Bring Out The Colors!

The end of the year meeting for WOW (Way Out West) Weavers is show and tell for members projects woven throughout the year. During 2011-12, the study was color--no specific color, but color inspiration.

Margery was the first to present her fabulous color project--A Chuppah for her son's summer wedding.  Here she is presenting how she will place the cloth over the traditional poles for the wedding ceremony.

Margery dyed (Sabrcon dyes) all the tencil with colors chosen by her future daughter-in-law.

She took the pattern from Carol Strickler's book "A Weavers Book of 8 Shaft patterns"



These drafts were woven in the book by Betty Burian Kirk .  This length of cloth can be readily used by DIL as table runner or even evening shawl after the wedding.

D'Anne presented a sampler from Ruby Leslie workshop on color.

This 4 shaft huck variation (Lattice Weave) woven on 4 shaft Wolf pup with 8/2 tencel sett @ 16 epi

Linda had her satin weave runner to show--irregular 6 shaft satin, using Lunatic Fringe 10/2 cotton, sett @ 24 epi

This photo was her inspiration for the weaving.

Weft face--The Swedish Way, Volume 1, pg 16

Marian has shown so many lovely color weaving at past meetings but today she pulled out just a sample she is working with--a compound weave structure.

Then we come to Julie--who used snowflakes as her inspiration!  We think she captured the look of snow to give us an icy feel.  The pattern is overshot, Remembrance, sett @ 24 epi.  She used 20/2 bamboo for warp and several skeins of rayon embroidery floss as weft.

Relatively new weaver Lisa was modeling her woven shawl just hot off the loom--we are so proud of Lisa as she has come so far in her learning process.

Up close and personal of Lisa's shawl structure.

Lisa also had this colorful overshot sampler using cotton warp and merino warp.  She took the patterns from Deborah Chandler's "Learning to Weave" book.

Oops, back to overachiever Julie! as she pulled out 10 yds of lace woven ribbon!  Yes, ribbon (40/2 linen warp and sewing thread weft--sett @ 36 epi)  This is the third ribbon yardage Julie has woven to be used in decorative plates--these will be in the fall guild sale!!



Karen I (a fairly new weaver) showed off her huck woven towels and washcloths.  Two of these towels will be baby gifts while another huck lace will be given to her mother so she can do Swedish weaving on the structure--what great gifts. 
Perfect day--super weavings--great learning experience!  Study topic for 2012-13 is still under consideration.

Blue, Blue and more Blue

What's this?  Just a pile of strips cut from a shopping bag--that's what it is.  And what do you do with these strips??

Why you use them to wrap your warp or weft threads for an ikat project.  It takes some time and definitely it takes a little tug and pull to make sure there will be no leakage when the yarn goes into the dye pot.  It is dye day!!  And we are headed to Sky Loom Weavers on our regular Tuesday monthly meeting.

And we are trying out this 'new' (to us) indigo powder--instant, the label reads.  Time will tell if it really works instantly.

Our dye host, Penny, has the indigo dye vat at the right temperature and we are ready to immerse.

Rosemary's taupe color silk goes in first.

And then a few more bundles.  The plastic strips just want to float so Penny so gracious enough to hold it under--no blue hands for this gal--rubber gloves are a must!

Kate adds her dyed yarns to the line--

We could sing "Are We Blue..." but so far we are pleased with the results as seen now.

Rosemary's taupe colored silk has taken on an unique blue tint.

Connie wanted to dye cotton yardage and used this interesting way to clamp her fabric.  She didn't want board marks so wrapped plastic around her fabric before she placed the boards on top and bottom--clever!

As our yarns dry, we continue inside to have our show and tell portion of the morning.  Here on Penny's sideboard are her finished towels--ready and waiting for the next sale day.

We all oooh and ahhh over her natural cotton table runner--way to go Penny!

This table topper is woven by Scharine of Ryukyu Heritage Textiles.  She is continuing the legacy of her family traditions.

Oh, so smart--Rosemary has taken a jump on our yearly project goal and woven an ikat runner!  She used kool-aide for the red colors on this silk fiber--gee whiz Rosemary--you are such an overachiever!

A close-up of her work--not bad!



Spring time still bounds along the roadways!  What a pleasant drive!  And the back roads were all like this--a painting perfect view! 

And Now For The Show...................

In the previous post, we had photos of 'orphan' blocks that were found in the storage bin.  We must say sufficiently 'aged' blocks!  Here's how they were finished off.

The tops need to be under 44" wide so most fabrics will work as backing, hence the reason the side borders are less than the top and bottom.  This one was sashed with 1.5" mellow yellow border, then this green polka dot fabric brightened up the otherwise dull center.

This one worked out perfectly using two shades of blue for the borders and since these are charities quilts for Binky Patrol, funky fabric was a must.

You've got to love these mysteries!!  This package was also found in the storage bin--everything you see here was in the envelope and that's all.  At least, there was one finished block to give some idea of how to make similar blocks.  Why oh why wasn't it finished in the first place??????

Luckily, there were several of these sewing patterns in the bin also--okay, sew up some 2" finished half square triangles and go from there.

This small hanging was a finished project this week!!  Hurrah!  Although it's small and easy to do, it feels good to accomplish something and not put it in the storage bin to age!!! 

Tying Up Some Loose Ends

Recently, while cleaning out the storage bins, these blocks were found in the bottom.  What to do with all these loose blocks that have no rhythm or reason for being there--most likely from an exchange in another life.  The blocks needed to come to some fruition for a good purpose and hence, here is what we did in the sewing room.

These bear paw blocks measured 6.5".

As did these nine patch blocks.

And one lonely heart block...............

Even though we had several bear paw blocks, only four were needed.

The blocks for this top measured 4.5" and included several paper pieced blocks that were received in a block exchange in early 1990's.  Boy, that seems like yesterday but to figure it was over 15 years ago--these blocks are sufficiently aged!!
The dilemma--how to finish these center blocks?  What would look good as borders?  Solid colors?  Bright colors?  Prints?  Stripes?  Oh, Woe is Me--we just can't let these things age anymore than we need to--so they are pinned to the design wall as we audition different fabrics. 

This Little Pig................................

This little pig travels with us everywhere.  He has been to many US states and to foreign countries like Canada, Mexico, China and others to numerous to name.  He is always willing to travel.  He doesn't eat much, sleeps alot and doesn't make much noise.  He is willing travel companion. 

He fits nicely in the side pocket of a canvas bag. 

He even has his own backpack to carry any essentials he might need.

He fits comfortably in a jeans pocket as well.  And he wears his handwoven bands to show his true pride.

Unfortunately, this last trip he had to hurry to the side of his adopted grandmother as she lay ill in a hospital.  There were few stops along this journey--only rest stops, like this one on the Kansas turnpike where he perched on the sunflower emblem.

If he'd had a choice, he would have flown--but we all know pigs can't fly!  But this one can if given the chance!  And so, the trip came to an end at his adopted grandmother's side and miracles of all miracles, she rebounded and was moved to a skilled care facility where she will receive much needed rehab.  Once, again this little pig climbed back into his comfortable sleeping spot in the canvas bag as his job was done and off we go......to return to our home state.

He was waken from a nap as we approached the Texas welcome stop.  He was so anxious to pose for this photo that he didn't even change into his journey garment.

It wasn't long before we found the roadsides covered in blooms!  Bluebonnets!  And little pig saw a photo op--what a bright spring day it was as he trounced through the lovely scented flowers.

Ah, sweet Spring has returned and so has this little pig...............................until the next adventure.

Have a look at something finished out of the UFO stack!  We really like working on Sindy's 2012 BOM!  How fun these chickens are....................................

Is this not a chicken with an attitude??  Love working with the bright colors and using up small pieces from the 'trash' bin.

And these blocks came together into this........................

Just have to change it around somehow to make it interesting!  and for some WIP's (works in progress) well, almost in progress............................

The next pattern in the Stephen West's shawl club is out!  Always exciting!  and deciding on the yarn to use is the next step in the process.  Searching through all the stash takes some time and finally, here is what was decided on..................... 

Lorna's Laces sock yarn--this shawl should be cheery and perfect for spring (if we finish in time for spring!) and have you seen the new patterns out on Knitty website!  Take a look at this unique sock pattern titled Carousel !  This will be perfect to use one of these yarns from.........

String Theory Colorworks which we purchased at January Spin-in.  Okay, now we're off to listen to the birds sing their songs, watch the leaves turn green and flowers to bloom as we decide on needles and then wind the skeins into balls for future knitting.  Happy stitching to you during these spring days.

Completion!

It has been a slow start to the year--but, guess that's not all bad! Slow is good, huh? But, the past few weeks we have churned out a few things. 

Little Miss Shabby was the host for a stitch along during 2011--maybe you saw previous posting of the individual blocks.  Finally, finally, the border was decided--with a little help from quilting friends who suggested the larger scale pattern.  Okay, off to the quilters long arm this will go.

This will a quick and fun stitching project.

Another stitching project took place last summer--this from the studio of Crab-apple Hill.  "To Grandmother's house we go"--whoa!  lots of stitching, but fun to do!  And then the finishing..........................

Luckily, all the right fabrics were in the stash--or could it be we purchased all the fabrics needed over the year it took to finish?!!

Here is the finished charity quilt top--well, almost finished--still need to sew the blocks together but it will go to the quilter soon.

This is February shawl from Westknits and the genius minds of Stephen West.  We are using stash yarn--yes, we are!!

Detail

And here is March's creation!  more stash yarn out of the closet!!

Now, this was total genius at work!  so unusual--thanks Stephen! Next one waiting in the wings.