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I finally began my Mountain Trail scarves.  The warp is 20/2 rayon, hand dyed. The weft is 20/2 rayon and a very fine cashmere.  The theme is ferns and leaves of the trail so the motifs are quite pixelated, requiring careful single unit pulls.  The first few inches of weaving was very slow. It is a little tricky to capture the laciness of the ferns.

Initially the design did not appear to be pleasing, however upon completing the first leaf, I have to say it looks quite nice.

Single Unit Drawloom I finally began my Mountain Trail scarves.  The warp is 20/2 rayon, hand dyed. The weft is 20/2 rayon and a very fine cashmere.  

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Glimakra Counterbalance Pulleys/Horses

Glimakra Activ (older) with damask pulleys & horses

The Glimakra is warped with seine twine, sett at 6 epi (2 ends per heddle). I am experimenting adding some heft to Swedish rugs, using double seine twine and double 1.5 cm rags.

This loom has counterbalance – damask pulleys (up to 10 shafts – balanced) and double pulleys for more than 4.

heddle horses and elastics

As when using damask…

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More Drawloom Prep

Now that the warp is threaded through both sets of shafts and tied onto the front beam, it is time to set up the vertical countermarch and the single draw unit.

The original coupers, when used with the draw device, need to be turned. The long portion gets reversed, which on my draw device, inhibits the path of the drawcords. I purchased shorter coupers which are usually used with the floating…

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Drawloom

I had beamed a fine hand dyed rayon warp where the colors were inspired by hikes to the mountains and Appalachian Trail. Above is the draw loom being prepared for threading the first set of pattern shafts. The ground shafts are raised to allow me to sit inside the loom to thread.

This is where I will sit until all the pattern units are threaded. Note the obligatory cuppa!

This will be a…

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Flatweave I had a linen rug warp left over and dressed the Berga with it. It will be a shortie but better than wasting it.

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Make It Work!

I dyed a blank rayon warp for the draw loom and also some rayon for weft.  The colors are loosely based on colors from hikes to the mountains.  I plan to use the single unit draw system for more figurative designs.

I was surprised at the variety of colors from just 4 small jars – chartreuse, fuchsia, turquoise and cerulean with a touch of yellow.

I have some gorgeous cashmere in misty lilac and…

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I have been working on setting up the draw loom.  First I replaced the long coupers with shorter ones.  Usually the long end of the couper points down when the draw loom is set up.  This interfered with the mechanics of the pattern shaft ties.  The new shorter coupers mean a slightly heavier lift, but do not need to be rotated for normal weaving and leave ample room for the pattern shaft ties.

I wanted to combine both the shaft draw and single draw units.  As they are two separate frames, I needed to simplify the way each draw is held. I removed the bar that holds the shaft draw handles and added “O” rings to secure the shaft draw to the hook bar.  The single unit ties will attach to units on the shaft draw.  It is a little complicated until you see it. Now to create a scarf warp for experimenting.

  Tinkering I have been working on setting up the draw loom.  First I replaced the long coupers with shorter ones.  

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Where Does All My Time Go

Where Does All My Time Go

I have been busy training for a marathon.  It went well! On to the next.  I was approached on two separate occasions to give weave instruction which was refreshing!  So I have been a little busy.

I just finished re-organizing my weaving area (again).  I think I finally have it set the way I need it.  I found that breaking down the draw loom for other weaving was too time consuming.  It came to a…

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I have woven my commission piece which is still on the loom.  Even though it was woven on an AVL with the original specs as prior pieces, each piece weaves a little differently.  It is a huck lace blanket in 20/2 silk set at 24 epi and it is a little different than the same specs woven 2 years ago on a PDL, just a different loom.  I chose to weave this one a little longer and as a result, the second piece is going to be a little short.  I will keep the second as a finished sample.

You can see how close the apron rod is to the heddles!  Yet I am still achieving a decent shed.  The AVL looms do a wonderful job at this!  I will be finishing the  commission with a 2″ fringe and it will get shipped in the next couple of days.

  How Close Can You Go? I have woven my commission piece which is still on the loom.  Even though it was woven on an AVL with the original specs as prior pieces, each piece weaves a little differently.  

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Winner Winner

So…. running is going well – so well that hubby & I raked in a win a piece at a half marathon. Not bad for two past middle age folks!

Still winning – after returning at least 4 large area rugs, I finally found a winner!

My weave student graduated so now I have to finish the silk shawls in huck lace. I added back the heddles I removed during my Christmas Eve weaving marathon. I took the time to…

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50 Shades of Gray vs Barf a Box of Paints?

50 Shades of Gray vs Barf a Box of Paints?

Not quite weaving related, more color scheme related. I LOVE lots of color, I am picky about my color but I love bold, punch you in the throat color in my home.

We just added hardwoods to our bedroom and our rug in the family room was awesome – but a little too “Florida” and too “Pink” for me.

We moved this rug to the bedroom and then had to come up with something else.

Above…

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New Year Is Here

New Year Is Here

So the mystery blanket was finished (on Christmas Eve, no less). I was glad I had warped for one blanket as it was time consuming. The initial glitches with the computer made for a frustrating experience. I do not have a good photo. My bad.

Cutting It Close

I also hemmed the linen towels, the pictures do not do them justice and they are wrinkled after being used and washed. They have a nice…

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Son Of A Nutcracker!

Son Of A Nutcracker!

Once again – Kin – Look away!

  I have been fighting with this warp from the get go!  Of course the AVL decided to be persnickety – it’s a couple of days before Christmas and this has to be finished!

First, the computer kept dropping the port and refused to communicate with the loom in order to get the solenoids to fire and select the shafts.

After 2 hours of unplugging, port-checking and…

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Ugly Sweater Time

FYI – if you are a blood relative/offspring, do not continue!

Once in a while, someone asks me to make something.  I love to oblige, but sometimes feel, as I have said before, that giving a “home-made” gift may be akin to receiving ‘Mom’s ugly sweater”.  They will never tell you what they really think and who knows how often it will see the light of day.

I am using 6/2 cotton to make a throw.  I…

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I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As an ex-Brit, Thanksgiving is a newer tradition for me but is now my favorite holiday!  It also falls around my birthday.

We had the privilege of sharing Thanksgiving with family and friends and it was wonderful!

This was quickly followed by an impromptu gathering of friends for my birthday.  I am so lucky to have some really great people around me! They made cards and we shared cake, wine and had a great time!

I decided against running today, instead I worked on weaving off the towel warp on the AVL.  As they are towels for our home so the minor “flaws” are acceptable.  I splurged and backordered issues of Selvedge Magazine as they are perfect eye candy and possible inspiration for future designs.

Looking forward to the Christmas Holiday and having all my kids and other important people and fur-babies home.

Too Much Fun with Friends & Family I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  As an ex-Brit, Thanksgiving is a newer tradition for me but is now my favorite holiday!  

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Rusty Much?

Sometimes, everyday feels like a full moon! I finally got the towel warp up and running on the new to me AVL, I realized just how rusty I am.  I can normally weave at “warp-ish speed”.  Now I feel like I lack rhythm and am I beating on a semi closed shed or open shed?  The more I think about it, the worse my selvedges get.  After half an hour, I think it is finally coming back!

With the new pup…

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What's One More...Right?

What’s One More…Right?

So,

I have slowed down and virtually “finished” working for a while.  I will miss my clients, thank goodness my gym family is providing me a little continued involvement because they are all so much fun and such great people to work with and be around.

I have slowly been doing a little design work most days.  Of course when things slow down and there is more time and space, what do we do – we…