Tuesday, April 30, 2013

End of semester

In academics, this is the end of the semester, with an absurd number of essays to mark, then finals to give and mark. At the Indianapolis Art Center, this is the last week of classes for a month. Floor loom weaving deprivation ahead!

I have spent as much as I could in the fiber studio, and this Sunday was able to cut my Marine Blue and Shale fabric off the loom. After weaving 6.5 yards, I did the rest in another treadling in solid blue to make a zig zag pattern I really enjoy.


To make life even better, the weekend of the 20th I had a three-day workshop on rug weaving with Jason Collingwood. Everybody was faster than I was, but I still learned a lot.

Here are just a few of the different techniques used in the class:

 Jason demonstrating linking wefts on someone's loom.
 Linking weft threads to create the wedges.
Whew! The workbook has far more techniques than I could keep up with, so I definitely have more to try. Take his workshops if you have a chance. He's funny, patient, and very clear in his instructions. I'm glad I have his father's big book, The Technique of Rug Weaving, as well.

I'm busy winding warp, hoping to wind it on this week so I'll be ready to go for the next class at the Art Center the first week of June.

Happy weaving!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Spring--at last!

During March I finished weaving the six yards of my black and elderberry wool and am now sewing it.
 I've now started 8 yards of an 8-harness draft in Marine Blue and Shale (light grey, although it looks white in the photos.

The first is the right side, and then the second picture has he right side above and the "wrong" side being wound.


 For one week, these lovely star flowers bloom, but only in areas which are mainly shady. They even appear before crocus!


Today the temperatures reached 70, for the first time since early November, so Spring is here--at least for a few days!