tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361509412024-03-19T06:44:16.872-04:00Sharing the Fiber FeverJessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.comBlogger426125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-47313304402872949992016-10-11T08:32:00.000-04:002016-10-11T08:32:09.599-04:00Tunis Fleece Makes Good Yarn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d6JIP2xh4MylF2KvfXvLcqnfxTR45zJqKw9HBMlvE2l_BRa-kk5zhQtSedF-otf4kJCvn0UlFDJkZ89yirm6c_TpdvhrZCYoUeRq-Jk-vvnj_jAMw3BZEUJRwApsp-FoikRc4A/s1600/tunisfleeceyarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d6JIP2xh4MylF2KvfXvLcqnfxTR45zJqKw9HBMlvE2l_BRa-kk5zhQtSedF-otf4kJCvn0UlFDJkZ89yirm6c_TpdvhrZCYoUeRq-Jk-vvnj_jAMw3BZEUJRwApsp-FoikRc4A/s320/tunisfleeceyarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Way back in the spring, one of my co-workers gave me a fleece (wool from a sheep) that she wasn't going to have time to spin. It was a Tunis fleece from one of the sheep at Conner Prairie and it was lovely! The wool is soft enough to use next to the skin, and so springy that it is fun to spin!<br />
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I started spinning this back in March and had it all spun into singles a month or two ago, but it wasn't until yesterday that I finished plying. Hooray!<br />
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The fleece yielded 8 skeins of 2-ply yarn, 200-300 yds per skein. That's 1600-2400 yds of yarn. :)<br />
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-24771072175722219632016-07-19T10:48:00.000-04:002016-07-19T10:48:09.365-04:00Rapunzel's Tower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZqEjMcxYHbfIlgOSk35OFpfQ7rusInPHkcGzG7mpmO469HohebAeAdO4MxxpGzkQZIHFc7OxHLIiF-_N_4jdbgZ6SekcYmLhmeULgNZVj_1rk6dcw3SrSqJt-x9ENsTPXlymTw/s1600/rapunzels+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZqEjMcxYHbfIlgOSk35OFpfQ7rusInPHkcGzG7mpmO469HohebAeAdO4MxxpGzkQZIHFc7OxHLIiF-_N_4jdbgZ6SekcYmLhmeULgNZVj_1rk6dcw3SrSqJt-x9ENsTPXlymTw/s400/rapunzels+tower.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>
A few years ago I made a number of felted pieces on fairy tale themes. This is Rapunzel's Tower. She's headed out of the house today and I thought I'd at least post her picture and some text I wrote when I made her.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rapunzel’s
Tower<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Did you ever have something you wanted to keep safe? How did you protect it? Did you put it in a tower and lock it away
from the world?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Did your safety measures work?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I used to work in the aerospace industry with solid rocket
fuel. I remember discussions about keeping
the fuel and engines loaded with fuel safe from contaminates. And then there were the reports that even in
special, clean storage facilities insects got into the engines…Our attempts at
keeping the fuel clean failed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The wicked witch’s attempt at keeping Rapunzel safe failed
too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My great-grandmother made pillows as gifts for my brother
and me. Each had an animal
cross-stitched on front. They were fun
pillows! They were just the right size to lean against for reading, comfy to
hug, and dense enough that they were GREAT pillow-fight weapons. Unfortunately, my grandmother was visiting
when one of our pillow fights broke out.
Oh, the scolding we received! The
take home message from the scolding was that we should treasure these gifts and
keep them safe. I don’t think my
grandmother knew that we did treasure them.
We used them, we loved them, and we made great memories with them. Eventually, they wore out. The physical
pillows are gone. The memories remain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wonder about all the things we keep safe. Are we doing ourselves a dis-service? Are there other ways to keep something safe
and to protect it, while still allowing it to function? I wonder what we will change because we have
considered Rapunzel’s tower.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Keep safe! Stay
warm! Enjoy the journey!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jessica
Madsen<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fiber
Artist/needle felter<o:p></o:p></div>
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1/30/2014<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-32887341767921948632016-03-20T14:32:00.000-04:002016-03-20T14:32:06.069-04:00The Joy of a Little Jog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A friend of mine asked if I do commissioned work. She needed some felted animals with poseable limbs. I had done some felting over wire armatures, but not enough to know if what she wanted was possible. So, I did a test. The prototype worked beautifully. Now I'm hard at work on the four animals my friend wants, but I've also started exploring other ways to use wire armatures, like making bodies for the heads in my felted head collection.</div>
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This gal is felted mostly from Romney wool roving. I chose to start with her because that I knew that her face was made from the Romney wool and thus it would be easy to match her face color with her body color. Under the wool of her body is a wire armature. I have enjoyed watching <a href="https://www.sarafinafiberart.com/" target="_blank">Sara Renzulli's</a> YouTube videos on using wire armatures. I intentionally did not spend much time sculpting or hard felting this doll's body. I just wanted to see if the concept would work. She is roughly 1 foot tall and her dimensions are based on the artistic idea that humans are roughly 7.5 "heads" tall. (Check out this <a href="http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/human-anatomy-fundamentals-basic-body-proportions--vector-18254" target="_blank">reference</a>.) I am thrilled as all get out! Now I can move forward and provided bodies for more of my heads....see them waiting patiently for their turn?! :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CHBT0ERFkb2Fe2BzLARqsXeVxIjV-KR6lWJzD_Cq1poV6vU-lNKBN-mka2ncuVMR4fgblj-zCjE94W3uXV1DiBF9T5Ja5LeRRqjGrN6LOHE_zPbXmVTN7wvgm7-5CqM1dTRxFg/s1600/felted+doll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CHBT0ERFkb2Fe2BzLARqsXeVxIjV-KR6lWJzD_Cq1poV6vU-lNKBN-mka2ncuVMR4fgblj-zCjE94W3uXV1DiBF9T5Ja5LeRRqjGrN6LOHE_zPbXmVTN7wvgm7-5CqM1dTRxFg/s320/felted+doll.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Many thanks to my friend Kathy H. at Athens Art Gallery for a little push in the right direction!</div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-64140591215727585062016-02-04T12:22:00.002-05:002016-02-04T12:22:28.237-05:00Hurry Up (Slowly) and Wait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I put on a long (for me) warp as an experiment over the Christmas Holidays. I thought that I was going to have lots of time to sit and weave and that this project would fly off the loom. It turns out I was wrong...all around!</div>
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It's February and I am beginning to see the light at the end of my seven yard tunnel. The piece is deflected double weave, 36" wide, in 10/2 cotton and fine wool (18/2??). And, I am embarrassed to say, the entire piece is a sample. I want this to shrink and puff to make some shawls, and I think it will, but I haven't proved it yet! I am slowly making progress...between 4" and 20" a day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOA8Vqwmhyphenhyphen4wrVWFE9p2TuxS7NU50p3dYSX0YZTbT5BLA5VuAfZ32FI4V9YHhryS_J-ob8i10hN4hEVztm8Cah-4poRU8oJtEXn0SN_IviAX96e2Qp20cWSSaDB-BzObFbnMDig/s1600/deflected+dbl+weave+pink+plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOA8Vqwmhyphenhyphen4wrVWFE9p2TuxS7NU50p3dYSX0YZTbT5BLA5VuAfZ32FI4V9YHhryS_J-ob8i10hN4hEVztm8Cah-4poRU8oJtEXn0SN_IviAX96e2Qp20cWSSaDB-BzObFbnMDig/s320/deflected+dbl+weave+pink+plaid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The current challenge is that I'm not finished with this piece and I have already warped the next loom. Here are the dobby bars...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxLzBWrAw8Pq95RuVhLykBG7AmFdbfklhWw5fsslUWj-ZtpkmBiJeqPq3Cf85tuWpQj8eQY7cFbz-Qcm-1oXXIr-qivoIjFMhr5yokLNmQGtpFJjvQaO4q3ZkFuH99hZijgupHw/s1600/avl+bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxLzBWrAw8Pq95RuVhLykBG7AmFdbfklhWw5fsslUWj-ZtpkmBiJeqPq3Cf85tuWpQj8eQY7cFbz-Qcm-1oXXIr-qivoIjFMhr5yokLNmQGtpFJjvQaO4q3ZkFuH99hZijgupHw/s320/avl+bars.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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...and the threaded loom:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7n13JyulhInWwDDuh25ZeasQXCStQjflb6aEHYWCMAfI2Qo6UsiV1RsMkxl2gQuIrDnnJy2e27npdRmkloTukmjdLQkpuT3w-zyxOCTIT90BcuTje5LkyU3_gj1DXlfjVycyiA/s1600/avl+deflected+dbl+weave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7n13JyulhInWwDDuh25ZeasQXCStQjflb6aEHYWCMAfI2Qo6UsiV1RsMkxl2gQuIrDnnJy2e27npdRmkloTukmjdLQkpuT3w-zyxOCTIT90BcuTje5LkyU3_gj1DXlfjVycyiA/s320/avl+deflected+dbl+weave.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And everything is waiting for me to free up some shuttles! Here are the five I am using on my plaid project! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7suMWfD8UsU5AXEU6MkENmnXIEvnvfQ4JuLUKg2T23Ob6KrFhhzQDDyXt_KjU9cmRjWUaV5Mn5ZH1fIZAOmT4p9jcDslDono1sSyGuFwCyqEQ03icLZihoyduiJt8lPAIva9fpw/s1600/pink+plaid+shuttles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7suMWfD8UsU5AXEU6MkENmnXIEvnvfQ4JuLUKg2T23Ob6KrFhhzQDDyXt_KjU9cmRjWUaV5Mn5ZH1fIZAOmT4p9jcDslDono1sSyGuFwCyqEQ03icLZihoyduiJt8lPAIva9fpw/s320/pink+plaid+shuttles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Gah! Guess it's time to get back to weaving!Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-72811384137356725572015-12-06T08:34:00.000-05:002015-12-06T08:34:18.223-05:00Christmas Quilts, part "finale"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been working on these quilts for some time now. It was 2010 when I realized that my children were growing and we would someday no longer be able to fit all five of us on the couch comfortably and snuggle under the Christmas Quilt. That's when I decided that each of my children needed their own quilt. These are small--~60"x70"--but big enough to snuggle under while we read from our advent story book. I took a year and made all the blocks, one pattern each month. Then, one per year, I made the quilt tops and quilted them. Yesterday I finished the last one. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjJxs6Ch4XeZ81GrpyePyT_NEfHN-HFjPIYoGpNNoFHfwNG51H2wVJrFEiK04GEKOFKI9nYaGjLk1O_51gvl5xpoe4WZVOm6taxWBLMpBVYgHCpNUf8NqCDmkPdfS9CXYyzk2JQ/s1600/E_christmas+quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjJxs6Ch4XeZ81GrpyePyT_NEfHN-HFjPIYoGpNNoFHfwNG51H2wVJrFEiK04GEKOFKI9nYaGjLk1O_51gvl5xpoe4WZVOm6taxWBLMpBVYgHCpNUf8NqCDmkPdfS9CXYyzk2JQ/s320/E_christmas+quilt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each of the quilts is unique...the backings are different, the order of the blocks are different, even a few of the blocks were intentionally put together in different ways. I love having each of the kids snuggled under their quilts. I love how they carefully fold them when they are done and choose which pattern will show. I am grateful for these peaceful moments!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC1TPR0ZX26xlbyw8Z70XhV4QXZo0RmFTi7z7nFyfFJwjETeOJJf2pS5QuQh5pCNJGIDapuumOpDhm72OhUyR-AD8y-EF0cg7UHcgcpfi5pohLXGUCxx6XATuEha9HyntcDFnKQ/s1600/next+warp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC1TPR0ZX26xlbyw8Z70XhV4QXZo0RmFTi7z7nFyfFJwjETeOJJf2pS5QuQh5pCNJGIDapuumOpDhm72OhUyR-AD8y-EF0cg7UHcgcpfi5pohLXGUCxx6XATuEha9HyntcDFnKQ/s320/next+warp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's a piece that I've just started to weave. It's a wide piece--~34"--about as wide as I like to go on my 36" loom. The plan is to weave differential double weave and have the cotton colors form bubbles as the wool (it's a tan--four threads between the cotton colors) shrinks. We'll see if things go according to plan!</div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-73543227637214062312015-09-10T18:11:00.000-04:002015-09-10T18:11:06.453-04:00Green Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This photo is green, but in reality this project has lots of colors....red, green, white. It's my daughter's Christmas Quilt. The odd pin-like-thing is a basting pin. The top and back are done. The two are pin-basted. Now it's time to decide if I'm going to quilt with or without a frame.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ4U6-NjHfEWL0q-mL87ejkQpCJszRfQ_wSGjHx2op1b13XaG-FkkpLihqQnM6z0EOMjY6ZuVwjEdS09qk-7okIsN2FGa7KY8dF8ElfiOiXu5X3DsYF0rHt05b19tuCVgay2_Xg/s1600/basting+pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ4U6-NjHfEWL0q-mL87ejkQpCJszRfQ_wSGjHx2op1b13XaG-FkkpLihqQnM6z0EOMjY6ZuVwjEdS09qk-7okIsN2FGa7KY8dF8ElfiOiXu5X3DsYF0rHt05b19tuCVgay2_Xg/s320/basting+pin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This green project was a gift to my daughter. She designed a doll recently and the poor doll had no clothes. So, I used some quilting scraps (see project above) and made a pair of pants for the doll, then found a bit of t-shirt ribbing and made a shirt. Viola! Green outfit!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgBLeiXSPiOF_DqM1tnzle1fqK_i-Fz30dFRiGxLhDMb76ZyR9UBDC_3RsZetBgAqeq4QPlfaRpP3NnI7_VH7xp1qC9QHMGV_luhPjp2HkbD6HYB0WITIGeL8ntjAL5Z2Dnpauw/s1600/E_newdollclothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgBLeiXSPiOF_DqM1tnzle1fqK_i-Fz30dFRiGxLhDMb76ZyR9UBDC_3RsZetBgAqeq4QPlfaRpP3NnI7_VH7xp1qC9QHMGV_luhPjp2HkbD6HYB0WITIGeL8ntjAL5Z2Dnpauw/s320/E_newdollclothes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-1123174814133835342015-08-30T13:59:00.000-04:002015-08-30T13:59:12.269-04:00Salsa!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vyaWJRaqCOaPNRcp6I93dzMK4L1Yijc71qgb9bP46a2VZdrSmdyA2H5_x51EHKH5O9akStHeYxLEbGsQ868ZkGP0hHTWeKx1yhLG_ucLTibX3KI58Fl4XDx8TL1Tzbqe7tG48Q/s1600/salsa+pot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vyaWJRaqCOaPNRcp6I93dzMK4L1Yijc71qgb9bP46a2VZdrSmdyA2H5_x51EHKH5O9akStHeYxLEbGsQ868ZkGP0hHTWeKx1yhLG_ucLTibX3KI58Fl4XDx8TL1Tzbqe7tG48Q/s320/salsa+pot+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yesterday was a good day to harvest tomatoes and peppers from our garden. I got over 5 lbs. of orange tomatoes! These are roughly baseball sized fruits and taste wonderful! I chopped everything up and made salsa. The photo above shows everything except the 4 cups of onion in my pasta pot. That was when I realized I needed a bigger pot and brought out one of my big applesauce pots!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5q0u2otgkTFA7yAA9bAYlqTTEwH1310alvJlLO6v7wFRuWtlq0_KVDUOrQ_BMiXZ4pry73uvPn4UUFaxOHANQhAV9G_lPfJLeo0nxXRsWhqsnXPaspwEpjV6m16rEKqeMFlLkQ/s1600/salsa+pot+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5q0u2otgkTFA7yAA9bAYlqTTEwH1310alvJlLO6v7wFRuWtlq0_KVDUOrQ_BMiXZ4pry73uvPn4UUFaxOHANQhAV9G_lPfJLeo0nxXRsWhqsnXPaspwEpjV6m16rEKqeMFlLkQ/s320/salsa+pot+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here it is already to cook (in the bigger pot!). As I filled canning jars I was asked, "Have you tasted it?". True to form, I hadn't! We tasted some right then and declared it good! Whew! I do love the bright orange color that these tomatoes give to the salsa!</div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-11281700562145959112015-07-31T13:24:00.000-04:002015-07-31T13:24:04.877-04:00Lichen Dyeing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9485PyGhfXUzlSeEHv9GVR1z-F9F_CgGwpKYPxMZNt7dHcNOgynlQsa__NRiq6t96Y-MS-MHkonqjflhZ-cbOb12sFJmQpmB7KdlzAm8g7SbjHX-x_rChOu1KimDMzZkvSS8KQ/s1600/lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit9485PyGhfXUzlSeEHv9GVR1z-F9F_CgGwpKYPxMZNt7dHcNOgynlQsa__NRiq6t96Y-MS-MHkonqjflhZ-cbOb12sFJmQpmB7KdlzAm8g7SbjHX-x_rChOu1KimDMzZkvSS8KQ/s200/lichen.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lichen</td></tr>
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This is a summary of my first experiment with lichen dyes. I scraped the lichen (a flat, blue-green lichen that is common on our maple trees here) off the wood with a knife, then let it soak in a 50:50 ammonia:water bath for 6 weeks. I used a few tablespoons of the ammonia/lichen concentrate in ~2 cups of water to make a dye bath and inserted a mini-skein of border leicester wool yarn. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaVJNE2lY24H5auf_h8b4l_otg5Lp7Bt2-f28Ka6j565-gyR6-XUMwIxliZwImH8S8BbJuQKBpz-S12kxZeN-fETEAxxBZpfO-XPLLiBBUx2SsdFSKcDMhAodXlKhO8LdRGo4VA/s1600/lichen+dyeing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaVJNE2lY24H5auf_h8b4l_otg5Lp7Bt2-f28Ka6j565-gyR6-XUMwIxliZwImH8S8BbJuQKBpz-S12kxZeN-fETEAxxBZpfO-XPLLiBBUx2SsdFSKcDMhAodXlKhO8LdRGo4VA/s320/lichen+dyeing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dye on left, concentrate on right. Dyed mini-skein on ball of un-dyed wool.</td></tr>
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The result? A very pale, unsatisfying yellow. The dyed mini-skein is on top of an un-dyed ball of the border leicester yarn in the picture. The mini-skein did not take up much color.<br />
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-11001417157044409712015-07-26T19:12:00.003-04:002015-07-26T19:12:51.653-04:00Dress Stand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This week I am getting ready to take new art to my local gallery. I have to make sure that I get all my tags made and everything labeled right. I also have to make sure I have all my display props ready.</div>
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I'm the only fiber artist currently at the gallery. They do a really nice job of displaying wall art and sculptural pieces. They aren't so good with the textiles. </div>
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I decided that I needed a dress form to use to display my scarf. Have you ever priced dress forms? Ai-yi-yi! They can be expensive!</div>
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Thankfully, we have an antique store in town. The owner let me buy this beauty for just the right price...as a way to support the art gallery! If you are looking for an antique store to visit, come to Crawfordsville and visit "La Rose on Main" (she's on Main street).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8Zrv1yPmD4SWwWJMwVJaUMTr5Ai7YNq0IVi7-B81620xNNZUoql5zC20-DD-BqhfLCwrVn9nQ9vFa_5K8argn6ThxlHaKJhdZA6k6czb6U2ShA7LfA1RfA39kZ5Hy1q1QbjWHA/s1600/dress+stand+and+shawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8Zrv1yPmD4SWwWJMwVJaUMTr5Ai7YNq0IVi7-B81620xNNZUoql5zC20-DD-BqhfLCwrVn9nQ9vFa_5K8argn6ThxlHaKJhdZA6k6czb6U2ShA7LfA1RfA39kZ5Hy1q1QbjWHA/s320/dress+stand+and+shawl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
And then, come visit Athens Arts (on Washington St.) and see how this lovely dress stand is being used. The new art will be up on Aug.1st.<br />
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-66892893370611957122015-05-17T19:37:00.000-04:002015-05-17T19:37:07.564-04:00Natural Dyes--Rhubarb Roots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been working with plant materials as dye stuff. My main resource is "Wild Color" by Jenny Dean. It includes an reference for dyeing with the roots from the rhubarb plant. My rhubarb plants went to seed last year and I have a number of unexpected new plants in the yard. So, I decided to remove one older plant and experiment with it as a dye source.</div>
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Of course, I harvested the rhubarb first, and got rid of the leaves. Then I dug up the roots, washed the dirt off them, and cut them into small pieces. The roots were a strange texture--very spongy! </div>
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The dye was prepared two different ways. #1.the tea method. Pour boiling water on the roots and let them steep overnight. Use the liquid as the dye stuff. After dyeing, dip in an acidic solution (vinegar works great). The resulting color--pale yellow. #2. the boil method. Place the roots in a pot with water and boil them for 30-60 minutes. Remove the roots and add wool fibers to the pot. Return to a simmer and cook for about an hour. Dip the fibers in a basic solution (ammonia) after dyeing, and the color turns a pale pink.</div>
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For both of these, I used approximately equal weight of fresh dye stuff to prepared wool fibers (Falkland wool roving).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMVEzcwFFGHVXsUWWV4Pc2pGg2kMVqVSsgrFSJwrSik2l7sgprdOTGWDKgSuQTdTqkf3j50KGrejdLuSMNCyqsWX4xOqsjaZVkTM4C0ZVvF-X2A5zU78tCjuvyoOlmmcEbBQvPw/s1600/dye_rhubarb+root.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMVEzcwFFGHVXsUWWV4Pc2pGg2kMVqVSsgrFSJwrSik2l7sgprdOTGWDKgSuQTdTqkf3j50KGrejdLuSMNCyqsWX4xOqsjaZVkTM4C0ZVvF-X2A5zU78tCjuvyoOlmmcEbBQvPw/s320/dye_rhubarb+root.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb roots and dyed Falkland wool.</td></tr>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-75016983051288685232015-04-26T15:15:00.001-04:002015-04-26T15:15:49.244-04:00Exploring Sunprints and Baskets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I haven't been doing too many big projects at home lately. I've been working and, surprise!, am tired at the end of the day! I did have some time off this week and tried my hand at some new things.</div>
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Baskets. On the left is a "coiled basket" made from handspun yarn wrapped around a cotton core. I must admit that I really tried to avoid making a coiled basket. I didn't want to! It was sure to be painfully slow! Well, it wasn't terrible and I may even make another one of these days! On the right is a woven basket. Both warp and weft are handspun yarns. This basket is just big enough to be used as a doll hat for a Barbie (my daughter tested it for me!). It's a soft basket and flexible. I'm not sure how well it would stand up if it were bigger. I may try again on this type of basket too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw4r1Eev_inznyaGmk6tRywE4n4ThrykwW9-CdTbnyzakFbsBV02eydKL36jxyV1gnifZP9k7MYqBIeeU_dTBeD7KwIJPZTYpPuSp_qcdaiuGbxiiQorjkOETw1G6Otx5WvaiIA/s1600/baskets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAw4r1Eev_inznyaGmk6tRywE4n4ThrykwW9-CdTbnyzakFbsBV02eydKL36jxyV1gnifZP9k7MYqBIeeU_dTBeD7KwIJPZTYpPuSp_qcdaiuGbxiiQorjkOETw1G6Otx5WvaiIA/s1600/baskets.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a piece from one of my other experiments:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx19CAdSjHPTJuehqlCpiKOO2uoTUJAzuaBjPq1wo5inp1s1XbxQmcVQn44rIl5AHfhbzkBRyDDnb1wx1_qPmwnc19jvZxEH5QV4VYLgPSuUbNVQlFvMNXHMl2XuZm1cJkGm6gjw/s1600/sunprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx19CAdSjHPTJuehqlCpiKOO2uoTUJAzuaBjPq1wo5inp1s1XbxQmcVQn44rIl5AHfhbzkBRyDDnb1wx1_qPmwnc19jvZxEH5QV4VYLgPSuUbNVQlFvMNXHMl2XuZm1cJkGm6gjw/s1600/sunprint.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was a piece of off-white muslin that was painted with a wash of acrylic paint and had paper snowflakes set on it. The whole thing was placed in the sun to dry. Apparently, as the cloth around the snowflakes (or other object like leaves or flowers) dries it wicks the paint and water from the covered areas, leaving a "sunprint". I haven't decided how to use my printed fabric, but I think it looks cool!</div>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-58106694629734891322015-04-07T21:01:00.000-04:002015-04-07T21:01:24.951-04:00Experiments--socks and egg biscuits--and a Wooden Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Years ago I spun a variegated purple roving into a two ply yarn by splitting down the middle to make two similar yarns. I thought that I was going to make mittens, and I tried once! But the mittens were ripped out and the yarn has sat in my stash for a long time! I decided to try some toe up socks with the yarn and I had just enough!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFFCYLWwiSFzy9l7VV8qV1CZpzCHjLNUCmJ_ne-GCR_oRBSKdDUwxZtrYmst1e14A8sg6UeeEPB0PXaSKKxa9tExPzQZfVNFv3SZdUnq1KqQ3oen3rlgpk5fR0fjaWJLVCTWdHQ/s1600/purple+handspun+socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFFCYLWwiSFzy9l7VV8qV1CZpzCHjLNUCmJ_ne-GCR_oRBSKdDUwxZtrYmst1e14A8sg6UeeEPB0PXaSKKxa9tExPzQZfVNFv3SZdUnq1KqQ3oen3rlgpk5fR0fjaWJLVCTWdHQ/s1600/purple+handspun+socks.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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These were knit from Wendy D. Johnson's Toe-up Socks book, and if you look closely at my toes you can tell that I didn't follow the pattern very well! I'm not a big fan of toe up socks. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just because I don't have much experience with them. At any rate, given how little yarn I had, I knew that toe-up was the way to go. I'm pleased that they worked...I'm still not a fan of the technique.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD2rkkVPCh8E1ED8nm0-kYW3p4fLJetwdlfbadW_k7mCcj8YaXWUndeMUpsdNkpmmN3FCCqqFsRAw3YDOEp8rqnynplLJWYLQY4DFwze_bEW7qPCe5JWWapYG4WkL3kfaBO0Ohg/s1600/egg_in_a_buscuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuD2rkkVPCh8E1ED8nm0-kYW3p4fLJetwdlfbadW_k7mCcj8YaXWUndeMUpsdNkpmmN3FCCqqFsRAw3YDOEp8rqnynplLJWYLQY4DFwze_bEW7qPCe5JWWapYG4WkL3kfaBO0Ohg/s1600/egg_in_a_buscuit.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's another experiment....eggs in a biscuit. For those of you familiar with Scotch eggs (hard boiled eggs in sausage), this is the same idea, but with a biscuit around the egg. The idea was from one of my co-workers....she was super excited to try this with soft boiled eggs. I don't like runny yolks, so I used medium boiled eggs. The end result...they were yummy, but not yummy enough to make them every day! They were a lot of work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVUE45AyNL4N5xm_qsfvewIQ4JdEWSAYWdjSvjreqO12oxhZGh0QGct-sGAiKPPIT28T3c11FeD2YPJpr0wIojkbwfBpg4DjJNOwNTDLRf3Pvzsp4WgexWJjoFMiYX4U8ryV5A/s1600/quilt_benwilson_celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVUE45AyNL4N5xm_qsfvewIQ4JdEWSAYWdjSvjreqO12oxhZGh0QGct-sGAiKPPIT28T3c11FeD2YPJpr0wIojkbwfBpg4DjJNOwNTDLRf3Pvzsp4WgexWJjoFMiYX4U8ryV5A/s1600/quilt_benwilson_celebration.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMha0e3Cf0jZI8qct7gdy_Gyx86oIK9aUchsgmtXnZanOWvbyYjhP024FwgejbUuucxaMVp8S0vY5JAWxL0Ujm-aeMkPGScpAieWGnOAbSM4jAHmxUYUA7rxMe2tpt6nG6jGETiA/s1600/quilt_benwilson_square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMha0e3Cf0jZI8qct7gdy_Gyx86oIK9aUchsgmtXnZanOWvbyYjhP024FwgejbUuucxaMVp8S0vY5JAWxL0Ujm-aeMkPGScpAieWGnOAbSM4jAHmxUYUA7rxMe2tpt6nG6jGETiA/s1600/quilt_benwilson_square.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, lastly, a hearty congratulations to one of my associates at Athens Art Gallery. Ben Wilson is a woodworker at the gallery and was commissioned to make this quilt from wood. It is beautifully done! If you are local, it is on display at the gallery for most of April.</div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-37060743336917454082015-03-15T20:11:00.000-04:002015-03-15T20:11:07.745-04:00Coverlet repair, Sampling, and Transparency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I received a surprising phone call the other day. A woman had seen my work at the Athens Arts Gallery and was looking for a weaver's opinion regarding some family heirlooms. We set up a time for her to come over and this is one of the things she brought--a piece from a coverlet that her great-grandmother had woven!</div>
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Even more amazing to me than the beautiful weaving was the repair job. Do you see the faded blue rectangle in the middle of the photo? It is a patch that was sewn onto the coverlet. ~The weaving studio at Conner Prairie recently had a reproduction coverlet that needed repair and this type of repair is precisely what we were discussing. So amazing to see it in person! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x8A_N-fPka2BGxLqJxaxYAeNHydi-sXPHNuCogSvpf7UEIV_jUYqpLFNNevS1VRwnEKy9ZqPKCfbKEcA8q615jSqVNXlisEYe4VyKyiBqh4rBr6TKp84heuLHfPXbdUcs14L6Q/s1600/JSchmidt+coverlet+repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5x8A_N-fPka2BGxLqJxaxYAeNHydi-sXPHNuCogSvpf7UEIV_jUYqpLFNNevS1VRwnEKy9ZqPKCfbKEcA8q615jSqVNXlisEYe4VyKyiBqh4rBr6TKp84heuLHfPXbdUcs14L6Q/s1600/JSchmidt+coverlet+repair.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been doing some sampling for a blanket. The weave structure is M's and W's and is from Carol Strickler's Weaver's Book of 8-Shaft Patterns. The cool thing about these samples is that by turning the tie-up, I was able to change where the floats appeared. In the sample on the right, the floats are in the colorful stripes. In the middle sample, the floats are in the cream stripes. On the left, the floats alternate in a checker board pattern from colorful to cream and back. Unfortunately, I think that the floats are too long and need to go back to the sample warp and try again. (On the one hand, I'm disappointed. On the other hand, I'm grateful that I'm learning this now, and not after I put on two blankets worth of warp!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQKw7ieXUO1F6JdEnB7P7xKyGBXd5yvU_hWimTS1qW5fKcoik_7ZMpRmLYmIf8Bt_ngbVZq99pugBP9EIM3RpSK-Fd0nsx6AUdwjQqUcZUUEPomghKIFCAzDmOHFpJx_NnRrPlQ/s1600/MWtwill+samples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQKw7ieXUO1F6JdEnB7P7xKyGBXd5yvU_hWimTS1qW5fKcoik_7ZMpRmLYmIf8Bt_ngbVZq99pugBP9EIM3RpSK-Fd0nsx6AUdwjQqUcZUUEPomghKIFCAzDmOHFpJx_NnRrPlQ/s1600/MWtwill+samples.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSazJR6o5V-8XqP8GeHTpaQTBkBAm_MpEpiAZCLg5-BYTb-snpaNyfnvM2PrPl5QAoZUF5STGC1dtnh-mvr0evzG7mTK5uhx9dJCK-K3fIRmixi9eCqLDSRJsN4A2SoN2aflC3w/s1600/MWtwill+samples_long+floats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSazJR6o5V-8XqP8GeHTpaQTBkBAm_MpEpiAZCLg5-BYTb-snpaNyfnvM2PrPl5QAoZUF5STGC1dtnh-mvr0evzG7mTK5uhx9dJCK-K3fIRmixi9eCqLDSRJsN4A2SoN2aflC3w/s1600/MWtwill+samples_long+floats.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pencil is under one of the floats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30M4tzpoDl5YdrtaSMSIqCM7ReAMf87e9ulP_pT2yghHxCYzjpdof-4TDXA-BRVcPwe-wDI3WnZK9HemCSJeHYbhller66f_Py5k4PvgznJR3GYrPB8_mgbBnOI8z6epthEpjQw/s1600/transparency+sampler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30M4tzpoDl5YdrtaSMSIqCM7ReAMf87e9ulP_pT2yghHxCYzjpdof-4TDXA-BRVcPwe-wDI3WnZK9HemCSJeHYbhller66f_Py5k4PvgznJR3GYrPB8_mgbBnOI8z6epthEpjQw/s1600/transparency+sampler.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a></div>
And, lastly, here is a transparency sampler that I just finished. The background warp and weft are 40/2 linen set at 30 epi. The pattern weft is 8/2 cotton. I used a cartoon under the warp to help me make the pattern shapes. --Check out all the snow visible through the window. Spring has arrived since I took this photo and that is all gone and instead, I have crocuses blooming in my sunny front yard! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-91052694639509317362015-02-09T20:45:00.000-05:002015-02-09T20:45:47.587-05:00Preparing a Vest...err Shawl...err Cocoon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Remember this warp?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShHQSAVJ6kvO1ZjD0rNEhEjPKTCliG98bSxLTaYnjb0LPR7iijMW7dhGHUBBMOpF9KmxSbxacPoXBxX_kksIbGYXceRs5Urmew6RWobGxIuu3elaYzLrDDYAFGycu217epaxHDg/s1600/romney+color+warp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShHQSAVJ6kvO1ZjD0rNEhEjPKTCliG98bSxLTaYnjb0LPR7iijMW7dhGHUBBMOpF9KmxSbxacPoXBxX_kksIbGYXceRs5Urmew6RWobGxIuu3elaYzLrDDYAFGycu217epaxHDg/s1600/romney+color+warp.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And these rolags?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5rF9tBlV-NTDlMuN_BrYwV54c29BIKkSmPBSuMDlD6YZLQYqCjAW23dd0yBPMcPKN8HKVkVaOGjAHElYsjSGnydqNsmA8D3vbKj0tW_46sEF6e4t3O297nPJ3zedBb0R0kd8yw/s1600/romney+color+weft+rolags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5rF9tBlV-NTDlMuN_BrYwV54c29BIKkSmPBSuMDlD6YZLQYqCjAW23dd0yBPMcPKN8HKVkVaOGjAHElYsjSGnydqNsmA8D3vbKj0tW_46sEF6e4t3O297nPJ3zedBb0R0kd8yw/s1600/romney+color+weft+rolags.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It only took a week or two to spin and ply the yarn. I plied on my Louet wheel, but the spinning was on my Majacrat Little Gem II. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQpQ-mnJh0E382_4vY0uLcUBKvQluHgSLQeNX-rZwgoXwOQvujhL4BiWp8zO1gxFsppfyPavcgvVTraQorjU6uxpdLqnxarc1wb_uI-DEhoYMXsUPtS-sNYvizMu7UM-8ZlG3dw/s1600/romney+pink+handspun+weft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQpQ-mnJh0E382_4vY0uLcUBKvQluHgSLQeNX-rZwgoXwOQvujhL4BiWp8zO1gxFsppfyPavcgvVTraQorjU6uxpdLqnxarc1wb_uI-DEhoYMXsUPtS-sNYvizMu7UM-8ZlG3dw/s1600/romney+pink+handspun+weft.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's the weft and warp together. The warp was woven in less than a day. I am amazed at the speed of weaving yarn this size! (~14 wpi and sett at 8 epi). Once off the loom, I sewed the edges with the sewing machine so they wouldn't unravel and then I fulled the fabric to make it more stable.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4g5d8UeiqdvwbE9f5z53e551_7zA9P643nKrO8YoYfRDgqDM6IwTn7GISY12qJ3aVOyq178rUS6TF1oo3kKITZPgqOZjPKnj75T-wFfsQrfrKlCnZdi6pXnSpqRCRCPA7GhJXA/s1600/romney+pink+vest+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4g5d8UeiqdvwbE9f5z53e551_7zA9P643nKrO8YoYfRDgqDM6IwTn7GISY12qJ3aVOyq178rUS6TF1oo3kKITZPgqOZjPKnj75T-wFfsQrfrKlCnZdi6pXnSpqRCRCPA7GhJXA/s1600/romney+pink+vest+fabric.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The goal now is to make this into a vest....I'll be busy tomorrow!</div>
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Tomorrow came and went, but the fabric never did make it to become a vest. I ended up making a cocoon by sewing the narrow ends of the rectangle of fabric to the top long edge to make sleeves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6xpcICcHpZpioNTfdOTFKyp6q-zmv3GbX-NhUm3zFndQtWTX1XIjiWLWOcd9lAkbO-8cEFuIP3QQkAmIyd6KdMPk_sZrVdHyymxz5PHlQmeNFt6H_Rag4l-5j2baMg4E3OSRgQ/s1600/pink+cocoon+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6xpcICcHpZpioNTfdOTFKyp6q-zmv3GbX-NhUm3zFndQtWTX1XIjiWLWOcd9lAkbO-8cEFuIP3QQkAmIyd6KdMPk_sZrVdHyymxz5PHlQmeNFt6H_Rag4l-5j2baMg4E3OSRgQ/s1600/pink+cocoon+back.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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The seams are at the shoulders and top of the arms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L2e0LDfYt0T28zfauwdYTH6ngjCPr75eGpT5yCLJTKD24kL2CSlWbhaTLmPuZZ4p836fueQmty5XxGVBBmjIXPaSzH5BnIr4s6k4ZZnlGMWWN0yiKkh_wA5-Hj4RNpk3kYMlYA/s1600/pink+cocoon+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L2e0LDfYt0T28zfauwdYTH6ngjCPr75eGpT5yCLJTKD24kL2CSlWbhaTLmPuZZ4p836fueQmty5XxGVBBmjIXPaSzH5BnIr4s6k4ZZnlGMWWN0yiKkh_wA5-Hj4RNpk3kYMlYA/s1600/pink+cocoon+front.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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Here's the curve of the front.</div>
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This one is currently on display (and for sale) at Athens Arts Gallery in downtown Crawfordsville. I must admit that I think it would be great if it sold... but if it doesn't sell, then it would be mine! Deep sigh! It's such a challenge to put my work up for sale!</div>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-55192673644736302922015-02-09T20:33:00.000-05:002015-02-09T20:33:50.778-05:00More Warp Twisting and a Finished Vest<br />
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Here's a photo of my warp from the last post. Some of the raddle sections show twisting. Some do not. I don't know that I did anything different from one warp chain to the next. If, or when, I figure this out, I'll let you know what I've discovered!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyb8AD1h7x8r7TE5SuTV9tMxfILaHIv9EtHthUkNPWyXHYlNrXHDGM-844JTBkCqm725c2QCEPZ8KC6fYpaykJ_VQzlFgcUtjIteBfpGK3PkZjiudlby6pcBUVvPInuK47OuRzpw/s1600/twisting+warp+sometimes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyb8AD1h7x8r7TE5SuTV9tMxfILaHIv9EtHthUkNPWyXHYlNrXHDGM-844JTBkCqm725c2QCEPZ8KC6fYpaykJ_VQzlFgcUtjIteBfpGK3PkZjiudlby6pcBUVvPInuK47OuRzpw/s1600/twisting+warp+sometimes.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is me in a newly finished vest. I dyed and spun the wool for this piece, then wove it as a plain weave section and a twill weave. I haven't been able to date spinning and weaving for this. The twill section had it's ends woven in like I learned in Joan Sheridan-Hoover's finishing class at the Michigan Fiber Festival in 2007. So I know this fabric was finished sometime after summer 2007... But when did I spin and weave it? I tried to sell it as yardage numerous times. I often thought that the twill and plain weave would make a great vest, but it wasn't until I put the twill on the front (I kept trying to use it as a yoke) that I had enough yardage to proceed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFcAPDbHLwLRjsisgySxr8aeE_LQbU1DaiAvdj5ojsifGqqDKitODKNJ0ccNxaM7ngNxfbsECy1MTuqxqo-REmE77CDV62n-ubmqMYQvIBbFrOhk47zr4s9c2b7xeRM0CpxuDHQ/s1600/brown+vest+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFcAPDbHLwLRjsisgySxr8aeE_LQbU1DaiAvdj5ojsifGqqDKitODKNJ0ccNxaM7ngNxfbsECy1MTuqxqo-REmE77CDV62n-ubmqMYQvIBbFrOhk47zr4s9c2b7xeRM0CpxuDHQ/s1600/brown+vest+me.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a></div>
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The inside of the vest is finished with hong kong seam finishings--bias tape over the edges of the fabric at the seams. It looks neat and clean! Now I just have to decide if it is really mine or if I'm going to put it in the gallery for sale.</div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-58596642472062846862015-02-07T21:16:00.000-05:002015-02-07T21:16:37.734-05:00Raddle Woes--Twisting Warp Bundles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Calling all Back-to-Front warpers! I need help! I am winding my warp with a 1x1 threading cross at one end and a 12x12 raddle cross at the other. When I have wound my warp onto the back beam (the raddle cross is now buried under all the layers of warp on the beam) and start to thread the heddles using my 1x1 threading cross, I get twists in the warp. Why?</div>
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Check out this photo. The warp was wound in small, separate chains--greens, pinks, browns. Why are they twisted? The entire warp chain for each color is not twisted, just the threads in each raddle space are twisted. (Did that make sense? If the entire warp chain were twisted, I would expect to see threads from one side of the warp chain crossed over both raddle spaces for that color.)</div>
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Anyone have any insights?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qAA0rl1rNaAY9_ZT5-U1yIUwqmVXySKL5pPNw7QLTIEwq3vrV9Rt_UD24h-rDL9khwDBGYOZHEwuP02E2ct9lFSegimk31QN4l-MSIUaxPlAkmtNHGH-xs0sj2RoXl22-2Asbw/s1600/twisting+warp+bunles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qAA0rl1rNaAY9_ZT5-U1yIUwqmVXySKL5pPNw7QLTIEwq3vrV9Rt_UD24h-rDL9khwDBGYOZHEwuP02E2ct9lFSegimk31QN4l-MSIUaxPlAkmtNHGH-xs0sj2RoXl22-2Asbw/s1600/twisting+warp+bunles.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thank you!</div>
Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-40531757638277091552015-01-16T16:45:00.000-05:002015-01-16T16:45:02.811-05:00Rigid Foam Display Board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My textiles (mostly towels) have been displayed on a table at the art gallery. A friend suggested that I find different ways to display them. I took in some free standing towel rods that I used at the Farmers' Market, but I also made some display boards to hang like framed art.</div>
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First off, a big thank you to Sue Parker-Bassett from the Weaving Indiana weaver's guild. In November she did a presentation on Leno Lace and had samples mounted on boards like these. </div>
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These boards are made from 1/2" rigid foam insulation (~$12 for a 4'x8' panel at Home Depot). The foam was cut to size with an exacto knife. I fashioned duct tape hangers/tabs, then covered the front of the board with a layer of polyester batting and some black fabric. The batting was glued and the black fabric was stapled. A piece of wire was strung between two duct tape tabs for hanging.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KMjbisC_XBYnoH6eUQG7wTxupAKfx8tHsxqlRQntriScQw4Py2Od2A3re13N1omfmFz1kWulahDiK93WEenF8hTrsWIiDN5dXJHStjXIE3gtlNNfO3fPc_Q6l40ihBN659LiKA/s1600/display+board+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KMjbisC_XBYnoH6eUQG7wTxupAKfx8tHsxqlRQntriScQw4Py2Od2A3re13N1omfmFz1kWulahDiK93WEenF8hTrsWIiDN5dXJHStjXIE3gtlNNfO3fPc_Q6l40ihBN659LiKA/s1600/display+board+back.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Here's the backs (that's a stack of three boards).</div>
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Here's a front.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpe8lPsgOgQV2K94-zI0zEZKu5fiqAy37-auPRNd-fO00UWyhiAourI2JBcenUSNYbmQ_QBEHn1a-l5K7MPOchj1dN419MDTx_CZwdML6sXwNYuJwvmdMF5uSt1bD1KA-UuPsqg/s1600/display+board+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpe8lPsgOgQV2K94-zI0zEZKu5fiqAy37-auPRNd-fO00UWyhiAourI2JBcenUSNYbmQ_QBEHn1a-l5K7MPOchj1dN419MDTx_CZwdML6sXwNYuJwvmdMF5uSt1bD1KA-UuPsqg/s1600/display+board+front.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And, here are some test shots with towels pinned to the boards at the gallery:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCg1Y2jvXn9w1SU47uN9utaOzwKQ3Dk50oEx8TAmLExh8dmyK7tOEHRnUJkxnEpjrr8XdsCE2YBzyuoQsn4efFKrOTs7R7DEW5ROmnaUIcAQqWjtIHafGe2DUvitlGYSRjed96w/s1600/display+board+in+use+too.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCg1Y2jvXn9w1SU47uN9utaOzwKQ3Dk50oEx8TAmLExh8dmyK7tOEHRnUJkxnEpjrr8XdsCE2YBzyuoQsn4efFKrOTs7R7DEW5ROmnaUIcAQqWjtIHafGe2DUvitlGYSRjed96w/s1600/display+board+in+use+too.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5y8kN3fvaR7_E4JM4b4HI-r5r4MZUDTUeL-i4PGZHJZ7NOxVzdjD2nXx-qBrsgHyWuL_bJsXOUdeFE47pEh6eYPdMgbxUNiWU5IvCFtFGQmUUjzzAhQDm4t8Uz_KLKOgQbUgVA/s1600/display+board+in+use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5y8kN3fvaR7_E4JM4b4HI-r5r4MZUDTUeL-i4PGZHJZ7NOxVzdjD2nXx-qBrsgHyWuL_bJsXOUdeFE47pEh6eYPdMgbxUNiWU5IvCFtFGQmUUjzzAhQDm4t8Uz_KLKOgQbUgVA/s1600/display+board+in+use.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I left the two small boards (18"x24") at the gallery, but brought the large one home. I'll be taking it back to the gallery in Feb. for the new "hang". The towels are pinned at the top, but not the bottom, to allow for guests to feel the textile.Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-56885903295490730142015-01-11T14:24:00.000-05:002015-01-11T14:24:50.561-05:00Color Wrap Challenges and Happier Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZJ4ptGbSzb_RGHytBawZHWSy86-SbLsK6az27TT9_7wqYUxLY0D33QvCKKFbxRqYeGyJ_9oc0KSpI91Ssac5i2Qdioo-Llk-MS2pdSycdTvObnSXvssY4Q2ueuvTT1h3wxS0DQ/s1600/color+wraps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZJ4ptGbSzb_RGHytBawZHWSy86-SbLsK6az27TT9_7wqYUxLY0D33QvCKKFbxRqYeGyJ_9oc0KSpI91Ssac5i2Qdioo-Llk-MS2pdSycdTvObnSXvssY4Q2ueuvTT1h3wxS0DQ/s1600/color+wraps.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Sometimes I find myself struggling to make a project work. The color wrap to the left is like that. What I think I want, what I see, and what I understand just haven't pulled together right yet. <br />
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With projects like this, I have found that stepping away and letting the project rest is good. So, while I'm resting I'll share some things that have brought a smile to my face recently.<br />
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Kumihimo braids. These two braids were made by my youngest daughter. Her instructor was her oldest sister. The yarns are all thrums. We spent a fun hour one snow day going through my thrums finding yarns for both girls to use. Oh, and the "extra" loops on these bracelets are for my daughter's thumbs. Don't ask me why, but that's how she likes to wear them--on her wrist and on her thumb!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu3zSipX1XyZH4K3w_u3W52HCBeJuwRJ1V0m-F3euIHZoKYxFao4TZWH1IJACKKPLMolH1rj2ZEtnwKymbV-xHc2onSm1g0rdx1xTWUmdwNjZE8L8DPZKHnFQwGZvta5qtZk_rw/s1600/e_kumihimo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu3zSipX1XyZH4K3w_u3W52HCBeJuwRJ1V0m-F3euIHZoKYxFao4TZWH1IJACKKPLMolH1rj2ZEtnwKymbV-xHc2onSm1g0rdx1xTWUmdwNjZE8L8DPZKHnFQwGZvta5qtZk_rw/s1600/e_kumihimo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the girls have been braiding, I have been spinning cotton. This is one of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/robinjedmundson?ref=em" target="_blank">Robin Edmundson's</a> dyed rovings spun and plied into a 2-ply yarn. I may even have a project for this instead of just a spot in my handspun cotton box! I love Robin's colors and fiber preparations. This was wonderful to spin, and I love the bright, cheery greens especially since we are in the middle of cold and snow!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelUR6JCjQfqyqtKebGuyJFD3ewMTs5vu5UrNdtV2rHuPAvJhn0pd2J8F1s5S4aJMpMd9-_a6XAcQ9ZY5I3EpbDO4iaf8Tkc0UaDRr0cnMj-H9ys_aOel9GPGunasMcdBr8Fv6Sw/s1600/green+cotton+on+spindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelUR6JCjQfqyqtKebGuyJFD3ewMTs5vu5UrNdtV2rHuPAvJhn0pd2J8F1s5S4aJMpMd9-_a6XAcQ9ZY5I3EpbDO4iaf8Tkc0UaDRr0cnMj-H9ys_aOel9GPGunasMcdBr8Fv6Sw/s1600/green+cotton+on+spindle.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This next photo is a project in the development phase. I blended some of the bright pink silk with two colors of alpaca and spindle spun it to see if I would like the yarn....I think they are lovely yarns and I would like to weave a shawl with these. Maybe it would be mostly brown with three narrow white bands at one edge woven in an all-over crepe twill. Maybe it will become something else! I need to make final decisions as to how much silk to blend with the alpaca. I'm leaning towards 20% by weight silk to alpaca.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWuMebPQVi5ii8scMfVXreN1xY-KGoiFTxCPQwoLh3J5wWI_H_CKzrP9E296v3B_Hkm_BmKcUO3PUTXQP_UftZPm1QdRVWQUKb57524cv5rKZ3NJZ7iUun24Oh40fQZvzly-Nxg/s1600/alpaca+silk+blend+test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWuMebPQVi5ii8scMfVXreN1xY-KGoiFTxCPQwoLh3J5wWI_H_CKzrP9E296v3B_Hkm_BmKcUO3PUTXQP_UftZPm1QdRVWQUKb57524cv5rKZ3NJZ7iUun24Oh40fQZvzly-Nxg/s1600/alpaca+silk+blend+test.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-23726066127759104832015-01-05T09:16:00.000-05:002015-01-05T09:16:19.806-05:00Swimming in Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBmWd1G0iLF-8PzHpaRGEKCvcw2hXmpE03Ge1AHug1D1MH-nY90ho9_Ht2sBY5S312TFUUNz9-B_cRCxRWe9Pv_ADEY_3QSqOLhRtoHWzRHGlXfglxKAh-Ko0LHdbkMJ6oTqz0g/s1600/color+pieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBmWd1G0iLF-8PzHpaRGEKCvcw2hXmpE03Ge1AHug1D1MH-nY90ho9_Ht2sBY5S312TFUUNz9-B_cRCxRWe9Pv_ADEY_3QSqOLhRtoHWzRHGlXfglxKAh-Ko0LHdbkMJ6oTqz0g/s1600/color+pieces.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a>My colorful warp is off the loom. It was a wonderful vacation project! I ended up with a long sampler (~20"), a table runner, and two very different scarves. Weaving with color has been lots of fun!</div>
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The table runner and sampler were sett at 24epi. The warp for the runner is a black slub cotton.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-K2rPL2lkZL-HffZ-MZcjKQZU0ryR8OniKvrWk8tqGJGAB1wEqAQnK3re9Bs-GHDucKquTHfYQZHd4g1PFWNlm4dMFIt0TB9XszLoVG4a2_PnIFK59Toi8If0G55Tof9hw-bog/s1600/color+black+weft+runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-K2rPL2lkZL-HffZ-MZcjKQZU0ryR8OniKvrWk8tqGJGAB1wEqAQnK3re9Bs-GHDucKquTHfYQZHd4g1PFWNlm4dMFIt0TB9XszLoVG4a2_PnIFK59Toi8If0G55Tof9hw-bog/s1600/color+black+weft+runner.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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The scarves were sett at 20 epi. Here is the short one on my model. The warp threads were used as wefts on this piece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZCZI0EBaAZXtK4BU3QT6Ya3wBazHfz3wtPnGXtXxUFroplAslwPF1rt5Dk9nZG0apn9dk8s2F5mTDQBpI8hdMJe8TM6aJfqMLgIz872m9WLcodQ75oCkWmhpj-4bsh4AnZz6Sw/s1600/color+warp+as+weft+decorative+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZCZI0EBaAZXtK4BU3QT6Ya3wBazHfz3wtPnGXtXxUFroplAslwPF1rt5Dk9nZG0apn9dk8s2F5mTDQBpI8hdMJe8TM6aJfqMLgIz872m9WLcodQ75oCkWmhpj-4bsh4AnZz6Sw/s1600/color+warp+as+weft+decorative+scarf.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The other scarf used left over yarn from <a href="http://www.mountainmeadowwool.com/" target="_blank">Mountain Meadow Wool</a>. I won a prize from them in the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/handwoven-september-october-2012" target="_blank">"Look, Ma, No Sleeves"</a> contest that Handwoven ran a few years ago. One of the yarns (there are two light brown wools being used as alternate picks for weft) has alpaca and the other has bison blended with wool. I think that I may get this scarf, but I'm not sure yet!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRQiLX-QtRwghaKERZpylIkCTlqpwMSrIOsywiR8Q2eT_GzmDMCS3F1I9unehfRsc__c2zVBmUrqSr7zwtfY9ng91wswEuCA-J6AFcyd_RiYr1YdFf7_u6n7z6z8gtfXEhpbITQ/s1600/color+wools+as+weft+scarf+on+loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRQiLX-QtRwghaKERZpylIkCTlqpwMSrIOsywiR8Q2eT_GzmDMCS3F1I9unehfRsc__c2zVBmUrqSr7zwtfY9ng91wswEuCA-J6AFcyd_RiYr1YdFf7_u6n7z6z8gtfXEhpbITQ/s1600/color+wools+as+weft+scarf+on+loom.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-33622755570277030242015-01-05T09:00:00.001-05:002015-01-05T09:00:42.771-05:00Franken-Inkle Loom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have a home made inkle loom that I have loved. Sadly, it was too small. I couldn't even weave a full yard of band on it! So, we franken-ized it. I found a piece of the original board, we cut apart the little loom, inserted the board, made some connection points, and viola! Now I can weave over two yards of inkle bands! Yay!</div>
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(And the loom looks much better now that I have sanded it....much less "franken")</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK8p7fSlgiBZ191favnVlgCxECWh_HKqnA2JI3IpAuZgr2U88J0NIj4CpHzK-WfZsPqOmkGlyLlFAUp0wOQWug200gFRII5w0-iU5XVOATawNnF7vOnlj58VIeaMwRRSZHhs48w/s1600/franken+inkle+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYK8p7fSlgiBZ191favnVlgCxECWh_HKqnA2JI3IpAuZgr2U88J0NIj4CpHzK-WfZsPqOmkGlyLlFAUp0wOQWug200gFRII5w0-iU5XVOATawNnF7vOnlj58VIeaMwRRSZHhs48w/s1600/franken+inkle+back.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCBXK3pmTUgswLQASEBSKGgNgQ2-naQQVp5fzm7TFysmBbHwspp7V99Yb-thqycAscPP71eLlg4IYad0o9teQR3CbffXUHdpZUqPqu_btAIvoUFFg_GEJbMYyF32WFiQFFgIysA/s1600/franken+inkle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCBXK3pmTUgswLQASEBSKGgNgQ2-naQQVp5fzm7TFysmBbHwspp7V99Yb-thqycAscPP71eLlg4IYad0o9teQR3CbffXUHdpZUqPqu_btAIvoUFFg_GEJbMYyF32WFiQFFgIysA/s1600/franken+inkle.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
PS. After two hours in the shop with my husband as we planned and he milled the slots, etc, we decided that it would have been easier to just buy a new board and dowel and make a new loom. On the positive side, this little baby works just fine!Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-36995492520853118022014-12-26T08:45:00.000-05:002014-12-26T08:45:50.386-05:00Color..Kersplash!Do you ever feel like you're a novice swimmer jumping into the deep end when it comes to color? Me too! I'm on a new color journey (swim?). Here's where things stand:<br />
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The beginning.<br />
I went shopping at my friend Robin Edmundson's etsy shop. I love her colors for cotton roving and finally decided to buy a color I've been eyeing for months! While looking around, I discovered she had<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/119291727/hand-dyed-yarn-grab-bag?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank"> yarn grab bags for sale</a> as well and you chose them by color family: "bright cool", "bright warm", "earthy cool", "earthy warm". I don't know about you, but there are times when I want to choose every last color in a piece and other times when I just want someone to fill my bag with pretty crayons and let me play (without having to think about which crayons got put in the bag!). So, I purchased a "bright warm" grab bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLREKoFk5ripYpwP4LqXp5KQxI7uqiTgvVeydNkO0eYIN79-FR1CHCUNXDQ1gXyhKKKpVnVUC9r6w3t_Adn1hR1Z8b4U-dZozpTVJy515ZR18cANKcmjIgU5i5dKSrfVXcqBDPg/s1600/colors_bright+warm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLREKoFk5ripYpwP4LqXp5KQxI7uqiTgvVeydNkO0eYIN79-FR1CHCUNXDQ1gXyhKKKpVnVUC9r6w3t_Adn1hR1Z8b4U-dZozpTVJy515ZR18cANKcmjIgU5i5dKSrfVXcqBDPg/s1600/colors_bright+warm.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what I have left after winding a warp. There are two fine cotton boucle yarns (~24wpi), one cotton with a binder (~24 wpi), a rayon boucle (~22 wpi), and a nylon ribbon. They are lovely yarns! I have <a href="http://fiber-fever.blogspot.com/2013/09/prizes-yarn-uses-finished-scarf.html" target="_blank">woven with the fine cotton boucle</a> before when I won one of Robin's give-aways a year ago. The trick with this group of yarns was how to use them in my color-limited way and have them look fun, nice, and well, awesome ('cause the colors are beautiful!).</div>
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So here's what I found: Celeste Pryde has an article in the March/April 2000 issue of Handwoven magazine where she discusses weaving a Bronson Lace "log cabin" with multiple colors. She uses silks instead of cottons, but the color use is fascinating! She winds mini-warp bundles--enough ends for one of her two lace blocks (24 ends in this case)--and each mini-warp has two contrasting yarns. The contrast can be color, texture, value...or even no contrast! For a 28" wide piece she wound ~17 of these mini-warps.</div>
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So, I'm going to try it. I had already played around with some of my 10/2 cotton yarns, looking to find similar color combinations as this grab bag from Robin. I pulled out all the yarns. I made yarn pairs--most of them were contrasts of color and texture--and I wound 9 mini-warp bundles and hung them over a cupboard door.</div>
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Here they are. I've been moving them around and taking photos of them. I knew I wouldn't be able to remember which order I liked if I didn't document them somehow! I pulled my husband into the project and he suggested one of these orders and I really like it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfUq4YsMZqLbdNOn2FRhnlF6jTElG0qGJ46yXDSctkQEf4ot8L4GtPkZm2Dw2Ex6UmawF_qu1LqhwODbVudYerzx2atvyUqPykGXwfR9kv_YktZYnxZXf0ngp-nou8gAQv1ucBA/s1600/colors_no+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfUq4YsMZqLbdNOn2FRhnlF6jTElG0qGJ46yXDSctkQEf4ot8L4GtPkZm2Dw2Ex6UmawF_qu1LqhwODbVudYerzx2atvyUqPykGXwfR9kv_YktZYnxZXf0ngp-nou8gAQv1ucBA/s1600/colors_no+b.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
But, check out what happens when I grey scale these photos to look at the color values:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj817V5GcA8dz-2LCC3hDSvc344kbTmZcz_9f2yCgS22hN517eqrvhmtuzXfMh20ZPZFBkDcBT0g2ZNfKQt88WnYjvryAgy2tE3KUnLmKAs9-F9v9wZ-Jw03IGsChTP9c7AfJO5ug/s1600/colors_no+b_greyscale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj817V5GcA8dz-2LCC3hDSvc344kbTmZcz_9f2yCgS22hN517eqrvhmtuzXfMh20ZPZFBkDcBT0g2ZNfKQt88WnYjvryAgy2tE3KUnLmKAs9-F9v9wZ-Jw03IGsChTP9c7AfJO5ug/s1600/colors_no+b_greyscale.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></div>
The color order in the top left is a gradual shift from a dark value to a light and back to dark. None of the other value shifts are as smooth. The middle two have a shift, but there is a more abrupt dark to light shift from the left moving to the right. The upper left color order is currently hanging on the cupboard door. I'll look at it again tomorrow and hopefully warp a loom!Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-28467058679407972672014-12-23T20:11:00.000-05:002014-12-23T20:11:05.507-05:00Ends Per Inch, Errors and Summer & Winter Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ever have a 'great idea' only to watch it fail at every turn? After weaving the placemats for my friend I thought that I could use my cotton chenille to make wonderful baby blankets. I included a bit of plain weave sampling at the end of the placemat warp, did some calculations and went to work.</div>
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There were, of course, limiting factors in my work. To weave a wide blanket (I like 40" square baby blankets) I would need to use my AVL Production Dobby loom. That was ok. I'm not very fast at warping it, mostly due to lack of practice, so I figured this would be a good opportunity to practice! Unfortunately, I only have one reed that reaches the width of the AVL. It's a 10-dent reed and my test piece had been woven at 24 ends per inch (epi). I could thread the 10-dent reed 2-2-3 for 23 epi or 2-3 for 25 epi. I opted for the "easier" 2-3 threading.</div>
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Here's where things got sticky. I made some denting errors. Some of them I was able to fix right away, but some would have required re-threading the entire reed. (Can you see where this is going?) I wasn't willing to do that. I had 1150 ends. I didn't want to re-thread the reed. So I didn't. </div>
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Not good. Not good at all. So I ended up with warp stripes randomly placed throughout my baby blankets. They aren't even. They weren't planned. They aren't even the same type of error! There are multiple spots where there are too many threads per dent and one spot where there are too few. :(</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwc2IbDhup5HSsid2TDIZ6F3lwdOnQoO9A-rWRSh0hFbQKms4vrogsIAwI8ZEBbH4Yg-iFJ5shpmt3GY0Wi0gxZOw0tJNkUEijP8VtVE38hDevxsFWKyQBtlqQTMg_MCtHnZAhA/s1600/chenille+denting+errors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwc2IbDhup5HSsid2TDIZ6F3lwdOnQoO9A-rWRSh0hFbQKms4vrogsIAwI8ZEBbH4Yg-iFJ5shpmt3GY0Wi0gxZOw0tJNkUEijP8VtVE38hDevxsFWKyQBtlqQTMg_MCtHnZAhA/s1600/chenille+denting+errors.jpg" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two blankets showing denting errors.</td></tr>
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The other part of my trouble is my choice of ends per inch for the warp. The placemat warp had been sett at 24 epi and was a relatively narrow warp. The washed sample is lovely--soft and fuzzy and the colors show up well. My baby blanket warp was sett at 25 epi and was a wide warp --44". Wide warps don't pack as tightly as narrow warps, neither do warps with extra ends per inch. I was doomed!</div>
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Ok. So it's not that bad. Sure the cloth doesn't look like my sample and I really liked my sample. Sure the cloth has irregularities in it, so I won't put it in the art gallery for sale. But, if I hem them, I'll have two baby blankets or lap blankets to give to friends. If I never show them my sample, they'll never know what they're missing. Right?</div>
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While the baby blanket warp was on the avl I got to looking through some of my back issues of Handwoven Magazine. I was looking for articles on using color, but came across a familiar graph and paused to look it over. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJpneIbc4IoRAeRpqVkgs2hN2AqRvx3e0EISGsVZmhkdBbZSjciHTLtWsm5pKBnvb3Bp29txbDSWNyXh7HEFY2f3SvLq72gTI8Y5fGiMtERzaiVu_AVLDNLVO8N_1V_P09iyvVQ/s1600/atwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJpneIbc4IoRAeRpqVkgs2hN2AqRvx3e0EISGsVZmhkdBbZSjciHTLtWsm5pKBnvb3Bp29txbDSWNyXh7HEFY2f3SvLq72gTI8Y5fGiMtERzaiVu_AVLDNLVO8N_1V_P09iyvVQ/s1600/atwater.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
This wall hanging is a Mary Atwater piece and I remember seeing it in her book <a href="http://www.mmawg.org/Recipe_Book_CD.htm" target="_blank">"Recipe Book: Patterns for Handweavers"</a>. It is designed to be woven as Summer & Winter pickup. The interesting thing is that the instructions provide two threadings and tie-ups. One is the typical S&W threading with tie-downs on shafts 1 and 2. The other is a straight twill threading !!! Wow! I didn't know that you could do Summer & Winter on a straight twill threading! It turns out that you can!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B0ai0gfMOEVGtPD97TXZZFEiAMTCu_ngXKq-OG_pky4KLbhw9n-9CA3D5RBg7_cixdCx2n5J21AsbZUlzYE6vgFLse5tfDaWyEWRJx5t4eVmFzzBCdnkuXFO9TuCrpAkRfSlIg/s1600/chenille+sumwinter+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2B0ai0gfMOEVGtPD97TXZZFEiAMTCu_ngXKq-OG_pky4KLbhw9n-9CA3D5RBg7_cixdCx2n5J21AsbZUlzYE6vgFLse5tfDaWyEWRJx5t4eVmFzzBCdnkuXFO9TuCrpAkRfSlIg/s1600/chenille+sumwinter+fish.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
I wove this little fish at the end of my baby blanket warp which was threaded straight twill on 12 shafts. I keep hoping that I'll like weaving pick-up, but I don't yet! Still, the ability to do various weaves on a single threading is exciting!Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-15005204236181107252014-12-21T20:00:00.001-05:002014-12-23T20:08:54.756-05:0024 Hour Scarf Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had a little bit of yarn left over from the Alaska (Kenai) hat I knit. I added an old skein of handspun--it was spun from the same fiber that I used for the color base for the top and bottom of the hat (dark brown & green sections) and it worked well as a fill-in yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt5bbT9EW9MCU1O04ynpsCtGaf1mwKc5qRB99HxsZc7w0l856dcjzgox49NdKCZoTcxDKR8rudcnHluNv4A3AMiO0H1LleoGMPUeboxiieui4nRvDabib7Ble20v81cuEf2NQng/s1600/alaska+scarf+on+loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt5bbT9EW9MCU1O04ynpsCtGaf1mwKc5qRB99HxsZc7w0l856dcjzgox49NdKCZoTcxDKR8rudcnHluNv4A3AMiO0H1LleoGMPUeboxiieui4nRvDabib7Ble20v81cuEf2NQng/s1600/alaska+scarf+on+loom.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>The piece was about 6.5" wide on the loom and sett at 8 ends per inch. I tried a couple different wefts--first a tan, commercially spun alpaca, then a dark green with specks of red and gold handspun merino. The dark green merino was a very fine lace weight yarn. I ended up using it doubled--it was closer in size to the warp yarns that way--and wove away. The project was on and off the loom in less than 24 hours! After washing it, there was an extra 24 hours wait for it to dry.</div>
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Now the hat and scarf are a set and get worn regularly. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7b_ted8scx1hl8JELrxQ5FxWKqyqbVhIBfeHxi6TWE2JS5Mil3F-Vi-7R80fs685h0S3tEBOpIqLCsss30CCm1Wfxo5GTkD1Wkksdc-zNFGLeVwcRJ-3DUFwPLWhFPs32mKgcg/s1600/alaska+scarf+hat+combo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7b_ted8scx1hl8JELrxQ5FxWKqyqbVhIBfeHxi6TWE2JS5Mil3F-Vi-7R80fs685h0S3tEBOpIqLCsss30CCm1Wfxo5GTkD1Wkksdc-zNFGLeVwcRJ-3DUFwPLWhFPs32mKgcg/s1600/alaska+scarf+hat+combo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-85281287530511128552014-12-15T07:59:00.002-05:002014-12-15T07:59:34.290-05:00Dragon Skin (aka textured yarn and knitting)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It all started with a stop at my<a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/" target="_blank"> local yarn store</a>. Really, that's all it was--a stop to see what was new and what was pretty! I came home with something only a bit unusual. It was a length of wool roving dyed in beautiful fall colors. There was no makers mark on the label, just the type of wool and the weight. I thought I would look at it for a while and then put it it my stash.</div>
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But I didn't. My oldest came down with a bug that kept her home from school for two or three days. What did I do while taking care of my sick one? I began to spin.</div>
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This lovely merino roving was irregularly dyed. There was no true repeat of colors. The colors did not extend across the width of the roving. It was very random! I finally decided that the best way to show off these beautiful colors would be to spin the roving into a thick and thin yarn. (This decision was heavily influenced by Sarah Anderson's book <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Spinners-Book-Yarn-Designs/dp/1603427384" target="_blank">The Spinner's Book of Yarn Design</a></u>, where she starts her students off by spinning thick and thin as an exercise for learning control over drafting....It's a cool trick!) I split the roving lengthwise into strips and spun my colorful singles. It was so much fun! It was just spinning for the love of it! </div>
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To keep the colors separate, I plied the thick and thin single with a thin single of black Polwarth yarn. My friend <a href="http://silvervalleyfarm.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Feller</a> gave me this fleece and I am slowly combing through the wool. It spins beautifully!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx79HFm5Xb31lN6dN1Y4B8LPAs6CHV3tb3yldhNpxXG1t8o4kb2HZkUoG2IXBh06u7Rr9qdSRPcH_GHMp5CAxbO0wfZ9Uuj8Sq6ZYC-DeBvLPJq8Zv30lXT0O6ZUVoPjsqE0ZEAg/s1600/dragon+skin+yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx79HFm5Xb31lN6dN1Y4B8LPAs6CHV3tb3yldhNpxXG1t8o4kb2HZkUoG2IXBh06u7Rr9qdSRPcH_GHMp5CAxbO0wfZ9Uuj8Sq6ZYC-DeBvLPJq8Zv30lXT0O6ZUVoPjsqE0ZEAg/s1600/dragon+skin+yarn.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a>Here's the yarn in it's thick and thin glory! The thick parts aren't 100% evenly spaced, but they are regular and I was pleased!</div>
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Deciding what to do with a thick and thin yarn came next. I ended up using a Ravelry pattern "Baktus" as my starting point. To make the piece more textured, I used stockinette stitch for the bulk of the work, but for the thick sections I purled making a pronounced bump in the fabric. :)</div>
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Here's the scarf and a skein of yarn:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD9C0fcsLNdqYXeAywZhKMkJCvqW1KOhtCO8FkXnB8jRp7spl-DqdPo7jy4FThkjOWQRCLtJtCceMQnyUu9tfaGD2aOzw6G_WNKs7hF0OZy9_5UfTUBfRk7IfcwKNThelLopG2A/s1600/autumn+thick+&+thin_madsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD9C0fcsLNdqYXeAywZhKMkJCvqW1KOhtCO8FkXnB8jRp7spl-DqdPo7jy4FThkjOWQRCLtJtCceMQnyUu9tfaGD2aOzw6G_WNKs7hF0OZy9_5UfTUBfRk7IfcwKNThelLopG2A/s1600/autumn+thick+&+thin_madsen.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The headband is knit as a moebius strip. I followed Cat Bordhi's cast on technique (see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4 </a>) on a circular needle (us#5). The piece grows from the center width-wise towards the edges. It was a fun knit. I had to shift from mostly knitting to mostly purling at the half-way point around the loop in order to keep the fabric all (mostly) stockinette. The transition is just visible in the band. My finger marks the transition point--to the right are purl stitches (the back of the stockinette fabric) to the left are knit stitches.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YrpdV38Y9-9OrfWGOJRYh9EbZJaAyWXoy5t573zmcK-BdYo60yReuLBU127hLbyyyJ3WKqFGrGcuLAS6VPsTdAZFh5mQTfY8gyfKbZgzQYYHgDbBYjqptEW2j5nMelI3XYJ1Nw/s1600/dragon+skin+headband+moebius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YrpdV38Y9-9OrfWGOJRYh9EbZJaAyWXoy5t573zmcK-BdYo60yReuLBU127hLbyyyJ3WKqFGrGcuLAS6VPsTdAZFh5mQTfY8gyfKbZgzQYYHgDbBYjqptEW2j5nMelI3XYJ1Nw/s1600/dragon+skin+headband+moebius.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></div>
By twisting the headband at the transition, the band appears to be all stockinette stitch. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDDCGu_THZYRlHNBufUS5MBblIF1m2QlUzX4vSRyxt-ofqHkacCqAADipOOEkqVIRuEm0eVh1WID1ZHni494GFPedJre6T7zAreK51JMt3bpZnGB90LFPewaCax1Okfw_OgHUqA/s1600/dragon+skin+headband+side+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDDCGu_THZYRlHNBufUS5MBblIF1m2QlUzX4vSRyxt-ofqHkacCqAADipOOEkqVIRuEm0eVh1WID1ZHni494GFPedJre6T7zAreK51JMt3bpZnGB90LFPewaCax1Okfw_OgHUqA/s1600/dragon+skin+headband+side+view.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, I made a pair of fingerless mitts to complete the set. I didn't follow any one pattern to knit these. They start with k1 p1 ribbing at the wrists, then shift to stockinette stitch with an increase for the thumb. After I knit enough to get to the base of the thumb, I bound off the stitches I had added in to make the hole for the thumb. Then it was more stockinette stitch and a little bit more of k1p1 ribbing around the fingers and Ta-Da! they were done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdkC4R1MmO48-0oqSh6tlmzDUn5pq761vgLSbHZS9QPQBDGDlEo83zYEV-N3QZCIVx94jb0kiD55brtlBt7c_MycGZu_7Hp83AemWuL5VhMGDneM-FOJt4R8t5zP5Puez_cIQvg/s1600/dragon+skin+fingerless+mitts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdkC4R1MmO48-0oqSh6tlmzDUn5pq761vgLSbHZS9QPQBDGDlEo83zYEV-N3QZCIVx94jb0kiD55brtlBt7c_MycGZu_7Hp83AemWuL5VhMGDneM-FOJt4R8t5zP5Puez_cIQvg/s1600/dragon+skin+fingerless+mitts.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
This seems like a lot to get from one bit of roving! The dyed merino roving was 6 oz. I didn't weigh how much Polwarth I used, but I'm guessing it was 3-4 oz, maybe even 5oz. For 9-12 oz of yarn, it seems more reasonable to have been able to make so much. The best part is how much I enjoyed the making of each part!<br />
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PS. My oldest daughter really likes dragons. She has a few figurines, she draws them in her spare time...When I gave her the scarf and made the headband she was trying to come up with a name for them. After a few false starts (including "sparkles"--blech!), she said "Dragon skin" and the name has stuck. The pieces are bumpy, yet smooth and mottled, but coordinated. And, because they are 100% wool and wool is self-extinguishing, they are partially fire proof-- definitely Dragon Skin! :)Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36150941.post-12839731909690537322014-11-27T09:36:00.000-05:002014-11-27T09:36:50.395-05:00Placemats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QFi1xpRhpMCHu_BTde70Eo9bBWK3hcpi9HoslMjWW40COs68fBiINujmbejYlRJRwC-KlL3YtGC8b7aL8-1kYnuQp06Nvlzbygnx2Yt6fSghKcQx_6LvyWM6V2bCQgC3ZOozFg/s1600/shelleys+mats+both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">A friend of mine has finally moved into her new home after months of living in the "little house" at her mother-in-law's property. These placemats are a housewarming gift for the new place.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QFi1xpRhpMCHu_BTde70Eo9bBWK3hcpi9HoslMjWW40COs68fBiINujmbejYlRJRwC-KlL3YtGC8b7aL8-1kYnuQp06Nvlzbygnx2Yt6fSghKcQx_6LvyWM6V2bCQgC3ZOozFg/s1600/shelleys+mats+both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QFi1xpRhpMCHu_BTde70Eo9bBWK3hcpi9HoslMjWW40COs68fBiINujmbejYlRJRwC-KlL3YtGC8b7aL8-1kYnuQp06Nvlzbygnx2Yt6fSghKcQx_6LvyWM6V2bCQgC3ZOozFg/s1600/shelleys+mats+both.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The warp is 10/2 cotton with chenille accent stripes (probably a rayon chenille) threaded as crackle. My original plan was to use two colors of cotton chenille as warp with a 10/2 colored cotton as tabby. Like all plans, this one had flaws. The worst issue was that the polychrome (many-color) samples looked just awful! I didn't care for them at all! I shifted to a single color pattern (a grey-brown chenille) and a green 10/2 cotton for the tabby weft and was able to weave the mats. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JuXAroDnLQMdVR61lIKEOS-7HfACH2SfFQHYrh7F3ePTiXkIGQS6zYFx3iCTdEa545OVAvxKyAIyJ46RAGUGCh-l-9f6h40w_lffVGzewqUgcxoQDaydcOEP9Nnw8Aycfo3BQg/s1600/shelleys+mat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JuXAroDnLQMdVR61lIKEOS-7HfACH2SfFQHYrh7F3ePTiXkIGQS6zYFx3iCTdEa545OVAvxKyAIyJ46RAGUGCh-l-9f6h40w_lffVGzewqUgcxoQDaydcOEP9Nnw8Aycfo3BQg/s1600/shelleys+mat1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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I made six placemats. Four mats have "horizontal ladders" and two have something of a "goose-eye" pattern. They are thick and rest well on the table (and they match my plates nicely...maybe I need to make another set! :).</div>
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<br />Jessica Madsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09877015059778365011noreply@blogger.com0