A Change of Focus - for a while

I haven't forgotten about my blog, and I haven't forgotten about weaving either, I'm just not doing much of it at the moment. I'm concentrating on learning lacemaking this year and really enjoying it, but my efforts are not worthy of publication yet. I'll be doing samples for some time before I start any projects.

I thought, in the meantime, I could use the blog for "a photo a day". I have acquired two lists of suggestions for topics and may or may not stick to one or other of them - I won't be doing them in order of the list, but will choose something appropriate for the day. And I may not put up a photo taken on that day but I will use a recent one.

Here are a couple from September to start with, and one for today. I will try to put up a photo a day for the whole of October. :)

29 September "Out My Window"

30 September "Spring"

1 October "Childhood Memory"

 

Chain Reaction Challenge

As with most weaving projects, the plotting and planning and anticipation for my part of the Chain Reaction took longer than the actual weaving.  Only a small length is required and the yarn supply is limited, so this is one of the smallest warps I have put on. The weaving was over and done in no time, so now it is "hurry up and wait" until the rest of the chain get their yarns. We are told we are about two thirds of the way through the list so it will be a few weeks yet. Here is my piece. I'm looking forward to seeing what the colour combinations on either side of it will look like.

CLOAK - Variations on a Theme

FINALLY, the Professional Weavers' Network Exhibition is seeing the light of day. It has been "under wraps" for at least a couple of years but is now open at Pataka Gallery in Porirua.  It was a fun project to do but I am not a fan of stretching work out over such a long period and the waiting has been tedious. However, I can now publish some photos. I was really fortunate to have, quite by chance (friend of a friend . . .) a photoshoot with a gorgeous model and her talented photographer sister. I am so pleased with the pics I have been dying to show people. Here are just a few.

I called this one a minstrel's cloak and named it "A Thing of Shreds and Patches." I had planned for more embellishments of a musical nature but that didn't happen, so I suppose I could have called it something else, but I'm quite happy with the result.

Towards the end of the long wait, when it looked as though some planned entries were not going to make it, I decided to put in another entry. I used fabric already woven and had a dressmaker do the basic sewing so I didn't have to do too much except make the hanging bead fringes on the shoulders. The whole thing took more like two weeks than two years. I forget now what I called it but the inspiration for the fabric was the Buller River - that's right - "Snow Melt" is the title. Flecks of black and white in the fabric are reminiscent of splashes over the black-looking wet river stones.

I'm looking forward now to seeing the exhibition and all the other entries. Also the catalogue which I believe is stunning.
 
 

Starting the Chain Reaction Challenge

The next fun weaving challenge is for PWN. A team of 24 people are taking part in a colour chain reaction. Each person weaves a square panel, using for warp the yarn sent to them from the previous person. They choose their own weft and send some of the same yarn on to the next on the list to use for their warp. Allowing 2 weeks for each person to do their decision-making, acquiring and sending on the yarn, it could take months before the last person is able to get started -- so it's not going to happen in a hurry -- but eventually the plan is to mount all the panels and display them in order of the progression. It could be a very interesting exhibition.
I am number seven on the list and I already have some beautiful aqua colour alpaca and silk yarn from Sue to use for a warp. For a weft I have chosen a maroon (summer wine) mercerised cotton from our group's stash. I sent on the required amount of it to Wil and fortunately he is very happy with it. I wonder what colour he will use to weave it with.
I have been playing around a bit lately with advancing twills and chose one to use for my panel. It's not a particularly complex draft but still has 56 ends per repeat in both warp and weft  because it is 'trompt as writ' so it needs concentration! I wasn't brave enough to start directly on to my panel so chose some fine yarns in lighter shades and wove a scarf as a trial. Here is a photo of the finished scarf with the yarns I will use for the panel.

 

Finally, some weaving

A small project but one that will be useful in three ways. I had a narrow fine wool warp on the loom for samples. One of the tasks I have this year is to talk to the weavers' group about advancing twill, so threaded up for a "frost crystal" pattern to demonstrate. When that is done I will have the samples on hand for Cross Country Weavers - early for next year. More of that later.

On the last part of the warp I used a blue merino weft to make myself a short scarf. Most of my scarves suddenly seem to be too long. This is it - one photo on each side of the fabric and a close-up.

Even though there is no lustre on the yarn, it has a "shot" effect in certain lights.
 

And another!

Learning lacemaking one snake at a time! Number two is in a different stitch. 

I have a long way to go.

And an even longer time . . .

I still have not done any weaving this year, but I did get a warp on the loom for Cross Country samples. It's still waiting.

Once my long involved PWN exhibition piece was done I decided to do another in a fraction of the time. I used fabric I had woven some time ago and had a dressmaker put it together for me. My contribution was in the form of beading and hand embroidery stitching all around the edge. Photos will come in due course. 

Because I had offcuts from the second Cloak I used them to finish off my overdue Cross Country "own choice" samples. I had already done the required topic for the year so it was good to finish up the whole project and get it away only a couple of weeks late.  I still have the warp on the loom and when I get to weave it off I will be streets ahead for next year.

For years I have promised myself I would one day learn lacemaking and this year the "one day" has arrived. I realise it will take up weaving time but it's probably time I slowed down with that anyway. I will still weave but maybe at a slower pace until I get to grips with this new craft.  I will probably never be a great lacemaker but I want to learn enough to know that I can do it and maybe make a few bookmarks. What I have made so far is a snake!

My first attempt at lacemaking