Challenges in Weaving

Kente cloth workshop in Ghana. Picture sent by Jim and Marion Kirkwood.

Often more experienced weavers want to expand their technical skills and knowledge and this leads them to take on greater challenges in their weaving projects. In doing so determination and patience can be tested over and over again. It takes  good self esteem to  put ourselves at risk of being humbled  as more errors in preparation of the project occurs the greater the weaving challenge.  Sometimes projects have lengthy and complicated threadings, or challenging treadlings that interrupt the joy and flow of the weaving process. Other times, the yarn gives us much trouble and is very particular about how we handle it. Each project has its own challenges, its own lessons to teach us about weaving, if we are open to what it is teaching us about weaving and about ourselves. Each project builds our knowledge and experience.

Warp faced Rug in cotton by Fran Gurwitz

As we gain more experience in weaving, we often forget about what drew us to weaving in the first place. It wasn't necessarily the complicated, elegant handwoven things that we see more commonly today. We've forgotten that what drew us to the handwoven cloth is that it looked handwoven and not machine made. What drew us to the woven cloth was that it was not produced commercially and 'manufactured'.

Knitters Loom scarf by Laura de Vrij

Simplicity is powerfuly effective and  being experience at weaving can sometimes blind us to the beauty that the obviously handwoven cloth is, in it's ruggedness, it's imperfections, the evidence that a human hand has touched it and made it.

Knitters Loom scarves by Laura de Vrij

Each of us needs to determine  one's weaving path, what is a priority at whatever stage of our weaving experience based on our preferences and predilections, skills and life circumstances.

Pinwheel 8 shaft pattern 18/2 merino scarf by Julia Pelenyi.

New weavers are often very eager to be a masterful weaver without taking all the lumps and bumps on the road that come along with it and the battering one's ego might be subject to. The only way to become a better weaver is by ongoing practice, increasing our knowlege bit by bit, but above all, working at your own pace, honouring who are, how you learn....mistakes and all! Today I thank a few of the more experienced in our weaving class for modelling that for other students in the class and in doing so, being a good role model for our new students.

 

SHIBORI, KASURI AND WOVEN SHIBORI

Apart from our usual weaving instruction, I am also offering enrolled students  an opportunity to do Shibori, Kasuri and Woven Shibori this spring. Please talk to me if you are interested. I noticed that one can purchase special Ibushi thread cutters (for kasuri/ikat) at www.bestmadeco.com.

 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO.....

Laura de Vrij for the helping in keeping the class organized and tidy and to all those that helped Jill roll on her rug warp!

 

WEAVING CLASS FIELD TRIP MAY 29
to a well respected weaver not far from Mansfield, Pat Burns Wendland. The field trip is free to anyone enrolled in the Spring Class and to anyone who can take other participants in their vehicle. For others who would like to attend and who are not registered the cost is $25. Potluck.Departing at 8:45 am. Arriving at Pat's by 11:00 am. Departing no later tater than 3pm. RSVP with me. If you would like to attend and do not have a car, please contact me or talk to me. If you have a car and can take people please let me know (if you haven't already).

 

OPPORTUNITIES

Ann Noble informed me that the Maria Schuka Library at 1745 Eglinton West (east of Dufferin) makes free exhibition space available. It is looking for people to exhibit work. They have a 20' x 5" wall and 15' x 5' wall and would welcome weavers. The link is below.

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=LIB013

 

ABOUT TAPESTRY

Go to my tapestry blog to see what's been going on in the world of tapestry. http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/04/cultural-mosaic-as-inspiration.html

 

RESOURCES

Want a weaving app? iweaveit from the Apple App Store is a weaving draft and design app available for iPad, iPod and iPhone. You can enter your own weaving drafts, edit them and view with your own choice of colours and yarns.

 

Free weaving patterns on line (sent to my from Mimma Draga)

http://www.handweaving.net/Home.aspx. an awe inspiring site when you see all graphic draw downs, especially in colour.

The other site that has archives full of weaving patterns is found here: http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/

 

Recently released books on weaving:

A Crackle Weave Companion: Exploring a 4 shaft Crackle. by Lucy M. Brusic

Simple Weaves: Over 30 Classic Patterns and Fresh New Styles. Birgitta Bengtsson Bjork and Tina Ignell.

Curious about Weaving

Jane Richmond, Tiffy Thompson, Lyziane Cantin

This week Tiffy Thompson and Lyziane Cantin from PROPELLERIDEAS.COM came to interview me, and learn more about the weaving classes I teach.

Barbara Aikman and Lyziane Cantin

Jane Richmond, Elyse Hastings, Jessica Brosseau

At the same time, Elyse Hastings, whose job is marketing the Continuing Education courses offered through the Toronto District School Board, also came by to interview us and see what it was like to be in the weaving class. I was touched by what she had to say before she departed: "This is the friendliest most welcoming place that I've been to so far. You've created a really beautiful atmosphere and its a wonderful place to be". Elyse sent me a link where you can see more photographs that she took at the weaving class. She wrote to me by email: "Line, what a beautiful little workshop you have created! It's very inspiring. I have included the link to the album with the pictures from today's visit and once I get a little bit more time I'll be posting some of the video I took as well. Thanks for welcoming me into the world of weaving today!" http://on.fb.me/1032SdR

Tiffy Thompson tries her hand at tapestry weaving on the international tapestry project, Fate, Destiny and Self Determination, funded by the Ontario Arts Council.

Linen runner woven by Yukiko Amano. Pattern taken from Twill Thrills book.

Mimma Draga let me know about these websites where you can download weaving patterns at no charge:

 

This is the website address: http://www.handweaving.net/Home.aspx. It truly is an awe inspiring site when you see all graphic draw downs, especially in colour.

The other site that has archives full of weaving patterns is found here: http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/.

For an update on the International tapestry project, Fate, Destiny and Self Determination click on the link below. 150 people from 20 countries are participating and the number grows each day. Please come out and weave on the group tapestry and add your name to the growing list. All participants will be acknowledged when the project is exhibited.
http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/03/a-propeller-of-project.html
This project has been generously funded by the Ontario Arts Council/Conseil des Arts de l'Ontario.

Where will your weaving path lead you?

Silk twill scarf by Alex Avdichuck

Recently I interviewed Pat Burns Wendland, a well respected weaver and creater of one of a kind handwoven garments. Registrants in the Spring weaving classes will have the opportunity to visit her studio and home May 29. More details at a later date

Linda Morgenstein with her handwoven chenille scarf that inspired a other students to discover the luxurious feeling of rayon chenille.

. I asked Pat what advice she had to give to less experienced weavers. This is what she had to say:

"...... you don’t have to have a lot harnesses to create something beautiful.....There is so much you can do with plain weave and simpler weaving structures . Not everything I do works out and these failures are learning opportunities.” The path to success [in our weaving endeavours] is littered with disasters, failures and rejections.....My life as a weaver has been a long journey. It’s a journey where each weaver decides for him or herself what the path and stops are, and which avenues you want to explore. “

Kimono by Pat Burns Wendland: handwoven fabric, hand dyed, disperse dye technique to create shapes.

Pat believes that the weaving journey is one of ongoing learning . “Always strive to do better. Learn as much as you possibly can about weaving and weaving related topics and practices.  I don’t think we ever reach our ‘best’. We are always striving to create something better.  Share your knowledge with others.  Respect each instructor and what they have to impart to you. Ask questions.  Learn from your mistakes. You may never be fully satisfied with the outcome of your efforts, but that lack of satisfaction is what keeps you going and striving to do more and better.”

 

My question to you is "What will your weaving journey look like?"

To find out more about Pat's an article will be published about her in the near future.

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One of our weaving students, Avril Loretti, will be at the Spring One of a Kind show in
booth N-07. www.avrilloretti.com

March 27 - 31. For more details about the show go to http://www.oneofakindshow.com/toronto/apply.php. While you are at the show you might want to check out other weavers, Lucille Creighton and Silo Weavers.

 

Susan Mellor                                                Susan Middleton

Help co-create an international tapestry that has 150 people from 20 countries participating.

To learn more about the international tapestry project Fate, Destiny and Self Determination go to
http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/03/woven-together.html

The Toronto Doors Open 2013 theme is
"Creators, Makers and Innovators"The Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers has been invited to participate in Doors Open this coming May 25 and May 26. Our Guild will be having a spin-weave in demonstrating our craft at City Hall. We would like to invite your guild or spinning/weaving community to participate with us. For more information or to sign up for a time slot please email Patricia Phelan at wovenbridge@rogers.com using "Doors Open" in the subject line. Let's reach out to future generations of textile enthusiasts!!!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Patricia

Honour your sense of colour and style

 Jurgen Lidner, a 45" wide and very long multi-coloured blanket woven with MacAuslands wool.  

 

Linda Wallace, a tapestry weaver from British Columbia shared some of her thoughts about how she develops personal style.

"Developing a visual continuity [or personal style], where viewers are able recognize an artist’s [craftsperson's] work, is an ephemeral process.  Each of us who reach that stage arrives using different pathways, but common elements underlie them all.  The development of an individual style takes years of learning and practicing skills as well as constant self-critiquing.  I do not believe short cuts exist and the old “Carnegie Hall” truism cannot be denied.

Karen Bota, knitters loom scarf. Karen wasn't satisfied with her first attempt and tried another version.

Here are a few thoughts for those who are still searching for their individual voice.  Create, weave, pay attention to intuitive responses and follow where your ‘self’ leads you.  Weave, and while you work: pay attention to what areas work, what could be improved and struggle to figure out how.  With each tapestry (or woven fabric) completed, the experience and knowledge gained will improve the next one. Pay attention to what you respond to.......critique your own work and [other} work seen .....  Follow your heart.  We know all of these things, but we need to believe in them."

 

It wasn't enough for Louise Granahan to do only one sampler. She did two and a third was a variation of the sampler, intended as a scarf to give to a friend. Louise has been weaving very intensively and very rapidly. Much faster than 99% of most of us. She has also managed to whip off the following scarves (on Leclerc Dorothy looms) and below is a sampling of what she has already finished, using tencel. All this in one weaving class session of 9 weeks. A very prodigious and productive weaver. I think she should open her own store!

 

 

 

 

Ann Stoeckl, a tapestry weaver, recently went on a tour to Guatamala. She brought these textiles back from her trip and the one on the right appears to be handwoven, as well as the eye glass case.

The three Susans who volunteer with the Textile Museum of Canada: Susan Abrams, Susan Singh, and Susan Butler. They sort out the donations given for the huge garage sale in May, where we elbow each other to grab all kinds of great yarns, fabrics, equipment and other related items for a very affordable price. The Textile Museum of Canada always welcomes volunteers, donations and visits.

Spring session weaving classes starting soon

 Tea towels and cloths woven in twill by Lis Baston.

Monday evenings for the spring session I will be offering  shibori, woven shibori, and kasuri/ ikat techniques. Please specifiy what you would like to do although you may not have time to do them all in the time that the course runs. Materials are extra. People can also register on Monday for the regular weaving class and do their own projects.

 Example of kasuri or ikat from Keiko Shintani

Examples of shibori by Judith Fielder

Registration for the weaving classes have begun. If you have not already registered it is time to do so.

Please sign up early as the classes have been filling to maximum and we have had to turn people away. Monday classes start April 8 and Wednesday classes start April 3. Below are the codes for the time slot you would like to sign up for. Go to www.learn4life.ca to sign up or do so in the next class.

Mon 10am-1pm Apr 08 8wks $170($102senior)      56820

Mon 1:30-4:30pm Apr 08 8wks $170($102sr)         56819

Mon 6-9pm Apr 08 8wks $170($102sr)                   57043

Wed 10am-1pm Apr 03 8wks $170($102sr)            56818

Wed 1:30-4:30pm Apr 03 8wks $170($102sr)         58755

Wed 6-9pm Apr 03 8wks $170($102sr)                   57044
 

Allison modelling one my handwoven doubleweave capes. She looked so beautiful and vibrant I had to take a snap! She is a great role model for us all and talented as well.

A very successful completion of the double weave sampler by Carla Duncan. On the left, you can see that she created her own 'pick up' designs.

 Summer and winter placemats by Jane Tucker using mop cotton in the weft.

 Some historical artifacts and an old weaving book that Laura de Vrij picked up at a flea market.

 More scarves woven on a knitters loom by Laura de Vrij. She use a variegated yarn in the weft which gave her this gradating effect. It can also be used to great effect in the warp. With the scarf on the left, Laura hand stitched the motif onto the scarf as well as at the edge of the scarf shown below.

Birthe Jorgensen picked up this beautifully woven silk from Laos.

 

Birthe also informed me that people can take textile design and fabric arts (as well as many kinds of crafts or handwork (haandarbejde) courses in Denmark during the summer months. The school is called Skals.

It is one of many  Danish Folk High Schools offering courses in cultural and historical craft practices and is available to  adults in the summer : www.danishfolkhighschools.com/ .  Korte Kurser (short courses) are offered in the summer at Skals. Birthe says  that the school's website isn't in English yet, "but everyone under 90 speaks excellent English" .  Here is a google translation of the one week course in June:

Summer course - with Skals embroidery, re-design of textiles for the home and body, jewelry, embroidery and weaving.

Summer Course in Skals is like a vacation where you will be filled with inspiration and peace. With talented teachers and other students immerses you in new techniques while you develop yourself and your craft. Jewelry, design, embroidery, weaving are examples of what is offered.

Additional activities include lectures, field trips, visits to studios/workshops,  exhibitions, and craft fairs.  For more go to www.skals.nu

 

 

Canadian weaving history

I would like to thank a Ellen Allas and Marion Kirkwood for their donations to our draw and weaving class. Monies collected from the draw go to paying for equipment, assorted items for weaving and reparations. One of the items donated was Mary Black's New Key to Weaving. This publication has some interesting Canadian history attached to it. Mary Ellouise Black, the author, was born September 18, 1895 and was an occupational therapist who trained at McGill University in Montreal. She went on to become a teacher, master weaver and writer, contributed to a renaissance in weaving in Nova Scotia in the 1940s and 1950s. She helped to establish the Guild of Canadian Weavers in 1947, The Key to Weaving was first published in 1945 and has since had 3 editions and numerous printings, and retitled in its subsequent printings as The New Key to Weaving. Half a century later, it remains a well respected source of information for the hand weaver. Ms Black died in Wolfville, Nova Scotia on February 11, 1988, at age 92. Other items in the draw are: a swift, knitting books, weaving magazines, yarn and more. Make sure you buy your ticket next time you are in: they are $2 each or 3 for $5.

Jane A. Evans, Weavers  magazine, Winter 1997

 It's time to register for the Spring weaving classes. The TDSB will start taking online and telephone registrations come February 19. You can also register with me in the class but please do not leave it to the last minute as the last two sessions we have had to turn people away  because we were at maximum. In the coming weeks I will include a link to the courses with their codes.
Come the Spring session, I will be offering painted warp lessons as used in an 'art' manner if you ask for it. Presently, it is only available in the spring session.

Examples of woven shibori from the book Woven Shibori by Catherine Ellis

I am also offering painted warp, woven shibori and shibori technqiues  Mondays 10am to 1pm and 6pm to 9pm  only. These techniques are best used for garments and fashion accessories. Please rsvp with me at tapestryline@sympatico.ca.

Examples of shibori created by Judith Fielder.

Mimma Draga found this incredible rafia woven bag at a Goodwill. She was intrigued with the pattern it was woven in. I showed her how to figure that out. She discovered that this was a 16 shaft pattern. She tried to edit the pattern but the best she could do was make it a 10shaft pattern. If you want to learn how to figure out how you can do a pattern that you've seen let me know.

Baby Alpaca lap blanket woven and felted by Gert Rogers.

The international tapestry project continues with energy and enthusiasm. The gobelin loom is now ready for people to weave on. Colours and the cartoon have been prepared in advance. Please feel free to come and weave on it Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 9pm excluding holidays. We will document everyone creating the tapestry. If you do not want your picture taken please let me know. We will also have an official launch of the project sometime in March and hope to have some special guests join us. To see the Tapestry blog and the progress of the project go to http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/02/shapes-are-arriving.html.

Keeping Warm and having Fun!

Darlene Haywood shadow weave in bamboo and soy rayon. Pattern taken from Handwoven magazine Jan/Feb 2012, originally a baby blanket in the magazine. Corrections to the pattern are available for download from the Handwoven site or I may have an edited version available on hand (if I can find it!)

Some of this fabric will go to creating bags for crystals which her daughter, a yoga teacher, sells. The rest will be a shawl. It has an incredible 'hand'...soft & luxurious.

 

Laura de Vrij's first knitters loom project, a scarf in Baby Llama, mohair, silk and lambswool blend,  for her husband inspired by the colours in their favorite persian rug, shown below.

Laura writes: "I'm loving the new knitters loom! Best impulse buy ever!
I finished a scarf for Dale last night, and he's beyond delighted with it. I plan on doing a little hand embroidery to the piece as well. "

 Other Knitter's Loom projects

Kathy Fletcher - Noro Silk Garden scarf.

 

Karen Bota created this mohair and boucle scarf.

A home made electric bobbin winder by Louise Granahan

Louise Granahan writes: " I set up the hand drill to wind my bobbins and it works great! I used a 1.5' 1x2 and attached it to the drill using plumbing straps. I then clamp the drill onto my bench. I used a 6mm mandril (a knitting needle) with a bit of duct tape to grab the bobbin." If you want to see it live, come to the weaving class Monday February 11 2013 at 6pm.

 We've been having a problem with the heat at the Toronto Weaving School and to keep my students warm, I provided them with doubleweave capes I had woven. Debbie Harris took the picture. Just to let you know, heat is back in full force. Thank you to the powers that be! :)

Last summer we did a kasuri/ikat workshop with Keiko Shintani. She's let us know that she has an upcoming exhibit with 3 other artists at 365 Sackville Street, Toronto. 416 960 6157. February 16 & 17, 1-6pm. She mentioned in her email that she adores this group called Fun and she's been listening to their music for the past year while working on her weaving: www.ournameisfun.com. Keiko says FUN. was nominated for a Grammy Award and they will be performing in it, when it is aired on CBC this coming Sunday.


Cabin Fever?
Linda Needles notified me of this textile tour: "There are still some places on our small group tour in Tuscany designed specially for spinners, dyers and weavers with a love of food." To know more go to:  http://www.sapori-e-saperi.com/tours-a-courses/55-tastes-a-textiles

Katherine Paganelli, Communications Manager

Sapori & Saperi Adventures Ltd

Burlington Weavers and Spinners
Auction taking place - for more info go to http://www.paperlesspost.com/events/3440288-04378bd3/replies/68406031-678ebeca?preconfirmed_token=30682708-b8005d5d#paper/front/0