sides so that it makes a lengthwise tube. I suspect that this is the method that was used to weave the seamless robe that Jesus wore and was cast lots for by the soldiers at his execution. After those and a couple of other techniques that I can’t at the moment remember, I’ll be weaving a pickup sample for each of the participants in the class (13 all together). Pickup is when you pick up threads to form a pattern from the bottom layer to the top layer. I’m a little nervous because this homework is due on April 15th which is, of course, tax day as well. You guessed it; I don’t have my taxes done yet. I’ll try and take more photos of this project (the weaving, not the taxes). Please pray that I manage to carve out enough time to get both done in time. Working for a living sure does get in the way of real life, although I’ll not complain too much. I’m fortunate in this economy to have a job. That’s all for today. God bless you.
The blue and natural hand-towells/Bockens linen project is absolutely gorgeous. Is the pattern your own design? What's its origin? Double weaving is fascinating. I look forward to seeing your progress on this ambitious project!
ReplyDeleteThanks vermonter - The pattern for the linen towels was a combination of drafts from The Handweaver's Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. It's a book for four shafts (which is all I've been blessed with)and reminds me of the Sears Wish Book from when I was a kid. I'm nowthree exercises into the double weaving project for my guild workshop and it's like magic! I'll post more photos soon. BTW - I checked out your blog - LOVE the stories! For those not familiar with the vermonter's blog, check it out in my favorite blogs list.
ReplyDeleteBlog IS a clunky word. Weblog isn't much better and the sad fact that we're in too big a hurry to speak anything but the last syllable of so many words these days is just that much more commentary on what crazy days these are.
ReplyDeleteBut less crazy now that you've joined the blogosphere! What a stellar first post! Love the goat pix (Clouseau, yes I see him!) and the fabric from your loom is spectacular.
Better get on those taxes lady. :)
Taxes are finis!! Yippee! I'll try and post current photos of the weaving project. I'm about half-way through weaving the sampler. I've been weaving in my sleep, but when I wake up, there isn't any more done, I can't figure it out. I guess the cobbler's elves aren't allowed to go outside their trade by union rules or something. Hmf.
ReplyDelete