The Garden of Weaving

Canadian winters.....in nature we see the muted colour palettes and subtle interplay of colours. They echo serenity, peace, quiet, stillness within and without. A contemplative period as we await impatiently for signs of the new life  spring will usher in and the energy that will bring our bodies and minds. 

Susan Abrams wove this baby blanket with 2/8 cotton Huck Colour Variation . The pattern was taken from Ann Dixon's book, The Pattern Weaver's Directory page 167. 

As a very amateur gardener, early spring is the time of year to clear out vestiges and remains of the previous Summer and Fall. I take this as my own cue to start reviewing and discarding thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, practices and habits that may no longer be contributing to my life in a positive and creative way and perhaps never have. I apply the same practice to my weaving. 

Variations on huck patterns by Susan Abrams

One of the things that we all struggle with is learning and applying new technical information. If I want my weaving practice to grow and hopefully flourish, like the garden I must first prepare the "bed", the removal of old growth. Next I must apply additional nutrients to the soil and for weaving that means I need to find learning opportunities, new technologies, or time to explore ideas, techniques as well as connect with other weavers and artists. Then I am ready to dig these nutrients into the soil so that seeds and seedlings will have the right environment to grow and flourish. The equivalent in weaving might be preparing the warp, doing some sampling, dressing the loom. 

Two blankets woven by Susan Mellor. The one in the foreground is a plain weave cashmere and the the one in the background, a point twill in alpaca. 

Finally I am ready to plant the seeds and seedlings. There can't be any danger of frost so conditions must just be right. This translates into my weaving practice by creating the right environment to grow my skills, abilities and knowledge. This can be for many the most difficult part of the weaving process as many things clamour for our attention in life such as family, job and health. I work constantly on trying to find just that right balance and sometimes it isn't always possible but it is a something to strive for. I block out time to work quietly in my studio so that I can hear my own thoughts, ideas, and urges and not the pressure of other demands and expectations. Over the course of a (work) day one's mind can be quite filled up with many preoccupations and is one's attention really there fully when one faces one's weaving? Hopefully the seeds of your weaving knowledge will bear many fruitful projects. 

Helen Skelton wove this sampler for rag rugs. She thought weaving rag rugs might be a good way to get rid of her stash of fabric. She told me that since friends, coworkers and neighbours now know that she'll weave rag rugs, they are giving her more fabric, so now instead of getting rid of her stash, her stash is now growing! We had a good laugh about how her plan had been thwarted!

Karen Bota sent this link along on a knitters loom cape: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152365063418909

Exhibitions

Sandra Brownlee recently received a Governer General's Award for her weaving. She will be having an exhibition of her work at the David Kaye Gallery in Toronto and the opening reception will be Saturday May 4 2014 between 2-4pm. Here is a YouTube Video of her talking about her work: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnlfLJB3j80
Here is the link to the gallery that will be exhibiting her work:
http://davidkayegallery.com/?page_id=1055

and you can register for a one week workshop with her
http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=27eabec2c095b864ec1edca88&id=18b5e3f1ec&e=95315e1d17&utm_source=Active+Member+April+17%2C+2014&utm_campaign=b561d4e43b-Craftflash+April+2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4053b407fb-b561d4e43b-117255021

Red

Repp weave rug by Lis Baston

4/8 cotton and cotton rug filler

Over the centuries the colour red has been obtained by using lead, bugs, and plants. It is one of the first colours to be produced by humans and at first was used to paint their bodies and then on cave walls and rocks. The fact that it is also the colour of the life giving fluid , blood, makes it even more of a  powerful colour charged with symbolism and significance.

Knitters loom hand towel in 4/8 cotton by Carole Hibbert

When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his soldiers conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521, besides discovering silver and gold, they uncovered that the Aztecs obtained a spectacular red from drying and crushing a tiny cochineal, a parasitic scale insect which lived on cactus plants. They exported these to Europe where they provided them to  textile dyers. 

Wendy Hayden giving us a talk about her one week workshop on Colour and Design for weaving at Jane Stafford in British Columbia. 

At first dyers guilds' in Venice and other cities banned cochineal to protect their local products, but the superior quality of cochineal dye made it impossible to resist. By the beginning of the 17th century it was the preferred luxury red for the clothing of cardinals, bankers, courtisans and aristocrats.

One of the samples that Wendy Hayden wove at Jane Stafford. The stripes designed by using the Fibonacci series. 

Another of the samples that Wendy Hayden wove at Jane Stafford. The stripes designed by using the Fibonacci series. See how the red accent livens the composition. Jane calls this the 'zinger'. 

Another sample that Wendy Hayden wove at Jane Stafford. 

There are many names given to red paints and pigments: vermilion, madder, scarlet, cerise, persimmon, sanguine, cinnabar, rouge, crimson, carmine, geranium, ruby and rose.Every textile can benefit by warming with red giving life to a muted colour palette. 

Houses tapestry by Christine Shipley. Measures approximately 4" x 10"

Red is charged with emotion and possibility.  Red conveys heroism and bravery, honesty and patriotism, strength, power, authority. It demands that you pay attention to it. It can represent many emotions: love, hate, anger, passion, lust. Love may be like a red red rose, as one's  sins. Even  politics may be red. One "sees red" when angry. There is red tape, red ink, red wine, red lips, red blood, red earth, red barons, red barns, red hearts, red thoughts and red herrings. Even women have been described as scarlet and we all know what a red light district is. 

Baby wrap woven by Heather Brady , commissioned by Emma Cummingham, who is a newcomer (and student) to weaving. Sett - 24 epi, Heather used  8/2 cotton warp, cottolin weft (black).  The final dimensions are 29" wide and 5.1 yards long after washing, drying and hemming (it was 19 ft fresh off the loom).  Wow! impressive length!

Red is the color most commonly associated with joy and well being,  celebration and ceremony. A red carpet is often used to welcome distinguished guests. Red is also the traditional color of seats in opera houses and theaters. Scarlet academic gowns are worn by new Doctors of Philosophy at degree ceremonies at Oxford University and other schools. In China, it is considered the color of good fortune and prosperity, and is traditionally worn by brides. In Christian countries, it is the color traditionally worn at Christmas by Santa Claus, because in the 4th century the historic Saint Nicholas was the Greek Christian Bishop of Myra, in modern-day Turkey, and bishops then dressed in red.

Emma Cummingham modelling the baby wrap that Heather Brady wove for her.

50 Ways to wear a scarf 
on YouTube sent to Marion Kirkwood by her daughter:
https://www.youtube.com/v/5LYAEz777AU?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Here we welcome new weaving students in our Monday evening class: from left to right, Lisa Linkovich, Ryan Hayes, and Araceli Baleog. 

Fondazione arte della Seta Lisio June 8 - 12 2015

There are only 3 spots available to attend this one week workshop on historical jacquard textiles, which will include museum and art gallery visits and talks relating to jacquard textiles in renaissance paintings. To find out more contact Line Dufour at linedufour.tapestry@gmail.com. 

Pink

The Toronto District School Board deemed April 9 as Stop Bullying day. People were invited to wear pink and this Louise Granahan did with style and flare. To learn more about the colour pink (and I didn't know it such a somewhat controversial history!) go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink. Louise has decided to learn 7 different kinds of weaving or try different weaving techniques and/or looms. Inkle loom weaving is her most recent foray. Perhaps we should talk about how you can weave a boa too! 

She has also tried tapestry weaving and the doubleweave sampler. 

Wendy Szpindel wove this 8 shaft blanket with 2 ply Lemieux yarn on her loom at home. It fulled beautifully and with little effort. She used a top loader and being unable to control it , the blanket was at the mercy of the machine. I thought that was very courageous of her considering how much effort was required to weave it. 

Judite Vangers wove  the 8 shaft blue scarf above (18/2 merino) at school ......

and tried it in another version of the pattern at home with a different yarn

KNITTERS LOOM CORNER. 

Arlene Williams - cotton scarf

Arlene Williams - cotton scarf

OTHER NEWS

Try chair caning with Donna Kim at Edge of Your Seat: http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=6cabba50e96aa5ed24a3c303f&id=0702a7c1e1&e=8dfe32aed3

The Louet Jane 8 shaft tableloom draw is on again! ( and no, the stand does not come with it) . $25 a ticket or 3 for $50. Proceeds go to the Toronto Weaving School.

I now have cottolin available in the weaving class. It's made with organic cotton and linen (60% cotton, 40% linen). This is especially good for weaving tea towels (dish cloths) .