tapestry edging – Warped for Good

Warped for Good is ten years old today! To celebrate I offer you some stats and thoughts and thank you’s.

Number of years: 10

I started this blog when I was still new to weaving. This is a learning journey, and you have been learning with me. THANK YOU!

End of weaving *Figs and Coffee*. Must wait a bit to roll it out. First I am weaving off the remainder of the warp.

Number of email subscribers: 1000

I started with a handful of friends (about 8 or 10) and a few curious family members. I’m incredibly grateful to those first few who allowed me to test my writing skills on them! I am more than astonished that many, many people trust me to bring them news of what’s happening on my looms. I count all of you as friends, and I am so thankful to have you come sit in my studio with me!

End of this rosepath–threaded warp. This is a lovely way to use up surplus butterfiles that are left from weaving the tapestries. I arranged the butterflies to give a soft progression of value change.

Number of blog posts: 781

Some of you remember when I posted twice a week. When Steve retired four years ago, I slowed down to one post a week.

I am determined to keep weaving until the warp runs out, or I run out of butterflies, whichever comes first. The warp ran out first!

Number of floor looms: 5

Warped for Good started with one 120cm Glimåkra Standard Countermarch loom. I didn’t mean to end up with five floor looms. It just happened. (We’re not counting the band loom or rigid heddle looms.) A big thank you to my friend Joanne Hall who threw open the door to floor loom weaving when I first knocked on that door.

Warping slats separate the pieces on the warp. I leave at least 20cm between pieces so I have enough length to tie knots or braid ends in a tapestry edging.

Nickname: Miss Weave-a-lot

This is husband’s nickname for me because I weave a lot. Steve gets my heartfelt thanks for encouraging me every day.

Finishing includes several steps adding up to many hours. Braiding ends into a tapestry edging, clipping weft tails, stitching weft tails down near the sides, hand hemming the top and bottom. The three main pieces will have a backing that I will stitch on, and a means for hanging or mounting.

Number of months taken off: 6

I have taken a pause for the month of July the past six years.

Two smaller sample pieces have a thicker braided edge. I will leave the braid exposed and tack down the loose warp ends on the back of the pieces.

Number of missed posts (except for the July pauses): 0 (zero)

I started learning watercolor sketching a few months ago for the purpose of making tapestry cartoons from my own sketches. I used a slice of this sketch of my morning coffee and figs for my first attempt to “weave a watercolor sketch.” You can expect more watercolor sketch tapestries in the future as I gain more sketching skills.

Most common email request: Electric Bobbin Winder parts list from Tools Day: Electric Bobbin Winder.

Thank you to Steve for making things for me. Thank you to my Warped for Good friends for every email you send me. I’m especially thrilled when you show me pictures of what you are weaving!

Most visited post: More than Meets the Eye

Very first Warped for Good post: Hidden Strength

Number of delayed meals: Too many to count (according to Steve)

Needless to say, I am thankful to have married a very patient man.

Why the name Warped for Good?
Warped for Good is a metaphor for living a purposeful life as a believer in Jesus. God is the Grand Weaver who warps the loom. My life is the warp. Jesus Christ is the good. The weft is the daily living that aligns with the Master’s plan. Interacting with people, making friends, and sharing interests are all part of that plan. I’m truly grateful to my Grand Weaver for all the friends I’ve gained through this humble home of Warped for Good.

May you mark your milestones.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Warped for Good emails are ending today. Please bookmark this site so you can come right here and enjoy this weaving journey with me. Think about setting a reminder for yourself to come and see what’s happening on these looms. See you soon!

Warped for good,
Karen

Do you want to develop a good habit? Do that good thing every day for a month, …or so they say. It may be true, because I think my tapestry dabbling is turning into a habit. It seems perfectly natural, now, to end my day enjoying some peace and quiet with my little tapestry frame and a cup of tea. For the month of January, I completed a rectangular or square shape each day. February has no rectangles, only triangles and shapes with slanted sides. January 2015 is finished, and February is almost over. A tapestry dabbling diary is a simple way to mark the passage of time while letting ideas and images escape to become visible.

Some of the photos include Steve’s amazing woodcarving handiwork. And be sure to check out the video at the end showing how I create a finished edging for this little January tapestry diary.

Preparing warp for tapestry diary on a frame loom. — Empty warp ready for January 1st. Blank slate for collecting ideas. (This is the Freja Tapestry Frame by Glimåkra, lap size. Following pictures show the two magnets Steve added for holding my tapestry needle.)

Woodcarving and tapestry. The Isenhower's. — Amos is heading somewhere, and will not be deterred.

Woodcarving and weaving. The Isenhower's. — It is possible to be so focused on where you are going that you do not even see the “masterpiece” in the room?

May you measure time with the good habits you develop.

Happy Tapestry Weaving,
Karen

Warped for Good

Tag: tapestry edging

Warped for Good Ten Year Milestone!

Quiet Friday: Little Tapestry Diary