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.

Transformation

Weaving has taken a back seat for a few days while I have been finishing a project which is to be part of an exhibition at the Marlborough Museum later in the year.  Several Creative Fibre members were given an opportunity to inspect items from the Museum's textile collection and choose one to use as a subject to 'transform;'  not to reproduce it but use it for inspiration to create something using either colour, shape, texture or motif from the original.  Because I thought I could happily use tatting for this project I chose a purple pillbox shaped hat with bold gold decoration and here is my transformation with a photo of the original alongside.  I reversed the colours and toned down the gold somewhat and turned the shape into a covered box.

I had experimented a bit first and here is my first attempt. At least it was started first but finished last.

I have some weaving though and taken a couple of knee rugs off the loom. I will post photos of them when the finishing is done.  I'm now looking forward to weaving something much finer.

I'm back!

Two weeks spent with family and no loom gave me the opportunity to do most of the finishing work on the napkins.

It wasn't until I began ironing that I discovered a threading error!  Of course that means there is a flaw right through the lot. I didn't see it in the weaving as the small texture pattern doesn't really show up until it is washed.  Oh well, I now have a basket of 'slightly imperfect' napkins on 'special' in the co-op shop - and I still have my original cotton for (if there is a) next time. 

As well as hemming I enjoyed reviving my tatting skills. I found a shop with a supply of fine threads which of course meant adding some tiny little additions to my stash, so I will have to keep it up.

And then there was The Apron . . . no, it's not weaving but at least it's creative. (It started life as a tablecloth.) Happy mixed media workshop Esther!