There Are Many Ways to Get Warped

And this is only one way. No, we're not having a warped sense of humor or playing a warped record, building with a warped board and no, there is no warped mind involved--well, maybe, just a little warped! The Loom is warped!! Hurrah! It's been a long time since warping has taken place in this household.

What is warped, you say to yourself or the person sitting across the room? According to the handy dandy "Rigmaroles & Ragamuffins" book by Elinor Kapp: 'The warp is the word for a series of threads that stretched in one direction, usually the length of the intended fabric, to make a base. The word warp came originally from an Indo-European base wer, from which descended the Latin vertere, to turn and the Germanic werb. From these we get warped, meaning bent or twisted..' You've got to love that book!! In other words, the loom has been threaded and it's ready to be woven.

First step, figure out the math(and this is one reason why math studies should have been strengthen in school). Say, you want to make a towel @ 10" wide, 20 threads per inch--you multiply to get the total number of ends per inch (epi) and wind that warp. But, wait--how long will each of those threads need to be? let's count on 5 yards in length--well, that's a lot of thread! check that cone of yarn to make sure you have plenty on hand before winding 200 threads, five yards in length = say, how much? Oh, gee, got to get the calculator-well, that's 1000 yards
Alright, the threads have been wound around the warping board (seen in previous blog) and you chain off all that yardage. Aren't these lovely lease sticks? Made by Michael Harris from Mississippi--he does wonderful inlay work. Lease sticks keep the threads orderly.
And now you must pull each of those threads through the reed, which is 10 dent per inch--2 threads per dent = 20 epi. We aren't aiming for tight weave with this setup.
Through the eyes of each heddle. This is a four harness (or shaft) loom. and in order to get an interesting weave structure, a pattern of pulling through each heddle must be followed. Pull one thread through heddle on harness #1, then thread through harness #2, etc. Weavers have elaborate threading books with intricate threadings to follow--it's like reading a Chinese puzzle sometimes.
Tie the loose threads onto the back beam and roll on. Here is the front look. This is warping from the front to the back. Remember, this is just one way you can get warped. Tie all those loose threads, which now have been contained and placed in their perfect order, to the front beam and begin to throw the shuttle.
It's those first few throws that gives you pause to worry--did all the threads go where they were suppose to? did one get crossed over another? Throw the shuttle, even out the ties and hold your mouth right and YES, we are warped!!

Another Bite--Chomp, Chomp

We are taking small bites from our projects.
This April 2010 issue American Patchwork and Quilting features a Bunny Patch quilt by Anne Sutton--a spring quilt with applique. Why not try my hand at this? Well, needless to say my hands aren't too great with applique--there are various methods of how to applique so for these tiny pieces two different methods were tried--spray starch (which was used for the bunny) and light weight interfacing (leaves and flowers). It's difficult to use the starch method with such tiny pieces and even more difficult with other technique. Maybe, we'll try just needle turning. We are learning as we go!! Bunny Hill Designs
Here is another one of the pinwheel sampler blocks ready to be stitched. Quick and easy (when you have the time!)
Two more sampler blocks from last weeks sewing
This is the block for the Jelly Roll Sampler project. When we attended Paducak last year we stopped in Hancock's Fabrics and found these wonderful bags of jelly rolls--only this bag was cut 3" wide instead of regular 2.5"--but, who cares? The price was right!
And ain't these guys cute? This is such a fun project--quilt a row by Fat Cat This has been a blast to work on--machine applique.

Warped with WOW!

It was not only a meeting with quilters this week but also one with WOW (Way Out West) weavers group. We are small but we are mighty in our weaving power! Here is a sample from Marion on her color and weave project (linen in warp, Claudia's Handpainted yarn as weft). She was sampling--don't we always say 'sample, sample, sample'?? Marion was worried about shrinkage.
Here is Leigh's towel in three harness weave. She also wove hanging tabs on inkle loom, which makes the towel even more impressive.
This lovely bamboo turned twill scarf was woven by Joan--looks great on her and has a nice handle.
Woven by Anita is the wonderful color and weave towel in purple and gold--she titles it "Desert Flower" but we kidded her about it being LSU colors!
We also previewed Lone Star Loom Room , which has moved into our hostess new residence. Julie is 'baby sitting' the shop since the owner has moved to Singapore. Julie is just back from Norway after a three year stint. Wonderful how weavers work together.
Is that a warp you see on my board? Why, yes, it is indeed!! A white 8/2 cotton warp that will be for hand towels.

March Birthdays for Expatchers

It was another birthday celebration for the expatchers and as luck would have it, two of our expats were back in town. Yes, it was their birthday month--Camilla was in from Mexico with an interesting story about her car accident on the way to the airport for her departure to the states. This accident, no fault of her own, put her off schedule by a day. Debby, who has moved to'foreign' Louisiana was also in attendance. We were missing our other March birthday gal, Chris, who resides in Australia. A shout out to Chris!! Happy Birthday!!
Several of the gals brought along their finished flannel blankets, which will be sent on their way to the welcoming arms of new mothers and their babies. The gals have certainly been busy. In the upstairs studio of our hostess, we viewed Judy's design wall where she is working on an Easter gift for her two young grandchildren. She is using this pattern from Block Party She had several of the patterns pieced and ready to assemble. She was planning to add a chalkcloth as a button on feature. The paper pieced flower garden blocks are not part of this block party quilt but a continuing journey in her handwork.
In the dining room, Judy had hung this wonderful quilt that she had recently quilted for a friend, who had pieced together a wonderful collection of sampler blocks.
This is just one example of how individual blocks can be tied together, giving one a restful and peaceful look.

Small Projects--little bit at a time!

It's easy to bite off a small portion of something and work it through. When there is a pattern that looks difficult or time consuming, a piece at a time will work just fine. So, there are a couple of year long projects that are resting on the project table and by biting off a small piece each week, eventually, the project will be completed. This project is from Debbie Mumm Block of the Month. At first glance, the recipe looks complicated, but look, it breaks down easily into small bits. Block One and Block Two. This is a color study. If you use the fabrics suggested in the instructions, you'll definitely see how color affects the pattern distribution. In order to bust my stash, the fabrics will be from the stockpile of leftovers.
Then there is the other challenge taking place in the studio-- Pinwheel Sampler QAL . This quilt along has been easy peasy--only because it was started early and hopefully, over the period of time this QAL last, it will still be easy to keep up.

Two blocks down and only 14 more to go!! Now, Friday Block Party is another story. In this challenge, how behind can one get? Say a year! but, so much fun to collect the patterns.

Winter Blues--Not Here!

Look at "Sock It To Me" Sock Monkey being the king of his domain! He just perched himself upon the arm of the rod iron frame. From there, in the warmth of woven scarves and colorful backgrounds, he can see the whole area of the weaving room.
And what does he see? Most often a messy weaving room--but there is some activity happening on occasion. We are back in the hat mode!! Oh, how we love that simple pattern shared by Colorado knitter friend Judy! It's great road trip knitting.
Green head is resting so the banister post was used as the model head.

All made from leftover bits of sock yarn--just might need to knit more socks in order to have more leftovers! This hat was made from handspun wool found in the aging bin. Worked nicely for a hat. Two other hats are on the needles--one is called Warm Ears Taos Hat--can be found here Straw into Gold and the other is another pattern from Knitter Judy and Black Water Abbey Yarns

Always Learning

The saying is that you learn something new each day--some days yes, but some days, you think not. And if you are a member of Ravelry , there is no excuse not to learn something new every day. And if not a member of this networking community, then you should join--it's free and simple and oh, the rewards for fiber addicts is outstanding!! There are new groups popping up often and when this lace sampler group came along, it was absolutely necessary to join. Never one to knit lace, this sounded perfect. The group would suggest themes for the month and the moderator or 'powers that be' of that group would give us a lace pattern for the month--what fun this has been and definitely a learning opportunity. Here is the pattern for February--an easy recipe to knit lace. Of course, attention must be paid to the right line of the pattern to knit and counting stitches is a must--not one of my strong suits. Below is January pattern, which was winter wonderland.
This lace yarn has been "stashed" for quite some time, so it is properly aged that's for sure!! And the fact is, this lace knitting is great fun--in small doses!
Having finished this wall hanging before Valentine's Day, it will linger in the pile of things to be quilted--maybe, it will be finished by Valentine's Day 2011. The tutorial for this hanging was found on Piece n Quilt website. She offers many tutorials. Also a new QAL (quilt along) has been placed along the side panel--join in on the fun of this pinwheel adventure. It sounds feasible--in small doses.