So hard to photograph!

Weaving is easy. Taking a decent photo of the finished article can be so hard.  Here are some before and after pics of a wrap I took off the loom a week or so ago.  It has plain weave panels with an alpaca and silk warp in a very dark navy at 18 epi and lace weave panels in 16/2 mercerised cotton at 24 epi  which, in some lights looks exectly the same colour and at other times seems several shades lighter. The weft is the mercerised cotton. None of the photos shows the colour accurately.
Here's one before washing . . .

It's definitely not this blue - and increasing the saturation turns it purple - but you get the idea.  That's a couple of fine silver threads added as supplementaries outlining the lace stripes. There is a heavier silver yarn down each selvedge.
This is after washing and pressing . . . and yes, that's the ironing board you can see through the fabric.

I tried all sorts of light levels but couldn't do any better than this. The end hanging down behind the ironing board in the shadow is the best bit for colour but of course it doesn't show the pattern.  I'm pleased to have done this because it seems that the blue one in a similar style that I sent to the CF exhibition in Hamilton has been sold. At least I'm trusting that it has because it hasn't come back.  I wasn't really ready to say goodbye to that one; I like to have things around for a while before they disappear and get forgotten. 

As you can see, this wrap is not finished. I'm saving the fringes for school holidays so I will have something to do while sitting in Esther's new house enjoying the sunshine.

I have always wanted to . . .

One of the projects in the back of my mind for years has finally come to fruition.  I wanted to weave a really fine piece suitable for a handkerchief and put a border of tatted lace on it.  Finally I have done it and it is one of the pieces I will be sending to the Creative Fibre Area Exhibition in Westport in October.

I'm not entirely satisfied with it as the lace doesn't sit as flat as I would like it to . . . but I have plenty more opportunities to try!  The white warp and weft are both size 50 mercerised Egyptian sewing cotton at 40 epi.  Unfortunately the reed marks have not washed out (4 ends per dent in a 10 dent reed) so it looks a bit streaky but quite acceptable I think.  The red is woven with a finer red unmercerised cotton which gives a distinct shimmer.  I must experiment more with this.

Moving right along . . .

The Weavers' Group workshop was a lot of fun and deemed to be a success.  Since then I have had a warping weekend of my own, taking advantage of having my warping board wheeled out into the lounge for more space and light.  I now have a fine navy wrap on the loom, looking good, and warps waiting in the wings for tablecloth, napkins, teatowels and hot-plate mats.  No photos yet but I hope to get a fair bit of weaving done during September as I intend to stay home for the whole month.  Yes, I know, I should be in the garden . . . but . . .  I also must remember to send my entries for the Area Exhibition in Westport.