12 Jan 2015

New cords

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Not, alas, for the fly shuttle. I can’t find the right diameter of cord in the local hardware places, so I will have to order some online. I bought a hank of finer cord, hemmed and hawed about it for a bit, and decided to use it on the Varpapuu instead.

So the grotty cords (that’s for you, Katie) seen on 1st January…

2015 Varpapuu

…have been replaced thus:

Varpapuu new cords

I’ve arranged it so that cords don’t go through the holes in the apron rod any more, because I prefer to be able to slip off the outer loops when the warp is narrow. As I use this loom for demonstrating and sampling, the warp usually is pretty narrow.

I haven’t got much further with Actual Weaving, though I have started making a warp for the Megado and spent a lot of time tinkering with drafts of different kinds. My head is reeling from the quantity of email coming in re CW: more than two hundred messages in the last seven days. Whoa. But I am learning not to multi-task: when I go to the studio, I focus on studio things. And I have dusted off my special mug to help.

thinking mug

“New cords” was posted by Cally on 12 Jan 2015 at http://callybooker.co.uk

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7 Jan 2015

Patchwork

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I was trying to do a thing that didn’t really work, but I got these instead.

interleaved threading 2

Two very simple threadings on 8 shafts, interleaved and woven in blocks with a point treadling. Each little block has quite a distinctive design. Above is what I would have called the ‘right’ side, where the warp colours (brown and light blue) appear quite strongly. On the ‘wrong’ side (below) the off-white weft is more evident and in this design I like it very much.

interleaved threading 1

I’m going to try scaling up the size of the blocks next as these are quite tiny.

By now many of you will have seen the bulletin from Complex Weavers

so you’ll know about my new role. It is not one I really wanted − and the circumstances are far from what anyone would have wanted − but, thankfully, CW is an organisation filled with capable people who are all rallying round.

“Patchwork” was posted by Cally on 7 Jan 2015 at http://callybooker.co.uk

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1 Jan 2015

A Day in the Life of Looms 2015

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Thank you to everyone who has left a comment or sent me a message since I posted about Phoebus. Your kind words are very much appreciated. We spent our New Year’s Eve quietly at home with Polly in front of the fire, but today we have been trying to Get Stuff Done.

I have been down to the studio to do some sampling and, of course, to take pictures for Loomsday. Herewith the State of the Looms on New Year’s Day 2015.

2015 Megado

The Megado is as I left it after cutting off the Brighton honeycomb just before Christmas. I did finish the scarf and it was given to my brother Jon for Christmas. As this post is about the looms rather than the things woven upon them, you’ll need to click here to see a picture of the finished scarf.

The Delta is the loom I am sampling on. More heddles unused than in use at the moment.

2015 Delta

The four Ashfords, which I use for teaching, are all ready for the next Taster Day in a couple of weeks’ time.

These are the older two…

2015 Ashfords 1

…while the newer pair are here.

2015 Ashfords 2

The Varpapuu really needs some TLC in 2015, not least to replace the cords, which are all pretty grotty.

2015 Varpapuu

The W30 is resting atop the cupboards ahead of a trip to France in May…

2015 W30

…while my original 4-shaft loom is currently folded up in semi-darkness. I am thinking of selling it, but can’t quite make up my mind.

2015 4-shaft

I hope to keep most of these looms fairly busy in 2015. I certainly have enough plans…

“A Day in the Life of Looms 2015” was posted by Cally on 1 Jan 2015 at http://callybooker.co.uk

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