Julia – Warped for Good

Warp Stripes and Surprises

October 5, 2021October 3, 2021 Karen

Even through random warp stripes you can see an ordered pattern in the cloth. Linen sitting on the shelf is begging to be used, even though the tubes are partly emptied. So, why not make some linen wash cloths to use every day?

Glimakra Julia Countermarch, 8 shafts. — I wound the warp, not in threading units, but in random sections of color, trying to empty as many partially-used tubes of linen as possible. Eight shafts on the Julia Countermarch loom. 16/2 linen, 10 ends per cm, 32 cm width in the reed.

The weave structure is a classic two-block broken twill, symmetrically threaded across the warp. The asymmetry of the warp stripes is out of sync with the precise threading symmetry in the block weave structure. And, asymmetrical patches of weft are out of step with a strict treadling sequence. The chaos of leftover-linen warp and weft threads has me holding my breath, wondering how this will turn out. Yet, as I weave, the surprise after surprise that appears on the loom fills me with delight. These humble linen wash cloths will yield textile pleasure for years to come.

Humble linen wash cloths on the loom. — Red and white threads alternate in one of the warp stripes.

Glimakra Julia with 8 shafts. — Weft threads include 16/2 linen, 16/1 linen, doubled 16/1 linen, and 6/1 tow linen.

Explosion of color! — This is a fine way to use up quills from previous projects that still have a little linen on them, as well as using up the very tail end of a few tubes of linen.

The Grand Weaver breaks through chaos to reveal his beautiful plan. Despite the hardships we endure in this world, the structure threaded into the Grand Weaver’s fabric holds it all together. He brings our random stripes of emptiness into harmony with his project plan. We find continual delight as we see the surprising glory of his master plan. Jesus, with his deliberate stripes, comes to wash us clean.

May you find beauty wherever you look.

Happily Weaving,
Karen

Process Review: Linne Runner

August 24, 2021August 21, 2021 Karen

Handwoven textiles help make our house a home. Home is where the heart is. And our home is where the art of the heart is. The most recent addition is a linen runner for our dining room table. I also wove a small table mat from the same warp. Linne Runner, design by Joanne Hall. 16/2 linen warp and weft, 8-shaft two-block broken twill. Glimåkra Julia countermarch loom.

Linen runner just cut off the Julia loom! — Linen runner and small table mat just off the Glimåkra Julia loom.

Handwoven linen table runner in a handweaver's home. — Colors for the runner were chosen with our dining room in mind.

Watch the process for creating this runner from beginning to end in this short slideshow video:

May your home be filled with art of the heart.

Happy Weaving,
Karen

Wild Dish Cloths

August 17, 2021August 15, 2021 Karen

I like having a project on one of my looms that is within reach of any friend who drops by. This new warp on the Julia fits the bill. Since I am using up several nearly empty tubes of linen, I am giving this warp an irregular color sequence. That should be interesting in this very structured 8-shaft broken twill.

Glimakra warping reel, linen warp. — Emptying a few tubes of 16/2 linen.

Finished off some linen! New linen warp. — Odds and ends of linen get used for cloth that will be used.

I am making dish cloths here. Linen dish cloths. Why not wash dishes with something interesting? I am eager to see what develops as I add weft colors. Anyone else who sits at this loom can choose their own mix of colors. I hope we get some wild combinations that bring a smile to the one whose hands are washing dishes.

Ready to weave some linen dish cloths. — Warp chains for some wild dish cloths.

God’s wisdom is a far reach for our human understanding. The complexity of his creation shows us how much we still don’t understand. How could we ever reach that far? Our best efforts are like irregularities in a well-structured cosmos. Good news! God put himself within our reach. He did it at his own expense—the cross of Christ. When we trust in Christ our wild threads are expertly woven into cloth that he can use. Some of our wild combinations probably make him smile.

May you grow in wisdom.

With wild threads,
Karen

Process Review: Perfectly Imperfect

January 26, 2021January 25, 2021 Karen

I waded into deflected double weave for the first time. It took me one full scarf to figure out what I was doing. By the second scarf, I had a much better sense of how the pattern fits together and what to do with the shuttles (most of the time). Both scarves are quite imperfect (no one will ever know…). The loom behaved perfectly, though. This is my Julia’s first project using all eight shafts. Now, I know that this sweet loom is up to any challenge I give her.

20/2 Mora wool by Borgs for a lovely scarf. — 20/2 Mora wool by Borgs. Yarn is temporarily secured by pulling a loop behind the warp at the nearest upright on the warping reel.

Putting a new warp on the 8-shaft Glimakra Julia. — Preparing to dress the loom. The lease cross end of the warp chain is placed through the beater.

Glimakra Julia 8- shaft loom is ready to weave! — Warp is beamed and tied on, and the treadles and lamms are tied up.

Wool deflected double weave. — First scarf gives me a chance to learn. Beat consistency is getting better with practice.

Learning ins and outs of deflected double weave. — Trickiest part about deflected double weave is understanding how the shuttles interact so that the color from one shuttle (the salmon color) never goes to the selvedge.

Trying to learn deflected double weave. — Gaining confidence and consistency on the second scarf.

My first deflected double weave! — Stiff Mora wool will soon soften in the wash. After cutting off, I discover that a tiny misunderstanding gave me a consistent wrong thread all along one selvedge on the back side. Maybe we should call this *defective* double weave. (But, really, *no one will ever know*.)

O, the joy of twisting fringe! — Bundles of light and dark threads are twisted into swinging fringes before the scarves are washed.

By the way, I like the finished airy scarves, even with their flaws.

Deflected double weave scarf in Mora wool. — Finished scarf has delightful pattern and character. Mora wool is sufficiently softened through washing and drying, to make a supple fabric.

Texas hill country foggy day and new handwoven scarf to go with it. — Perfect (imperfect) scarf to brighten up a foggy day in Texas hill country.

May you wade into a new experience.

Happy Weaving,
Karen

Process Review: Jämtlandsdräll with Julia

May 26, 2020May 30, 2020 Karen

My intention is to weave fabric for a couple of cushy throw pillows. But after just one pattern repeat, I realize that this cloth on my brand new Glimåkra Julia is something I would like to wear! No pillows this time. Instead, here is my new autumn/winter shoulder wrap, embellished with frisky swinging fringes. Miss Julia has proven her worth on four-shaft Jämtlandsdräll (crackle) in 6/2 Tuna wool. Her next adventure will be something that explores all eight shafts. (See My New Glimåkra Julia Loom.)

Jämtlandsdräll Wool Wrap - woven on Glimåkra Julia. — Finished wrap. Ready for cool weather!

This project starts with the draft for the Jämtlandsdräll Blanket on p.59 of Simple Weaves, by Birgitta Bengtsson Björk and Tina Ignell. Tuna yarn samples, along with Fiberworks Silver for Mac, help me jazz up the color. I settle on three colors for the warp, with burnt orange as the anchor. Six different colors are used for the pattern weft, plus dark teal for the tabby.

Planning my next weaving project on Fiberworks. — Paint chips, Tuna yarn samples, and Fiberworks Silver for Mac aid my planning process.

Colors! Let's see how they work together on the loom. — Colors! Let’s see how they work together on the loom.

Beaming the warp on my new Julia. — Beaming the warp.

Weaving Jamtlandsdrall (Crackle) on my new Julia. — Daylight, plus colorful yarn. As summer is warming up outside, Julia is dressed warmly inside.

Color gradation in the pattern. — Some color gradation in the pattern.

My new Glimakra Julia! — Miss Julia, filling up her cloth beam.

Crackle (Jamtlandsdrall) in Tuna Wool. — Ending with a few picks of plain weave.

End of warp on my new Glimakra Julia. — Thrums at the end of the warp will serve as fringe.

Cutting off Jamtlandsdrall (crackle)! — Cutting off, giving a view of the back side of the cloth. Front and back have reverse images.

Twisting fringe on Jamtlandsdrall wrap. — Much to my pleasant surprise, after removing (unweaving) my short sample weaving at the beginning, and untying the front tie-on knots, I had the EXACT same length of fringe–*to the centimeter*–on both ends of the woven wrap.

Chunky, frolicky fringe. — Overhand knots secure the weft. Two groups of four warp strands each form each chunky fringe. Now, this wrap is ready for wet-finishing.

This is one of those times when the weaving is so satisfying that I truly don’t want the warp to come to an end. (…except that I’m excited to start on Julia’s second adventure!)

May your adventures never cease.

Happy Weaving,
Karen