Tag: children

End of the Warp – Critter Napkins

Karen

Thank you for following along on this lengthy Critter Napkins project. Twelve critter napkins on the combination drawloom. These are hefty napkins with children in mind. Since showing you the roadrunner a few months ago, I have been busy weaving more critters. I have woven the final five, plus three bonus animals…

Texas Longhorn Steer. Longhorn steer, designed from a photo taken by Steve when the steer was passing through our property. You can see the legs of the humorous wild turkey on the cloth beam below.
Texas Spiny Lizard. This is a common lizard in Texas Hill Country.
Ringtail. Colloquially called “ringtail cat,” the ringtail is a completely nocturnal animal. Because of our game camera we know he has visited our back deck.
Raccoon. Mr. Raccoon tries to go unnoticed, but we have seen him taking figs from the fig tree and bird seed from the bird feeder.
Blackbuck Antelope. The beautiful blackbuck antelope is not native to Texas, but we often see these exotic animals in our area.

I have some warp left. I am pretty sure it is enough to weave one or two more napkins. But can I squeeze out three more? Maybe… I want to try. Luna, Toby, and Comet are the family dogs of our three children’s families. Perfect subjects for finishing out this warp.

Weaving the first two dogs, no problem. But as the back tie-on bar moves closer to the front every time I advance the warp, I begin to wonder if I’ve made a big mistake. The shed is decreasing. The children and grandchildren are all expecting their dogs to be woven. I can’t do two dogs, and not the third. Will I have to tie on warp to finish? Will I have to use a shed stick to open each shed? Or, use a stick shuttle to finish?

It is a true blessing from the Lord to be given a skill to develop, and to be able to use that skill. When I face a challenge in weaving, I know there is a way through it, and I have the skill to work it out. God made a way for each of us to finish well all the way to the end of our life, not through our own skill, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Our warp will be cut from the loom at just the right time. When that time comes, those who are in Jesus Christ will enjoy what we’ve been made for–to be with our Master Weaver forever. I imagine He will handle each woven cloth with delight as it comes off the loom, as a weaver does who has invested everything into the threads that were woven.

Here are the bonus animals–the family dog of each of our three children’s families. I asked the oldest child in the family to write the dog’s name, which I then converted into weaveable letters. I placed the dog’s name frontwards and backwards, so it can be read from either side of the cloth. I was able to reach the end of weaveable warp without using any extreme measures. Joy!

Luna is the fun-loving dog of our daughter Melody’s family. You can see the raccoon wrapping around the cloth beam.
Watch out for Toby’s tail. This happy dog belongs to our son Daniel’s family.
Our son Samuel’s family added cute little Comet to their home just a couple days before Christmas.
Narrow shed at the end, with a view of black dog Toby.

Please watch for my February 1st post. I will give you a complete rundown on all the finished and hemmed critter napkins.

~ February 1st will be the last scheduled blog post for Warped for Good. ~

I am still weaving, so I intend to share what’s going on with my looms here on Warped for Good, but in a spontaneous manner instead of a scheduled post on each first day of the month.

Grateful to have you here,
Karen

Armadillo Leads Critter Parade on the Drawloom

Karen

My husband and I coined the word “lapkin” when our children were young. Lap + napkin = lapkin. We wanted our children to learn the courtesy of placing a napkin on their lap when they were seated for a meal. “Lapkin check!” was a fun game we made of it. The armadillo on the drawloom is a lapkin, if I ever saw one. This thirsty cloth will soak up any drips and spills, smeary hands, or messy mouths that come in contact with it.

Napkin starts with a dark blue hem and gold checkerboard border. I like this view which makes it look like the armadillo feet have really long legs. Single unit draw cords are pulled (drawn) to raise warp ends that form the pattern in the cloth.
Armadillo reaches into one border with its snout, and into the other border with its tail.

Armadillo is the first of a dozen critters that will parade across this loom. Armadillo napkin is the only one of its kind. I’m certain of that. (Fox is up next.)

Simple checkerboard side borders give a fun outline to every napkin.
Just a few pattern shafts (six draw handles) are needed for making the horizontal checkerboard border across the width of the napkins.
Six-shaft broken twill makes an interesting all-over pattern in the cloth.
Teal blue hem ends the Armadillo napkin. Red picks serve as a dividing/cutting line. Fox is next!

Lapkins give us a discreet way to stay tidy at the table. Armadillo, however, doesn’t intend to stay discreet. I’m pretty certain of that, too.

May your courtesy lessons be fun.

Happy weaving.
Karen

Handwoven Napkins for Real People

Karen

I have never woven napkins because napkins that are used get soiled. Why spend time weaving something you have to be so careful about? That is about to change. I am dressing the drawloom for napkins!

Drawloom 22/2 cottolin warp is beamed.

The napkins I have in mind are family-friendly napkins for all ages. They will get soiled, of course. They are made with grandchildren in mind–Cottolin warp and linen weft. I have a fun design for each napkin. And we’ll be ready to wipe any messy mouth. Napkins are made to get soiled.

Next step is to tie ends into threading groups to prepare for threading.

Wisdom is marked by a sense of calm. There is no dread of something ruining the day. If a little (or big) person soils a napkin, so be it. That will just serve to add a bit of history to the cloth. With a little wisdom, I’ll remain undisturbed.

May you listen to wisdom.

Happy weaving,
Karen

Touch of Quality

Karen

Repeat good practices to form good habits. Since weaving is filled with repetition I try to be attentive to the effects of my techniques. With every touch of my hand – picking up a shuttle, straightening a line of weft, tightening the ratchet just so after advancing the warp – I have the end in mind. Quality is the goal. Consistency is the key. And, consistency emerges from good habits.

Tied back on after cutting off sample rug.
Midway on the first section of the rug. Two more full pattern repeats will follow.
Tidy selvedges. The fabric weft is turned under twice and pulled snugly against the outer warp ends.
After a series of weft stripes the second pattern repeat is being woven with red fabric strips for weft.

With every touch of our Grand Weaver’s hand, he has the end in mind. Little children were brought to Jesus for him to lay his hands on them and pray. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And he placed his hands on them… Consistency is the key. Jesus welcomes all who come to him with childlike faith. His consistency emerges out of his goodness.

May your hands keep the end in mind.

Love,
Karen

Budding Weavers

Karen

Remember potholder looms? I made many such potholders when I was young. It is a natural entry point for a budding weaver. My eight-year-old grandson has mastered potholders. He is ready for a bigger challenge. I ask, “Would you like to try weaving on a floor loom?” Wide-eyed, he says, “Yes!”

Grandson makes potholders with "Designer Colors."
My grandson gravitates toward the bag of loops called “Designer Colors.”
Never too many grandkid-made potholders!
Never too many grandkid-made potholders!
Sit here. 
Practice moving your feet on the treadles: Right foot 1-2-3-4; 1-2-3-4; left foot 5-6-7-8; 5-6-7-8. 
(Can you do it without looking at your feet?) 
Hold the shuttle in your right hand, and send it across the top of the warp over to your left hand. 
Practice gliding the shuttle back and forth on top of the warp several times to get the hang of it. 
Okay, I think you’re ready! Let’s do it!

Within a few minutes he is weaving unassisted. Ahh, the joy of seeing someone take pleasure in making cloth—especially, when that someone is your grandchild!

Eight-year-old weaver on the Glimakra Julia loom. 2-block twill.
Budding weaver at the 8-shaft Julia countermarch loom. Weaving linen in a 2-block twill.
Message from grandson to his grandmother.
Ah, grandson, I certainly will teach you more. I love you, too , Lola

And now, the potholder loom grabs the attention of another grandchild. “Let me do it myself,” she says, like a typical five-year-old. The cycle repeats itself, and Lola (that’s me) smiles.

Potholder loom and a 5-year-old.
This child favors the loops of “Bright Colors.”
Making a potholder. Budding weaver.
“All by myself.”

May you spread your joys to the next generation.

Happy Weaving,
Karen