Weaving, computer rant.

Life like weaving doesn't always go as planned. The Warpology weaving turned out weird, larger letters? finer thread? don't know. But I kind of like the above design. It was those balloons used for photo's so you can put little conversations in the photo but It needed something so I turned them into spiders it is woven in basket weave for the spiders and plain weave for the back round. Kind of abstract. Next design I am going to try for larger objects and I want to try photos.
   Right now I copy a CD on my lap top transfer it to our desktop to burn a small floppy. The Cd's aren't the same. Tried a transfer cable and took it back to the store three times for a total of 55+ miles. It finally worked but incredibly slow and wouldn't just transfer my small file, wanted to transfer the whole program. Gerrrrr
Now what? buy a external small floppy or throw in the towel and do it like I have been doing?

Towel weaving etc

 

This Blog is working I'm finally weaving again.  This is the second of my designs of plaited twill and you can see the program that drives my loom to the right in the picture. This is a neat design I used a bumpy  yarn ( spell check didn't like my other word) For weft and can't wait to see it washed and see what it does! The program selects the shafts to lift. I do all the rest, fill out the draft in the weave program, throw the shuttle, put the warp on the loom and thread it! So yes it is still hand weaving.  I think the most user intense weaving I have ever worked on was a Jacquard loom. Once it starts running it is easy it's all the work before hand and trouble shooting during the run. That was at the Oriole mill in Hendersonville NC for school. I decided quickly that a Dobby loom like this one in the picture is enough for me! I like treadling and throwing a shuttle. 'Course a good working fly shuttle would be nice. This loom is just not wide enough to require one, I have one and promptly removed it.

Plaited Twill

 

Plaited Twill

This is my first braided twill or plaited twill design. I'm using Bonnie Inouye's book. and have two done.

One of my shaft is sticking! It's driving me nuts. These towels are for me but I don't like mistakes. Shaft #11 Behave!!

Sley and not the ride on kind!

Done sleying had it almost done yesterday but it was supper time and decided to finish this am. Used my favorite tool a walking(reed hopper) sley hook. It is so kewl, since I use Bifocals sleying the reed got to be a chore, not anymore! Once you get used to it,   can fall apart if not handled right, what a marvelous gadget. Believe it or not I found it at a garage sale of a long time weaver, the family didn't know what it was and I grabbed it! Amazing really I can't even explain how it works. I'll tie on and do some plain weave then it's to the PCW ( fiberworks)program to plan my first towel using Bonnie's book. It has my loom driver so that's what I use. I took a workshop from one of the authors a long while ago and loved her so it was my first choice in programs.

Towel project

 

Threading is done now this picture is at the halfway mark. I'm warping up my Megado computerized Dobby loom then I'm planning to use Bonnie Inouye's book "Exploring Multishaft Design " with each towel a different design.Should be fun. I've done chapter one before and dipped into some of the others. So the first design will be out of chapter 2, Plaited twill's. Next is Curves then designing in the lift plan. On my wish list is Alice Schlein's new book designing with dobby and photo shop can't remember the correct title right now.. She is coming to Asheville Next month so I'll buy it and have her sign it then. Can't wait, I learned Photoshop elements in school That will tie in with Bonnie's book real well too.Will check to see if there is a weave along on weavolution for her book that would be kewl... I had hoped this blog would get me re motivated and I think it has worked. I'm getting excited about weaving something again. Sometime inspiration and motivation goes when you are ill. That sinus mess I had sure slowed me down.

Sectional beam, another photo

Here is the clamped down version of my warping method, the Lease sticks could just be tied on but I have a handy husband! Now to thread. If I would just get off the computer!

Winding on Warp, cat help

This is my latest sectional warping method without the bobbins and sectional rack. I wind it on a Warping mill then transfer it and beam it on the back beam. For fine threads back to front has a lot less tangles and I use small  bouts.  A picture of my helper cat too. He likes to get up there and knock off everything that is up there you should see my floor! He also likes to sit on the Dobby box and look out the window.

Intro

I have another blog but it is very miscellaneous called Fibernut's place.This one will be just finished items, woven beaded, tatting or whatever project I have finished.  Maybe this will motivate me! LOL need that since face book addiction started.