Naughty Tales!

As we were taking down and packing up the exhibits from the "Fibre Flair" display at the Art Room there was a last minute sale. This lovely young lady was helping with the dismantling of the show and she tried on my "Naughty Tales!" waterfall vest.

It looked fabulous on her and ended up being the item she chose as a birthday gift from her grandmother, who is a member of our guild and one of the members of the art show committee. 

This had been a last minute finish for me, only completed the night before the deadline for jurying of the submitted items. 

I only remembered as it was about to go out the door today that I had never taken the time to photograph it. I like to keep a photographic record of all things I make so I was very happy that she agreed to model it for me.

This is an all cotton vest with travelling inlay and clasped weft patterning. It is sewn in the waterfall style with a hi/lo hemline and the added interest of knotted tails, hence the name, "Naughty Tales".

15 Feet of Crazy

 When combined with black fingering weight yarn 

in the clasped weft technique

that single ball of Zauberball Crazy went a long way.

I'm very pleased with the result.

I only hope that I'll come up with a sewing project that

does the handwoven fabric justice. 

There is 15 feet of it prior to wet finishing (4.57m)

In the reed it measured 11.5" (29.21cm)

but I know I will lose some width and length in the initial washing.

Now to gather my relevant books looking for inspiration.

Crazy Zauberball

A few months ago, while on a short trip, I bought a ball of Crazy Zauberball yarn as a souvenir of sorts. When I returned home it got set aside while I finished projects intended for the guild's booth at the Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market. The sale is now over and I can turn my attention to the pretty souvenir yarn.

I'm using a clasped weft technique with black wool on one side not only for the contrast effect, but also to extend the expensive Zauberball as far as I can. I hope to get enough yardage to make some sort of creative article of clothing. 

The Light at the End of the Warp

I bought a little clip on lamp for my loom and it makes a big difference. There seemed to be plenty of light in the room but it was always coming from the wrong angles and casting shadows upon my work. This is much better.

  And yes, I've come to the end of the 6m inaugural warp.

Off to a Good Start

After scrapping that failed, fuzzy blue-violet and chartreuse warp, I've wound another warp and this one is much proving to be much more successful!

The warp is all cotton and the colours chosen were inspired by the ball of dishcloth cotton you see in the centre. The white, green, and light blue are not in the warp but may end up included as weft. 

Kona was a patient supervisor of the beaming process, though she chose to lay right where I would have to step over her every time I went from the front of the loom to the back. Using the "yank and crank" method of keeping a uniform tension I was stepping over her a LOT. 

I put this warp on my loom so that it wouldn't be empty when a visitor interested in Saori weaving comes by. But I find it a very pleasant warp to weave and cannot seem to stay away. I may end up using up all 6 metres of it before the guest arrives! 

The colours are most accurate in this final photo. I have no idea what the final use will be of the yardage, but I certainly am enjoying weaving it. 

After a Bath and a Tumble

The fabric I finished weaving a few days ago has had its fringes twisted and has taken a trip through the washer and dryer. The mercerized cotton didn't just handle it well, the fabric actually improved! It now is beautifully soft, has a lovely fluid drape, and a silk-like luster. The photograph really does not do it justice. Indoor lighting on a dull, cloudy day robbed it of its true vibrancy and sheen.

 Now I'm pouring through my resources trying to come up with the perfect pattern to show the fabric off at its best. I'm thinking I might combine elements of two different patterns to create the effect I'm after.

Weaving Daily

I'm making an effort to weave at least a little every day.

Monday:


Tuesday:


Wednesday morning:


and some more on Wednesday afternoon:



If my back wasn't complaining I'd be in there weaving right now. I'm having a lot of fun with this one.

Three Colour Clasped Weft

After weaving the first few inches on this black mercerized cotton warp I discovered a tutorial on a three colour interlock technique (about 1/2 way down the Ravelry post). After some initial confusion and the need to pay close attention to the steps in the tutorial I've "caught on" and now find it not only easy, but fun!

I've decided to stick with the technique for the remainder of the 6m warp.



Kona felt the weaving was getting more attention than she was, and that just wouldn't do!





The entire length of cloth is being woven in mercerized cotton. The warp is 5/2, and the weft is 10/2, and 8/2 in bright colours accented with the same 5/2 black that the warp is done in.



I'm thinking it will eventually become some sort of clothing. We'll see what it says once it is complete.