Keeping Track of Things We've Done

When I first dug out this blog from beneath the depths of reverted draft posts, I looked through the posts to republish them, and was surprised at how much I'd forgotten. Of the projects, I'd think, "Oh! I remember that." Of the technical aspect, I'd think, "Oh! I used to know that?" (Some of it I'm still waiting to remember, although I may just have to relearn it.) But also, I have things I wove or knitted prior to starting this blog, things that I don't seem to have a record of, other than the object itself. I still have a box of old notebooks to go through, so hopefully project details are recorded somewhere. I know some of my records and many photographs were lost with inevitable computer deaths. 

I suppose one question that could be asked is, how important is it to keep such a record? To some, the answer may be not at all. Or maybe for a seller, just a record of sales. To an analytical person like myself, it's very important because it's hardwired into my personality. That was why I started this journal in the first place. Now, coming back to the fiber arts so many years later, it's importance is all the more clear. It's a record of information that's useful to me. 

Years later, I'm realizing two things. One is that I haven't been very consistent. The second is that things are still difficult to find. That second reason in why I created a project gallery blog years ago. Yes, it showcases my projects, but it also helps me find the particulars about something I have in mind (ha! assuming I recorded said particulars. I'm trying to do a better job.)  

Anyway, I recently pulled out my fiber gallery blog, dusted it off, updated it, and am adding it to the link bar at the top of my blog.

Leigh's Fiber Gallery

Back to  my questions. Do you keep a record of your projects? How? Photos? Notebooks? Blog? Do you have suggestions for organizing them? Feedback welcome.

Keeping Track of Things We've Done

© 2023 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Project Planning Continued: Sample Color Swap

Yesterday, I showed you some graphic samples for planning my next weaving project. Your feedback was very helpful and got me thinking. Valerie mentioned the large solid areas and suggested swapping color order to avoid them. So, I experimented in WeaveDesign. All of them can be enlarged by clicking. As a side note, I have no idea about the cross hatching in the solid areas. Quirky things happened between WeaveDesign, Gimp, and Blogger. They look better when enlarged.

I started with sample #4 from yesterday's post.

First I tried swapping the medium gray warp for turquoise.

Definitely more interesting. Then I thought, well, the turquoise is just supposed to be an accent color. What if I swapped something else?

Next I tried swapping the medium gray for light gray in the warp. 

Then I tried swapping the medium gray for turquoise in the weft.

The thing is, preferences are all so subjective. Next, I definitely need to do some sampling on the loom.

Project Planning Continued: Sample Color Swap

© Sept. 2023 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Post:

Project Planning: What's Next?

Project Planning, What's Next?

Even before I'd finished the twill gamp dishtowels, I was thinking about what to do next. And while I have a study project in mind, first I wanted to think about the sample squares in my gamps, choose some of the ones I like, and see what I can do with them. Plus, with gift giving season coming up, I need to plan for that. It's been a long, long time since I've given a gift of handcrafted love.

The first project that comes to mind is a table runner for my daughter-in-law. I have the yarns in her decor colors, so that's a start. 

Her style is modern (contemporary?), so I want something that will compliment her home. Large stripes? Plaid? Classic twill? Suggestions?

I've been doodling on WeaveDesign, to see if anything strikes my fancy.

Sample #1: Random stripes of balanced twill and reverse with different colors for warp and weft.

I like that one, but need to see how the colors blend. I'm thinking the turquoise and light gray are too close in value to present a good contrast. I'm also concerned about the black and white. I confess these can be troublesome for me, because of their tendency to visually dominate. Yet they are very much a part of her decor, so I would like to incorporate them if I can. 

Sample #2: Fibonacci stripes in different colors for warp and weft. The weave is alternating warp and weft dominant twill. I like that this structure features the colors better. (I'm ignoring the errors).

I like the diamond pattern created at the reverse points of the twills. Stepping back, 

Can you see the diamonds? You can click the image to enlarge.

I like the way the black behaves in the above sample, but the horizontal white stripe is distracting. 

Sample #3: Here's one repeating the colors in warp and weft with white omitted. 

Using the same colors in both warp and weft creates some solid squares, but the software doesn't show the texture that would be there. Also, I want to see a larger sample for the overall affect. 

Sample #4: It occurred to me that the white might be more visually balanced if I treated it the same as the black, i.e. use it for warp and weft in the smallest stripes. I tried it alternating with the black.

This is identical to #3, except I added the white stripes.

The grays are dominant in the above sample, with the turquoise secondary. The black and white are accents. That pretty much reflects how she used these colors in her decor. The Fibonacci stripes gives it an asymmetrical look, but how would it look with equally sized stripes?

Sample #5: Stripes are all roughly the same size, except the black and white.

The squares aren't all the same size, but you get the idea.

Sample #6: Color change-up. I put the light gray and turquoise in the warp and the dark gray in the weft. The white and black continue to be accent stripes.

I have no idea where the faint checks in the background
came from. It was something Gimp did on its own.

At about that point I was getting a wee bit bleary eyed and needed to walk away from it. But that's the progression of my ideas so far.

What do you all think? So far, I like #4 and #5 best. I realize this is only a computer drawing, and the real thing will give me a better idea of what it will look like. I'm especially curious as to how the turquoise will blend with the grays. So, sampling on the loom is next. Unless I come up with another idea (which is likely).  

Project Planning, What's Next? © Sept 2023

by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related posts:

Project Planning Continued: Sample Color Swap

Table Runner 1: Samples 1

Table Runner 1: Samples 2 

A New Shuttle to Help With Two Things

Before I started weaving the overshot-fashion dishtowel of my twill gamp, I wanted to review yarn sizes. My warp was 8/2 and I needed a heavier yarn for the pattern weft. It's that heavier yarn that brings out the pattern. Of course, recommendations vary somewhat, but something I ran across was the idea to simply double the 8/2 to effectively make an 8/4 pattern weft. Since my stash is mostly 8/2s and 10/2s, that idea was certainly appealing. Yarn has gotten so expensive since I started weaving again, that I'm glad to use what I've already got! I can do this yarn doubling a number of ways: winding two 8/2s on the bobbin together, using two individual shuttles, or 

Double bobbin boat shuttle by Handywoman.

I found it on Etsy, where I had a $5-off coupon. This shuttle will expand my options for pattern weft as I can now easily double what I've already got without having to buy more yarn.

It came with two plastic bobbins!

It's so pretty that I just had to share it. The shuttle is expertly handcrafted, beautifully finished, and reasonably priced. I had a choice of woods and chose cherry. I especially like it because it is compact: 12-inches long and only 1-inch high, but it holds standard 4-inch bobbins. 

It was designed with rigid heddle looms in mind, which are smaller than floor looms and so benefit from equipment suited to them. I don't have a rigid heddle loom, but my table loom is small as well, and I find that using my taller shuttles means that it isn't long before I can no longer pass the shuttle through the warp shed. This low profile shuttle is not as tall as the more expensive brands, so it will give me a little more weaving room before I have to advance the warp.

Janet's shop on Etsy is here, but if you visit her website - Handywomanshop.com - you'll find a greater selection of items, more choices of woods, and better prices. She carries handcrafted weaving and spinning equipment and tools, including some amazingly unique shuttles, and even weaving themed jewelry!

Even though I wasn't planning to buy more equipment, this shuttle is something I'm glad I bought. It will help with both my yarn stash and my table loom. Many weave structures use a heavier pattern weft—including Summer & Winter, one of my favorites—so I know this new shuttle will get plenty of use in the future.

A New Shuttle to Help With Two Things

© Sept 2023 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related post:

First Warp on the Table Loom

Tablet Weaving: HallTex 152

This is another historical pattern developed from a very old piece. It was one of six tablet woven fragments excavated in the Kernverwasserungswerk Austrian salt mine in 1991. It's been dated between 400 and 800 B.C. Even though this pattern uses four threads per tablet for a total of 48 warp threads, a subsequent analysis determined that the extant piece was actually a skip hole design. So the original had 36 warps threads. I'll try that one in the future, but for now, will stick with the easier pattern shown here.

Pattern

These come from Lady Elewys of Finchingefeld, where she offered two options:

Option 1

Option 2

To start, I chose option 1. The difference between the two options is that option 2 uses yellow in the pattern as well as the borders. She also offers the skip hole pattern on the same web page, which I plan to try later. 

Yarn

Lion Brand Coboo, a cotton and bamboo rayon blend.

My Band

I've been so focused on finishing my twill gamp that I haven't done any tablet weaving for about six weeks. So, I was pleased when this band started off well; the handling the cards no longer felt awkward and they seemed very cooperative in my hands. Maybe I'm finally catching on! Until (there's always an "until," lol) I messed up. I tried to unweave it, but just got confused. But, that's why I'm doing practice pieces, so if I make mistakes I can just start the pattern over. 😏

Tablet Weaving: HallTex 152 © Sept 2023

by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

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Tablet Weaving Notes