I found a subject for my next transparency. It’s a prickly pear cactus in Texas hill country. Weaving this cactus is a fantastic experience! I started with a photograph, from which I made a cartoon. And I have an outline that shows where to place each color. It’s all based on the timeless beauty of colors in nature. I’m hopeful that when light shines through the final woven transparency we will see a likeness of the original cactus.
Make a Cartoon
- Crop and enlarge the photo. (I use Acrobat Reader to enlarge and print in multiple pages, and then tape the pages together.)
- Outline the main lines of the picture.
- Turn the enlarged picture over and draw the traced lines on the back to have the reverse image. (This transparency is woven from the back.)
- Trace the line drawing onto a piece of buckram to use as the cartoon.
- Draw a vertical dashed line down the center of the buckram cartoon.
- Pin the cartoon under the weaving, lining up the center line on the cartoon with the center warp end. Move the pins, one at a time, before advancing the warp each time.
Color Selection
- Use the photograph to select yarn colors for the transparency. (I used the iPad to view the photo, and selected sixteen shades of 20/2 Mora wool.)
- Sort the yarn by hues. (I used my iPhone camera black-and-white setting to help in the sorting.) Sorting by hues helps me blend similar-hued colors, and shows me the contrasts that will help define the picture.
- Assign a number to each yarn color.
- Make the enlarged outline into a color-by-number sheet by designating a color or blend of colors for each section. (I taped this sheet to the wall beside my loom, to use as a color guide. The iPad photo also serves as a reference.)
Virtues are timeless. Virtues are like colors that blend together to weave a masterpiece. When we let the Grand Weaver lay in the weft, these are the colors that appear as light shines through His woven transparency: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. And when this occurs, it shows that we are made in His image.
May the next leg of your journey be a fantastic experience.
I’ll meet you back here on Tuesday, August 1st, 2017.
In the meantime, I hope you investigate claims of Jesus. Take time with people. Keep weaving. And the same for me.
Head over to Instagram to stay in touch with my daily journey.
Love,
Karen
This is going to be fabulous!
Good morning, Beth, I hope it will be! I know it will be fun to work on, in any case.
Thanks!
Karen
So exciting to see your transparency! That is my absolute favorite thing to weave, and yours is inspiring me to do another one too. What size linen and sett are you using?
Hi Lynette, You are responsible for inspiring me! I couldn’t stop thinking about your beautiful transparencies, and knew I wanted to make another attempt. It’s not hard for me to understand why this is your very favorite thing to weave. I may be following you in that! I can’t thank you enough for answering my questions behind the scenes!
This is 16/2 linen, 12 epi.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
You’ve put lots of planning time into this piece. Can’t wait to see the finished work!
Hi D’Anne, The planning for this has been a lot of fun. I was getting discouraged trying to find a good subject to weave, but when I found this pic that I took on our own property I got pretty excited about the whole thing! I can’t wait to show it to you when it’s finished!
Karen
This is so exciting Karen, I can’t wait to see it!! Have a wonderful vacation, I will be looking forward to august and this finished piece!
Liberty
Hi Liberty, Yes, it is exciting! Thank you. I will be eager to show the finished cactus, I’m sure!
Karen
Love this!
Wende, Thanks so much!
Karen,
Where in the hill country do you live? I so enjoy your blog- I like how you “weave” your faith in your posts!! Gifted weaver and writer?
Maria, We are a little north of Kerrville. We currently live in the Houston area, but this special place in Kerrville will become our permanent home when my husband retires. Your sweet thoughts are very touching. Let me know when you will be in Houston again, or in hill country. I’d love to meet up.
Happy weaving,
Karen
I am so glad I found your site! I love everything and have a lot to learn!
I love how you try to do every so nice and neat!
Carol
Hi Carol, It’s wonderful to have you here! We’re all learning, so this is a great place to learn together.
Welcome,
Karen
Great blog! Thanks for posting so much info.
Hi Patricia, Welcome! I’m glad you’re here, and that you’re finding information that suits your needs.
Happy weaving,
Karen