Tag: band

Critter Napkins Change of Outcome

Karen

Twelve different critters, designed and woven with checked borders. This is combination drawloom weaving at its best, to create fun napkins that our grandchildren will enjoy using. However, as I unroll the length of 6-shaft broken twill fabric from the drawloom’s cloth beam–critter after critter, a new idea emerges. I’ve been weaving these critter napkins for quite some time, and have never considered another use for these woven animals–all of which have been seen on our Texas Hill Country property at one time or another.

Time for cutting off!
As the critters roll off the cloth beam, a new idea starts rolling off my mind.

Then, as I lay the fabric out across the floor, the fresh idea crystallizes. This would make a spectacular throw!

Armadillo, Fox, Porcupine, Jackrabbit, Whitetail Buck, Wild Turkey, Roadrunner, Longhorn Steer, Texas Spiny Lizard, Ringtail, Raccoon, and Blackbuck Antelope. And then as extra, three dogs from our children’s families – Luna, Toby, and Comet.

Just like that, and the critter napkins go out the window (figuratively speaking). Now I am imagining three panels of four critters each, sewn together into one large piece.

Laying out the washed and dried panels in different configurations to find the most pleasing arrangement.
Three panels of different lengths are arranged strategically. Sample weaving from the beginning and end of the warp will fill in the spaces at the top and bottom of the shorter panels. I am trying to find a woven band (at far end of table) from my “band box” to use for covering seams of the pieced ends.

Yes, this is the best use of this woven treasure that I have had so much delight in designing and weaving! All the fascinating creatures can be seen at once, on the front or on the reverse side.

This is something we can enjoy together with our grandchildren when they are at our home!

I decide to create a couple handwoven bands from the linen and cottolin threads in the critter fabric. These bands will be the perfect complement with which to finish this project.

I am designing stripes to weave a narrow band on my Glimåkra Band Loom that I can use with the Critter Throw. The stripe pattern on the far right is the one I am choosing to use.
Band is black on one edge and midnight blue on the opposite edge. This beautiful band is a joy to weave.
I thought I would weave just part of this warp, and then start on a wider band that will also be used for assembling the Critter Throw. Once I got started on this band, I wanted to keep going. I sat in front of the fireplace fire a few evenings in a row and happily finished off this 9-meter warp.
This is more handwoven narrow band than I need for this project. Much of it will go into my box of handwoven bands. You never know when you’ll need another band for something.
Designing a wider band that corresponds to the narrower band.
This band is about 2 cm wide, which is just right for what I have in mind. When I finish this 5.5-meter warp I will be ready to assemble the Critter Throw!

Handwoven fabric has surprising lessons for us woven in! We might be certain that we know what we are doing. I knew I was weaving critter napkins, and never questioned it. One view of the bigger picture, though, changed everything. God has a bigger picture of our existence than we realize. He invites us to see life from his view through faith in Jesus Christ. In the moment we give him our heart, everything changes, and that’s when we see what we were really made for.

May your changes be for the better.

Happy Weaving,
Karen

New Life for an Old Rigid Heddle Loom Blanket

Karen

My weaving interest started in 1982 when I happened across a rigid heddle loom class by Lynn Tedder at Johnson Atelier in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I acquired a 32-inch Beka Rigid Heddle Loom and began weaving during snippets of time as I was being a full-time mommy to one, two, and then three little ones. One of my very first projects on that simple loom was a wool color gamp sampler. I wove full width for a length equal to two panels that I then hand-stitched together to make a small blanket. That little blanket got a lot of use and wear, and at some point I packed it away because some of the edges had become a little ragged over time.

In 2019 I finished one of my first warps on the drawloom–Tuna wool fabric in which I wove designs for a simple vest I would make for myself. I created the pattern for the vest, and after doing several muslins, I wanted to do a mockup in similar weight to the wool fabric from the drawloom. I dug out that old rigid heddle loom blanket! Perfect for this assignment as a mockup.

I made a mockup for the drawloom vest. I cut the mockup vest from a plain weave color gamp sampler blanket I wove on my 32″ Beka rigid heddle loom in 1982. The blanket was made from two panels hand-stitched together down the middle.
Wool vest made in January 2020 from fabric woven on the drawloom.

Why not make that color gamp mockup into a wearable vest on its own? That is what I have finished this week. The pictures that follow tell the story.

I made the mockup vest with overlapped seams.
I am using handwoven bands to cover the seams on the vest. This pretty band was woven a couple years ago on a small band heddle that Steve made for me.
Double fold bias tape covers all the edges of the vest. First I stitch the tape to the edge of the vest, right sides together. You can see another handwoven band that I am using to cover the shoulder seams.
Next, I fold the bias tape around the edge and to the inside, and “stitch in the ditch” to catch the edge of the bias tape on the inside of the vest.
I found this two-part metal closure in my box of sewing odds and ends. It’s perfect for this vest. The thimble is one my grandmother used in her many hand-sewing projects.
Simple closure for a simple vest.
Sewing my handwoven label on the lower edge of the inside is the finishing touch.
Rigid heddle blanket, now a wearable vest!

When I think about how the Lord allowed me to discover the joy of weaving on a simple little frame loom… And how He has allowed me to enjoy growing in these skills, and how I get to have the pleasure of weaving on a not-so-simple large drawloom… It reminds me of Psalm 16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; at Your right hand are eternal pleasures.”

Happy to wear a remnant of my rigid heddle loom days!

Thanksgiving: Giving thanks to the Lord for allowing us to know the joy of walking in His path of life.

Happy Thanks Giving, Karen

New Handwoven Band Is Just Right

Karen

I have an ample stash of handwoven bands. Still, I am making a new handwoven band that is “just right” for the strap on a simple shoulder bag I am making from a rag rug remnant. I pull several near-empty tubes of 12/6 cotton rug warp from the shelves to wind a five-meter warp. I enjoy finding bits of rug warp that can work together—all left over from various rag rug projects.

Using 12/6 cotton rug warp to thread the heddles on the Glimåkra two-treadle band loom.

I warp the band loom and start weaving. Ah, what a pleasure to make a specific strap for a specific bag! And all of it from what I have on hand. It’s a picture of the way love takes odds and ends like you and me, and finds a way to make us fit together.

Band for handbag strap is about 4.2cm wide. The warp is long enough for a handbag strap, plus a few meters extra. 🙂
Blue 12/6 cotton weft makes the selvedges look good, since it is the same blue as the outer threads on both sides of the band.
Band-loom weaving is rhythmic and relaxing. Some unevenness in the warp is evidenced by the slight curve at the fell line. I’m not worried. It will straighten itself out as I keep weaving.

It’s like preparing a simple meal for family. You figure out what you have, you scrape together what you can, and you spend time in the kitchen to put it all together. It’s not fancy, nor is it perfect. But it’s good. Love, after all, is the primary ingredient for a good family meal. Love is the primary ingredient for a lot of good things, isn’t it?

May your family meals be really good.

Happy weaving,
Karen

Let it Snow! Drawloom Treasures

Karen

Let it snow indoors! New Christmas snowflake banners are suspended up high, above our kitchen counter, facing our open living room. The three mostly-blue banners hang in mid-air so they can be viewed from either side. These are lasting treasures from the drawloom that I can bring out year after year. They’ll never get old.

Making loops from a handwoven band for hanging the banners. First, I zigzag to secure ends, and then cut the strips apart.
Handwoven linen band is cut into segments.
Loops are machine-stitched to back of banner hem with two rows of straight basting stitches (easy to remove later).

Christmas is new every year. There are new sights and sounds that add to the season. The message of Christmas is the same as always, though, that God loved us in this way—he sent his Son Jesus to be born into our world so that whoever believes in him may be born into God’s family. The newness is in God’s mercy, new every morning.

Ready for display!

Raise banners of joy to celebrate. Glory to the newborn King.

Merry Christmas!

May you celebrate from the heart.

Glad tidings of Christ’s birth,
Karen

Elegant Linen at the Top

Karen

Linen puts elegance in the picture. That’s why I am using 16/2 linen to make hanging loops for my three Christmas Snowflake banners. Before I hang the festive banners, though, I am embracing Thanksgiving. More than a food-filled holiday, Givingthanks is a treasure-filled way of living.

Short warping sticks on the warp beam of the Glimåkra Band Loom help the linen warp threads wind on with even tension. Blue basket underneath catches the warping sticks as they fall when I advance the warp.
Band made with 16/2 linen, warp and weft, is a sturdy band. The saturated blue shows off the glimmering luster of linen.
I like to weave as far as I possibly can, sometimes squeezing the last few weft picks through an increasingly smaller shed. Until it is nearly impossible to do one more pick.
Weaving to the end.
Cutting off reveals a lustrous woven band, perfect for the Christmas Snowflake Banners.

Our heavenly Father’s faithfulness is displayed like a banner in our lives when we attach the elegance of a thankful heart to everything we encounter. This season of gratitude extends for a lifetime.

Christmas Snowflake Banners, woven on the drawloom. Each banner will have three or more loops at the top edge, through which a rod will be inserted for suspending the festive banners for display.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give him thanks. Praise his name. For the LORD is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.

May you overflow with thanks.

Thankful for you,
Karen