Monday, January 19, 2009

Snowball, Star, or Snowflake?

By Leigh

This is the next section of the same draft as the pine trees.

Leigh's S&W table runner on the loomIt is the sort of motif that seems to be common with the pine tree draft. My question is,what is it? Different drafts of the same sort sometimes call them "snowballs" also "roses." I'm not sure what this one looks like. Certainly not a snowball, and doubtful it looks like a rose. Maybe more of a star or a snowflake (my terms), but not quite.

At any rate, they use the same threading draft as the pine trees; they are simply treadled differently. I like the way this version looks (from Carol Strickler's A Weaver's Book of 8-Shaft Patterns, #549 page 155), and if you're glancing at it from your galloping horse, you won't notice the treadling error. Nor the inconsistent beat.

My plan for this table runner is to weave three of these in between pine tree borders.

Posted 19 Jan. 2009 at http://leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com

Related Posts:
Back to the Pine Trees
More On Motifs
Summer & Winter Pine Tree Table Runner

12 comments:

Lynnette said...

Can't wait to see the finished runner, it looks great in pieces.

MiniKat said...

Very cool. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Taryl said...

It's a beautiful motif, and I agree that it looks more like a snowflake to me. I am sure it will look stunning when it's done!

Anonymous said...

I always thought star and rose were two general categories for block designs like this. My guess is that it is considered part of the rose category because of the design looks more like an "O" than an "X". I would need to go looking through my books.

Snowflake sounds good though. With the pine trees, the design makes me think of a ski lodge. Very pretty.

Julie said...

At first glace I was going to say snowflake, I don't see a rose at all. Its looking really nice I can't wait to see it done.

Sheepish Annie said...

I see frost on the windowpane. But that might have something to do with its being square and the fact that it is so cold here I can think of nothing but frosty windows.

Either way, it's awfully pretty. Nice work!

bspinner said...

Some times I wonder where a lot of the names for weavings come from. More like a snowball. No matter what it's name it certainly is very nice.

Gwen said...

I vote for snowflake! :)

Sharon said...

All I can say is I am so jealous of your weaving time. This day off was spent in jillions of errands. I should know by the end of the week if my bid to retire early is accepted. If so, ya better watch out. I'll be trying all your tricks!

pethikemou said...

hi leigh,
when i squint my eyes (an artist's trick) it looks like a snowball hitting a window and sort of "exploding" outward. so i clearly understand the snowball reference. but i also like sheepish annie's thoughts on how frost sometimes organizes itself on frozen windows...so, although not quite a snowflake, more like ice crystals.
as always, i am highly appreciative that you take the time to share so much of your work and experience. i especially adore the pics of rascal trying to "help"!

Anonymous said...

Hey there Miss Leigh -- on my coverlet, I'm calling it a Pine Tree and Bird's Nest design. I was scouring around places also to pinpoint the pattern name (and these vary from region to region) but did run across this same motif referred to as a bird nest.

Star or rose, in classic coverlet motifs refer to the type of treadling. One of which produces a more star like -- and the other a more rounded, or rose-like motif. Makes sense eh?

Here's a link to a photo of another coverlet that has the same motif:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081108/OPINION03/811080309&imw=Y

refered to as "Bird's Nest with Pine Tree border"

FUN!

The runner is going to be gorgeous!

Jane

Leigh said...

I appreciate all the comments! It's fun trying to figure out what the motif looks like.

Jane, thanks for sharing this! Very interesting article.