1. 

   Silver
   

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   KOMO weather said that we might have some pretty good gust tonight. I can hear it starting to howl outside my windows! Batten down!!

   Posted 6 months ago #
2. 

   Cate
   

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   Kind of glad to have a stormy weekend. Sat at the loom weaving and drinking tea - it is nice that it is time for winter activities.

   Posted 6 months ago #
3. 

   VeganBiker
   

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   Cate - what type of loom do you have? How many harness's, table or floor?

   Posted 6 months ago #
4. 

   Cate
   

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   VeganBiker- I have a LeClerc counterbalance loom from Quebec. Floor loom, 45 inch weaving width, four harnesses. It is what I have instead of living room furniture - living room furniture is just so mundane when you can have a floor loom instead. :)
   Since you know about harness's you must weave. Do you have your own loom?

   Posted 6 months ago #
5. 

   VeganBiker
   

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   Cate - years ago I went to college in Birmingham,UK studying Printed and Woven Textiles, I dropped out in the late 60's! I then worked for a commercial, industrial type weaving company in London for about 9 months operating two large power looms and found that very boring. I inherited a small four harness table loom with a floor stand from my ex's aunt back in the 70's and have kept it all these years. I did make a warp and weave a few things some years ago but I plan to set it up again and give it a go. Hand weaving is a very cathartic pastime. I even spun wool back in the school days.
   What do you mostly create? Usable cloth or hangings or what? I love large floor looms that fill a room, funny thing is today I was remembering when I shared an old thatched house in Surrey, UK and the owner had one room that was filled with a big floor loom that she wove all kinds cloth and wall hangings and the whole room radiated warmth and had a wonderful aroma.

   Posted 6 months ago #
6. 

   Cate
   

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   Oh, to actually study textiles. I dream of that. I do take classes at Weaving Works. I just today finished a wool blanket in a Dornic twill and in October I did some yard goods that I am going to turn into a top for me. I do scarves, some table linens. Weaving is very cathartic. Spending much of my time with abused/neglected babies and toddlers I find that coming home to my loom is very soothing. I have a wheel but have never spun -I do have fleece in my house waiting to be spun but am a little intimidated by my wheel. What are you going to weave when you set it up again?

   Posted 6 months ago #
7. 

   phoo
   

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   how long does it take to make a blanket with the loom?

   Posted 6 months ago #
8. 

   pennygirl
   

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   Weather - Cliff Mass is warning about heavy rain tomorrow and even heavier on Thurs/Fri. When he says heavy I believe him.

   Posted 6 months ago #
9. 

   Cate
   

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   Well the blanbket I just finished,
   It takes me about 12 hours to warp the loom but I always put on enough yarn for 2 or 3 projects. The actual weaving for one blanket was 6 hours. Finishing a blanket will take anywhere from an hour to four hours depending on how elaborate I want to get with the fringe (planning a twisted braid and then fulling it - probably three hours total). About half and hour to an hour to design the blanket and work out the yarn requirements and such. So for the two blankets on this warp a total of about 30 to 32 hours. That is how long it takes if I am working fast, I tend to putz around and play with it, take extra time. For an elaborate blanket 30 to 40 hours for one blanket might be required but that is because I am having fun with it.

   Posted 6 months ago #
10. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    I can attest that Cate's weaving is beautiful. She has a keen sense of color and chooses yarns that are sumptuous and yummy. I think her kitties help sort out her yarns and help her with some of the mundane activity. One of them gives her visual quality control from the underside of the loom.

    VB, you are such a multi-faceted man, surprising us all the time. I must say that we have a plethora of talented people here on MB. I met bamboo boy today who gave up a couple of hours of his time to help me, and I got to see how lovely his artistic expression is. I do think we could collectively have an MB gallery show

    Posted 6 months ago #
11. 

    pennygirl
    

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    But not this week - because it is going to rain apparently :-)

    Posted 6 months ago #
12. 

    phoo
    

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    can you make a blanket without a fringe, or is it harder?

    I've never considered this weaving thing (and the equipment must be expensive), but I could certainly see the value in making your own blankets. It seems more fun and productive to me than crocheting or knitting.

    Just to be on topic for a second, it has been Portland Raining out there all day. It's going to be wet standing in front of a closed library waiting for someone tomorrow.

    Posted 6 months ago #
13. 

    Cate
    

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    Well, you have to do something with the warp ends - fringe, braid, turn them under into a hem...

    On topic - I walked over to Bartel's an hour ago. The Commons was empty, the store was empty, the sidewalks were empty - everyone is curled up away from the weather tonight.

    Posted 6 months ago #
14. 

    VeganBiker
    

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    Cate - that sounds really creative. I have no idea what I want to weave but reading your post and the others got me enthused!
    SA - I am a "jack of all trades, master of none" type of person. I have dabbled in loads of things and can do/fix etc many things but not a total master of anything!

    Posted 6 months ago #
15. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    That's pretty much who I am also. It makes life fun, doesn't it?

    Posted 6 months ago #
16. 

    Cate
    

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    Thank you SA. Yes my kitties are invaluable in managing my yarn. Just today they unwound a skein of yarn for me.

    A MB art/craft show would be fun.

    Posted 6 months ago #
17. 

    Aunt Salad
    

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    Cate- I am a weaver want to be. And SA, I am a potter want to be. Both on my bucket list along with crossing guard at 80th & 24th for the school kids.

    Posted 6 months ago #
18. 

    Cate
    

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    Aunt Salad - When your ready to tackle weaving go take a class at Weaving Works. Their beginning class is great and they start you with table looms - they will even provide the table loom for a small rental fee - so you can learn if you like it before you commit.

    Crossing guard sounds like such a happy thing to do - I remember fondly the crossing guards at my elementary school - they were so cheerful.

    Edited to add: I would be glad to show you my loom and let you try it out.

    Posted 6 months ago #
19. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    aunt Salad, I would be happy to have you as a guest clay worker. Let's talk about this after the holidays, OK?

    Posted 6 months ago #

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