Monday 17 August 2015

The weaving has started

First of all, congratulations to Andy Murry for winning the Montreal tournament. Not only that, he managed to beat his nemesis Novak! Also, welcome to Amy via Bloglovin.

I joined together all the cream coloured strips - for the warp, in a kind of knot (it isn't really a knot, just a way of joining that saves sewing them all together), then put them on the loom:
Beginning and ending with a loop created using a double knot (a proper knot this time). Several sheets and duvet covers had previously been gathered and I set to, tearing them into about 2" sections, pulling out any loose threads, rolling them to keep them flat. These are just a few of the many rolls I will need:
After 3 aborted attempts at turning around at the ends, which is so weird that even watching tutorials on how to do it, it still took both of us several attempts to just about understand it!  Every time I started, somewhere along the line, I realised I had yet again gone wrong on the ends, so gave up for the day.

The next day, computer close by and DB on standby, off I went again. Only had to pull it out twice this time - getting better then:)

Eventually I got to grips with it but still find the turns difficult, 2" done eventually:
Here is the right hand end, a slightly different size due to its weirdness:
I am not attempting any kind of pattern here, just using the rolls in the order they are lined up in the picture above and seeing how it turns out.


11 comments:

  1. This is looking MOST impressive. And I admire your determination to master turning at the ends- it appears to be very neat and tidy! a few questions - do you change colours in a planned way, or just use one of the rolls until you reach the end, then join in another? Approx how long are those rolls? - is each one the length of a duvet- or have you joined them? Having just tidied my airing cupboard I am speculating about re-using some of my old bedlinens for such a project. Great post - looking forward to seeing the progress of your project - may you weave joy and laughter alongside the warp and weft!!

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    1. As I finish one strip I pick up the next colour bar one. i.e. if I finish the green, I was going to pick up the pink colour on the left bunch of rolls then decided to pick up every other one (after the green I pick up the lemon - as the pink was torn length ways on a quilt whereas the other strips were torn crossways, if that makes sense! I don't want to be weaving two knots simultaneously as they would get in the way of each other. If two strips look likely to be finishing at a similar time, I cut one back by several inches so the knots weave in separately. I am also rolling in the sides of each strip so not two many loose ends are visible which helps it look neater. The length of each strip is determined by whether you tear them lengthwise or width wise. Each roll has 10 strips on it with the joining slits cut in before rolling up.

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    2. Terrible spelling in places there! Forgot to say it gives you shoulder ache as I am weaving slightly above my shoulder height. However that should diminish as I progress! I'm trying to do no more than 10 rows a day which gives 5 rows of chevrons.

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  2. Go for it. You're much more patient than me! Can't wait to see the end result. X

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    1. Thanks, wonder how long it will take me!

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  3. My goodness, as you know - thank you for the welcome! - I am new to your blog so I have no idea what is going on here, but it looks fascinating, so I look forward to seeing more! xx

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  4. Oh how I wish I had your patience!!!

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    1. I have become more patient over the years but still have hissy fits!

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  5. That's an awesome rag rug design! I was expecting bog standard weaving, this is very clever. Lovely colours!

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    1. Thank you but twining rags comes out like that, herring bone pattern perhaps? The choice of colours can be used to create patterns. Enjoying my new hobby.

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