Hemstitching on the loom is the best solution to finishing off edges neatly sometimes. I find it easy to do and the edges are finished when taken off the loom. I’m using this method for multiple woven shibori scarves on the loom at the moment.
Finishing off edges neatly is always a challenge for a weaver. I usually don’t want to just machine or even hand hem a scarf. The warp threads are part of the uniqueness of handwoven textiles. They aren’t cut and are woven in one piece.

This is a small collection of my work. I like to use lots of colour.

Wallabi-Saltwater collection in double weave. Rayon and cotton.	Bushfire Series. Commemorating Ash Wednesday Fires.
Renewal. Commissioned wall drape.	Ikat textile. Warp faced cotton.
Ikat Textile. Warp Faced cotton.	Sequin weave scarf series. Double weave pocket textile.
Fringe Weave.Hand-dyed cotton and rayon
Celtic Double Weave Runner. Cotton and Rayon

I’m really happy with the way this turned out. I begun spinning up this yarn last winter and you can see the roving on my previous blog.
It is in brioche stitch and the softness and loft are great. I actually dyed up a whole kilo of roving so I could be spinning for quite a while!
This is for my husband Dave. He has never owned a scarf and perhaps now is the time.

The EDM challenge this week to continue with a self portrait induced me to try again. This time with a pen, straight in, no excess measuring and being content to restate over and over. I’ve also drawn this from a photo which changes the dynamics – but I’m happier about this drawing in some ways. The pen medium has something that the pencil doesn’t. I love pencil but somehow my brain and hands handle the drawing subject in different ways.
To me, all aspects of drawing and sketching are interesting. It makes me feel more relaxed about life…sort of having a secret (like chocolate) to look forward to all the time.

Drawing = chocolate?

It’s not all the time that an experimental textile is so pleasing, but this was. Undoing all of the knots after dyeing produced the most beautiful fluid designs on my woven shibori. I used a combination of fibre reactive dyes which I think simulates indigo to achieve the effect. It certainly made my complaint of weaving in boring old white yarn put to rest.
I’m going to weave lots of these!
Here’s a beautiful drawing of a plain weave basket.

I couldn’t wait to start my sampling of woven shibori after reading Catharine Ellis’s book of the same name.

I enjoyed weaving the cloth and it came along quite quickly and enjoyably although there are 2 shuttles in use.
The cloth is tencel and the shibori threads are mercerised cotton. This is a strong, smooth thread which will take the pressure of pulling and tying it.


I used a 16 shaft twill for the shibori thread, starting with 4 rows of plain weave between, then 8 rows then 12. I also increased the length of the twill skips as I wove to experiment in the sample.
I don’t like weaving with a plain, white yarn on the loom, and next time I will probably paint it first like this weaver has done.
After weaving the thread pulling was very easy.
It’s now ready to dye.

Portraits of the self are difficult and I think require a real study – doing lots of experiments. Anyway, I enjoyed drawing it and had a splash with the watercolours as well.
Self portraits also expose us in a very public way, which I think prevents me from seeing the subject in an honest way…of course putting this drawing up on a public blog also asks for exposure! There are paradoxes everywhere.

Here’s a photo of Teresa, my daughter, wearing my birthday present…a sari from India. Aysha kindly brought it back and it’s so exciting to have one. I think the sari is one of the most beautiful clothing ideas ever. It’s especially so for weavers as it is simply a long length of uncut cloth (about 6 metres, sometimes more). On this uncut cloth we can exercise all our most intricate woven and embroidery textile techniques unimpeded by cutting and seaming.

I’ve always been puzzled and dazzled by how the sari is draped on the body. As most scarfy textiles repeatedly fall off mine, I imagined some supremely genetically advanced body system in those who wear them so gracefully. Perhaps they have ’squarer’ shoulders or more adhesive skin or something. Luckily after all these misplaced thoughts, Aysha has enlightened me. You can use safety pins! and some fabrics are easier than others.

But having said this it seems that draping a sari is still a very skillful achievement, and it helps if you learn from those around you. I’ve no chance.