I've not shared any weaving photos in a while, but I am slowly working on my most recent project. As I only go weave on Saturday mornings now, my weaving time is pretty limited. I've now woven approximately halfway through my warp.
This is a traditional Karen shirt that one of the ladies at the Refugee Center (where I go and work on my weaving) made. Although you can't tell from what I have woven so far, this is what I will ultimately be making, though obviously a much simpler design. Whoever made this shirt is a very skilled weaver.
I'm not sure what this threadwork is called, but it is a design that creates a nice lacey pattern which I am learning. To create it every three or four threads are separated by three or four opposing threads. Remember the loom shifts every other thread up and down and then a thread (the weft, or horizontal thread) is woven over and under those vertical threads.
It's a little easier to see in the above two photos. I used different colors in order to be able to see how those threads shift during the weaving process. My weaving was really meant to be all worked using purple and burgundy threads, but I ran out when I was making my warp, hence the yellows (and they are both yellow threads--just slightly different shades).
In order to make the shirt there are (or will be) four lacey sections on the top and bottom of each woven section. There will be two woven sections (so four sets of those lacey rows) that eventually will be cut from the warp you see in the top photo. They will then be laid side by side and sewed together. The idea is the two sections and the four lacey sections will match up. They will be 'folded' in half, so that top crease sits on the shoulders. The open bottom part will have a fringe. In a way, it will be sort of like an open poncho.
I'm afraid my shirt is likely going to be a bit of a mess as I didn't do a very good job of counting threads and measuring carefully that everything will be spaced accurately, but this is all just a learning experience. Of course, in my defense, I have to say that sometimes learning is a challenge since communication is often very limited. Most of the ladies only speak Karen, so it is a matter of watching, mimicking their weaving movements and not worrying too much about making mistakes. The ladies at the refugee center are very generous with their time and knowledge, it has been a great experience to work with them!
I'll share photos of the shirt making process when I get to it. Until then, I have to say I think weaving is such an interesting process and seeing the actual weaving up close always amazes me a little bit. This section of my weaving looks pretty uniform and the edge even looks like the tension is fairly spot on. Not to get ahead of myself, but I am already thinking about my next project--I would like to learn some simple design/pattern with various colors on a uniform background. As you see in the Karen shirt, there are a lot of potential designs. Most are probably to complicated for a beginner, but I would love to try my hand at something new.
I have not shared my latest seasonal sampler. I have finally started the Fall Sampler--just in time for the official start of it. Do you like the scarecrow? He looks pretty chipper, don't you think? There will be lots of birds and pumpkins and falling leaves. I finished the Winter Sampler, still am working on Spring and have yet to start Summer (why do things in order, eh?). It seemed like a good idea to just jump into Fall.
And with the holidays just around the corner, I thought maybe something festive might be in order. I started these little designs ages ago but then set them aside when I didn't finish them for a previous holiday. It has been so very mild weather-wise, that it is really hard to even begin thinking of winter and the coming holidays. Maybe finishing these will put me in the mood? The idea is to turn them into a little scissor fob or pin cushion. They are the same side so they will be sewn together--front and back wintry scenes.
And I have finished the stitching on my revamped Quaker heart. It is time to start backstitching so I can sew them together. I will be making a mattress cushion (most likely). It will not have beads, but there will be an edge attaching front and back and on that edge I will have words, as yet undecided, however. Backstitching is pretty tedious, which is why I keep putting it off. My updated version looks a little different. Six years later and my initials have changed. I do like the nice warm colors. It has been very relaxing working on this! I may have to pull out another Quaker design for the coming new year!