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Archive for August, 2007

Aug 26

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Happy Weaving

This current warp has been very problematic. On the last warp I experimented with simply lacing the warp to the front beam but this time I just couldn’t get the tension to behave. I think that lacing works better on a narrower warp.
So I went back to my long standing technique. It allows fine adjustment to individual bouts of the warp and errors are easier to get at. It also allows finer tension adjustment than the traditional method. I haven’t seen my method on the net although I’m sure many weavers use it.

The next problem was HUGE. As my loom is a jack loom system I’ve never really had relaxing weaving on it because the bottom threads of every shed are loose and my shuttle gets stuck just about every time. I have cursed my shuttle throwing technique and my warping methods but now realise it is the down side of the jack loom system. I weave with fine yarn and this doesn’t help. Also it is easier with a narrow warp than a wide one.

After searching Weave Tech list I tried raising the back beam, then inserting the lease sticks at the the back of the heddles, but nothing worked. I then refered to the Master Weaver Series by SA Zielinski and he illustrated a decepively simple solution.
I hung a dowel between the heddles and the reed (from the castle). With a bit of fine adjustment it sits in such a position to slightly raise all of the bottom ends in any shed.
Here is a photo of the shed behind the reed. It just tightens the bottom threads. The down side is the actual shed for the shuttle is smaller but it is good and easy to weave through.
I’m a happy weaver and the weaving is underway.

Aug 16

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Saori and Talking for the Week

What a week! It seems there’s been no time for blogging or even thinking. I’m still threading the thousands on ends on my new project so haven’t got much to show on that at the moment.

My ‘lecture’ went well this week, and my artist audience was generous and lovely. But I was shocked that I could have talked for nearly two hours! My friends and husband weren’t surprised though. Don’t worry I gave them all a coffee break in the middle and I didn’t see any of them fall asleep. The biggest surprise was that I was in a proper lecture room like in the movies. The set up of the room made everything great. I particularly like a lectern or table to put my notes on when I talk as sometimes my hands shake even when I don’t particularly feel nervous. I guess it’s easy to talk when you love your subject. Even though apparently many people are more terrified of public speaking than dying!

The other exciting weaving development is the arrival of my Saori weaving loom from Osaka. It is a really beautiful loom. It is finely engineered with simple elegance and a pure pleasure to weave on. No wonder Saori is accessible to so many people. The loom really says it all. I’m very, very impressed.It already has its first appearance booked at another lecture.
A little ‘real’ lecture room made all the difference for a presentation.
I only received the loom an hour before it was up and running as Saori includes a pre-threaded warp to start you up.
The loom comes with all accessories including a bobin winder attached to the side of the loom and a lovely shelf to place your ‘colours’ on. I have always maintained that table looms just turn people off weaving as most are slow and clumsy. Saori has foot powered pedals which makes the weaving process a joy and allows you to really ‘breathe’ in the fabric being woven.

Aug 14

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My Life has Changed – well just a bit!

It doesn’t take much to change my life! But everything seems to have gone mono coloured compared to this nifty little tool. Sandra called it a ‘must have tool’ and it certainly is.

I managed to get this Conair hair braider off ebay and it really is the greatest thing for a weaver. I spend hours and hours doing twisted fringes on all my work and this little gadget will make the task alot easier.

It really isn’t actually a braider – this is a misnomer even for hair enthusiasts. It is a cord twister. Very nifty. See Sandra’s blog for how to use it.

Tomorrow I’m doing a presentation called ‘Threads of Passion’ to Fine Arts students at Great Lakes Campus of TAFE. The words passion and threads just go so well together, don’t you think?

Fringes done with the braider
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