Long overdue

Since closing my studio to travel the US by bicycle, I’ve not been able to sit at a loom often. I’ve been home twice since leaving in April, and each time has been for a couple of months. Each time I’ve been home, I’ve worked on putting a studio in my home into working order. It’s fairly easy to do that with the sewing aspect of the studio, but getting the weaving/spinning/felting aspect of the studio squared away has been nearly impossible.

This weekend has been a perfect opportunity to get my looms more accessible, and my yarns equally so. In preparation for the Rigid Heddle Weaving workshop, I had to re-organize my storage cabinets and closets, as well as locate specific yarns for the class. While doing those things, I got much put away, thrown away and put in working order. Since Saturday at 4 pm, I’ve dressed one of my rigid heddle looms and woven a merino/mohair scarf for my Dad’s wife and picked up threading the large Toika free-standing tapestry loom. Hooray! It’s good to be back at the loom. I’m a long way from opening the studio for group weaving classes, though. There simply isn’t room enough in my house to accomodate that right now. I’ll have to pick up some very compact floor looms again and a few more warping boards. Then we’ll be back in business, right?

I’m thinking about offering a wet-felting workshop on a Sunday in February. We will work on either hats or rugs. Anyone interested? Cost would be about $125 for a 6-7 hour workshop. Maximum # of students would be 6.

 

Rigid heddle workshop – jan 21, 2012

Today was the scheduled Rigid Heddle Workshop. There were 4 openings in the class, 3 registrants. As the day greeted us, it was cold and very wet. I was glad to have a workshop scheduled, rather than a bike ride.

We began at 9 am with winding yarn balls from skeins, and found this a good way to begin class since students often arrive in stages and yet the first student should be able to begin at the scheduled start time.  by 9:30, we were well on our way to measuring out the warp.Each student in class had her own loom and each loom had a stand. This makes for easy weaving, I think. The warp is Louet’s washable merino. Perhaps Pearl. Each student’s project was to be a 10″ scarf. One student had dressed her Kromski Harp previously.

The student with the Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom direct warped her loom, while the Kromski owner measured her warp on the warping board on the back of the loom. Using this method of direct warping, we sley each slot and dot, rather than double sleying the slots only, then re-sleying after beaming. It was easier, however to double-sley from a front installed set of lea sticks on the Kromski. The loom owner said this was more clear for her than the method she used previously. Love to hear that! The looms were dressed in record time.  Since the Ashford loom arrived with a cardboard version of warping sticks, we used them: For the Kromski, we simply used bathroom tissue for warp separator.  Both ladies were weaving very quickly after lunch. We had a warm bowl of chicken soup and biscuits for lunch by a fire provided by my DH. Quickly back to work, the weavers began their work.

Progress was quick and the only real question of the day was about those darn edges!!!!! I’m of the opinion that you shouldn’t need to fidget with them, and yet….. if that’s the only thing that brings results for you…….   The ladies did convince me that the selvage loops are a result of my method of beating…… humility is a very good lesson;0)

The student using mohair for weft opted to remove her piece from the loom although it wasn’t complete, so I could demonstrate hem stitching, and she was a quick study and did a great job. We then moved to the sink with the sample fabric (approx 18″ long) and wet-finished it. At that point, the ladies pack it up and we said our Goodbyes.  I’m thankful to have met/re-met these ladies and hope they are new friends. On student asked about a local guild and I told her that Richmond used to have, and may still have 2 weaver’s guilds. James River Weavers was one guild and Richmond Weavers Guild is the other. There is also a spinning guild in Richmond: Clothos Children. I’ve heard that Clothos Children are active in a variety of the fiber arts.

Weave Joyfully!

Loom for sale near Richmond, VA

For Sale: 45″ Leclerc Mira counterbalance loom in Goochland county, Virginia. Comes with swift, warping board lea sticks, raddle, bobbin winder and spool rack. This counterbalance loom is in good condition and weaves well. The price includes a very convenient cubby storage for your yarns and other weaving paraphernalia.
Local pick-up only. Contact: Stu at stukirkland@kirklandmedicalgraphics.com or 804-873-0422
$800.

One opening remains in the Rigid Heddle Weaving Workshop

I have one spot left in the workshop on Saturday, 1/21/2012.

It’s a one day workshop on learning to set-up and weave on rigid heddle looms.

9 am – 4 pm, Goochland County, Va. Lunch is provided

Cost: $100.00

Call me: 804.556.9875

or Paypal the class fee to maidensweaver@earthlink.net

 

2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Honestly, my favorite rigid heddle loom is……

If you’ve read the rigid heddle loom review, you may have used it to help you find the right loom for you, based on your criteria. If your criteria is cost alone, you bought the Beka, If you are specifically interested in using your rigid heddle loom for tapestry, hopefully, you got the Penelope. If you are traveling, and want a compact loom, you probably got the flip, or the Kromski folding loom. Whatever your specific criteria or expectations are from the loom, the review offered some guidance.

Through the years that I’ve had product reviews up, people have drawn from the reviews their own conclusions as to what my preferences were. So, tonight, I’m going to tell you what I choose to weave on, and why. For tapestry that I will take with me,  I like a rigid heddle loom, and use the Penelope II. It doesn’t have the ability to use the rigid heddle as a beater, and that’s fine with me. It limits the loom in it’s use for continuous, pattern weaving, but it’s just right for me for tapestry. I can warp it with a nice long warp also. Because I use an upright tapestry floor loom, the upright feature of the Penelope is a natural choice.

Of the horizontal, rigid heddle looms, I choose the Ashfords. I have two of them. One is narrow and one is wider. Both have stands. I may even have 3, couldn’t tell you for sure, tonight. I like the heft of the loom in my hands,  like the stand for the Ashford, and I like the colored rigid heddle. The thing I don’t love about it, is the dumb plastic things that connect the warp rod and the warp beam, as well as the front “apron” rod and the cloth beam. Oh well, nothing is perfect, and I often choose favorites that aren’t the most popular looms or items on other people’s list. There you have it;0D

This isn’t to say that these are the best looms. They are the looms that harmonize with my weaving self. A natural “fit” with my weaving quietude. Though I weave professionally, I’m not a production weaver. My work is on a commission basis, because I prefer the peace of weaving in conjunction with my natural rhythms, rather than working on a pushed schedule. Unfortunately, I am most inspired to work by a looming deadline.  My commissions are generally woven on floor looms, but I’ve sold pieces off the rigid heddle loom for respectable money. Don’t undersell yourself, because you are then underselling all weavers and all handcraftsmen.

What’s your favorite loom, and why?  You can respond by e-mail, or in the comments section. I really want to know, and think other folks do too.

Weave joyfully.

C.

Rigid Heddle Weaving Workshop – Jan 21, 2012

OK, after several responses expressing interest in the Rigid Heddle Weaving workshop, I’ve decided to set a date for the workshop as January 21, 2012. In the class, you will learn to measure your warp, thread your heddle, wind on your warp, tie it on, and weave off a simple piece of handwoven cloth, perhaps in the form of a scarf, or placemats.

If you have your own loom, bring it and you will learn to use your own loom. If not, you can use one of mine. I have several brands, so you can see how the various looms compare, and hopefully weave on the type of loom that you are considering.

We will meet from 9 am – 4 pm. It’s  a Saturday. I’ll provide lunch. If you are vegan, please be kind enough to bring something suitable for your lunch, as I’m clueless when it comes to vegetarian and vegan needs.

I’ll provide the materials for the day’s project, and encourage you to work with them, as they are geared to a project that we can complete in class. That’s necessary, because you need to learn to tie off your work, and remove it from the loom in addition to weaving!

If you would like to register for the class, please send me a note, telling me what class you want to register for, in addition to the class fee. YOu can do that throus the US mail, or through Paypal. The only credit card ability I have is through Paypal. I’m happy to send you an invoice, if you like.

Class fee for the 7 hour class is: $100.00   January 21, 2012                9 am – 4 pm              Materials and lunch provided

Max class size is 4 students.                    Hope to see you in the studio!

There are times during the class, that you are doing repetitive activities. You may find it enjoyable to bring your mp3 player, if you have one.