Twill sampler sample

The twill sampler is off the loom. It’s always intriguing to see what the different treadling combinations look in the different threadings. 

For instance, the straight twill in the left section looks very different from the M’s and W’s section (which is next to last to the right). When they work out looking nice here, I try to make a note next to that treadling combination.  

Now the decision of how to finish it. Leave it plain? Practice my hemstitching? Tat an edging? Fringe or no fringe. It’s a sampler, so I’m leaning to just leaving it.

Incidentally, I’m partial to M’s and W’s as those are my initials prior to marriage.

Interrupted progress

Well, yet again, the house took over my life. Don’t get me wrong. It’s all good. Just not what I anticipated working on when I woke up yesterday. But then, that’s life. I won’t bore you with details. If I could make it all sound humorous. I would spend time trying, but trust me…it’s nothing that important.

I did spend some time sorting through what’s on the shuttles. I’ve made good progress on the flag. I’m close to finishing the edging for the overshot sample. The next step in the angel is cleaning the thread. And, I’ve made good progress getting the computer sorted. (I like that word for the activity. It sounds much better than filing which I associate with scraping away.)

So, I need to set aside time to work a plunger on a toilet today. Then, to figure out what the treadling for the twill sampler will be. Oh, and design discussion. Better get to it!

Still working.....

I’m still working on the edging. 

I got distracted yesterday trying to pick drapes for the studio. It’s a task you only do every once in a while…like every 20 years or so if you get it right. So, I want to get it right! 

I did get around the 3^rd corner, so I will be finishing the tatting today, washing everything to encourage shrinkage BEFORE I sew the edging on. Yes, lesson learned with a previous project!

Oh! I should mention that we made it through step 4 of 5 in the process of getting a Historic designation on the house. I can’t wait to get things in place for the completion of those projects.

Back to working on… 

oh yeah, the edging. 

an edge to a sample

A big advantage of this house is that I can spread out and have room for all my projects. Well, not all, but I’ve set up the loom, 

ready to warp

moved an organ in, 

ready to play

set up a tatting room

ready to tat

and a computer room.

ready to document

Hee heee. I’m using everything. Really.

I’ll be taking a workshop in November on Doubleweave.
More on that later.How am I working that into my tatting? Well, I create this sample of pick up on plain cloth:

Unknown cotton thread for warp and weft (probably 10/2)

And will add an edging tatted in the dark blue thread. 

Chain Reaction by Mary Konior

It should all come together Thursday.

Remember the angel

Remember the angel requested for shawls by the group at St. Andrew’s?

Well, I finished trial #5. It’s still not quite right. I’ve been approaching the design properly. There are just so many factors. I’m trying to create a “fabric” with multiple straight of grain. Or so I’m thinkin’ now.

You see, in preparing for the Double Weave workshop in November, I’ve been puzzling through the structure of fabric. That opened the door to looking at the skirt of the angel pattern a little differently and low and behold, I realized how complicated the execution of my idea will be. Funny how that happens!

So, I dug out my “book” on alterations. The sewing notes that I absconded with from my Mother’s library eons ago. We share the same build type. And we altered many a pattern to fit that build. Mixed in among the specific notes are reminders of “rules” to follow. That’s what I was looking for. Low and behold, when you have a flared skirt that needs adjusting, you have to work with the straight of grain to maintain the drape. Duh!

Since the printer/scanner wasn’t scanning, I have no picture to share prior to the snipping I did yesterday. I do have a working scanner today, so if I repair the swirl section, you’ll see a scan soon. I know the s word…soon……

frustrated yet again

Ok…today I’m   frustrated  !

I know, I know….nothing new, right?

Well, just in case you haven’t been around me, I’m frustrated because….

It’s taking a long, long time getting to the point where I have pictures to share on the blog. I try to share pictures with this blog. And I have been working on getting the studio functioning and the designs finished. It’s just that the tasks that are most important are complicated and are impossible to photograph.

So, dear reader….

No pictures yet again. Hence my frustration.

Guess I’ll just have to go create something. Maybe I’ll have a picture after I set things down today. 

We’ll see what I can post Thursday.