I was at the studio bright and early this morning, 730. I got the dish linen tied to the front beam of the loom and started weaving waffles. I have now gotten four dish cloths woven and am thinking that I might make another two before I swtich to tea towels which is just a different tie up of the harnesses to the peddles, so no rethreading. We can use the waffle woven cloths as pot holders as well as dish cloths.
Pierre arrived just at noon, so I asked if he didn't mind counting off some warp threads for me. The shirt check is a lot of brain, so it helps having a second person there to help. We got another 8 inches of warp wound before calling it a day. I am now at the half way point of winding that warp.
Here is a vid Pierre shot of me weaving the waffles
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10151743369439669&set=vb.606679668&type=2&theater
Back at it tomorrow
Monday, 8 July 2013
Sunday, 7 July 2013
didn't get as much done this weekend as I'd liked...
I have half the hem done on Pierre's new Frock coat, then it's just buttons and buttonholes. I don't have a table to work on, and that thing is heavy, so I am wearing out just working buttonholes. I can't wait for it to be done.
I think the shirt I am finishing might fit Rave, if not, maybe Eric, so I will finish the damned thing...
Can you tell I am not quite happy with the sewing projects?
After that, I have a dress to finish, and a waistcoat to make for my own family, then I have a sleeved waistcoat and a pair of slops to get whipped up for Garth.
Then it's on to tent floors.
I am a wee bit tired, but it will all get done.
Tomorrow the rest of my threads will get wound into warp, then to finish threading them on the loom. The kitchen linens are almost ready to weave, then it's the table linen and then the shirts.
Tired Kelly is tired, but happy at the same time. And very excited to see the shirt warp weave up. I won't have that ready to bring with me to Louisbourg, but maybe I'll have some at the Citadel.
I think the shirt I am finishing might fit Rave, if not, maybe Eric, so I will finish the damned thing...
Can you tell I am not quite happy with the sewing projects?
After that, I have a dress to finish, and a waistcoat to make for my own family, then I have a sleeved waistcoat and a pair of slops to get whipped up for Garth.
Then it's on to tent floors.
I am a wee bit tired, but it will all get done.
Tomorrow the rest of my threads will get wound into warp, then to finish threading them on the loom. The kitchen linens are almost ready to weave, then it's the table linen and then the shirts.
Tired Kelly is tired, but happy at the same time. And very excited to see the shirt warp weave up. I won't have that ready to bring with me to Louisbourg, but maybe I'll have some at the Citadel.
Friday, 5 July 2013
second thread order is in!
Neil called from the NSCAD store, my second order of thread is in, so Monday I can wind the last of my shirt warp and might even have enough to start weaving on that one. 300$ is a little tight right now, but the project is so cool that I will see what I can do.
This shirt warp is in a blue and white check from the MFA in Boston
http://zoom.mfa.org/fif=sc5/sc54616.fpx&obj=iip,1.0&wid=960&cvt=jpeg
Isn't it pretty? It looks beautiful on the winding mill, I can't wait to see it weave up.
It's in 2/16 threads, so fairly fine thread. I am going to be keeping track of how much it costs me to weave it for materials, how much it costs in hours of weaving, and then how much in hand stitching the shirt. I am fairly quick in making up shirts at this point, so I think I would be comparable to an 18thC seamstress. It will be interesting to see how these shirts compare to the costs of shirts in period.
It will also be interesting to see how long it takes Pierre to wear one out...
This shirt warp is in a blue and white check from the MFA in Boston
http://zoom.mfa.org/fif=sc5/sc54616.fpx&obj=iip,1.0&wid=960&cvt=jpeg
Isn't it pretty? It looks beautiful on the winding mill, I can't wait to see it weave up.
It's in 2/16 threads, so fairly fine thread. I am going to be keeping track of how much it costs me to weave it for materials, how much it costs in hours of weaving, and then how much in hand stitching the shirt. I am fairly quick in making up shirts at this point, so I think I would be comparable to an 18thC seamstress. It will be interesting to see how these shirts compare to the costs of shirts in period.
It will also be interesting to see how long it takes Pierre to wear one out...
lots of tedious work this week
So it turns out I will have four weaving projects on the go...I need to buy more thread!
Because I have access to all of the looms if I like, I have wound up a lot of thread into warps. Now I will have tea towels and dish cloths, strapping for reseating the chairs, table linen and the shirt fabric which I have bumped up to 15 metres from 5m.
This week I got the strapping on the loom myself and started weaving, I have about 2m of that done already. Then yesterday I got two more warps on the looms, the dish and table linens. I had been waiting for Pierre to get off work to come and help me wind them on the back beam, but he had to work late. My friend Garth showed up to visit and I put him to work instead. We got the two warps to threading stage, then when he had to leave for work himself, I started threading the dish linen warp. I have that one to the point where I tie it on the front beam and can start weaving.
My plan is to have all four looms set up by the end of next week, so that I can then spend the summer weaving.
If you'd like to contribute to this project, gift certificates to the NSCAD store are most welcome. I can offer my undying gratitude. ;-)
Because I have access to all of the looms if I like, I have wound up a lot of thread into warps. Now I will have tea towels and dish cloths, strapping for reseating the chairs, table linen and the shirt fabric which I have bumped up to 15 metres from 5m.
This week I got the strapping on the loom myself and started weaving, I have about 2m of that done already. Then yesterday I got two more warps on the looms, the dish and table linens. I had been waiting for Pierre to get off work to come and help me wind them on the back beam, but he had to work late. My friend Garth showed up to visit and I put him to work instead. We got the two warps to threading stage, then when he had to leave for work himself, I started threading the dish linen warp. I have that one to the point where I tie it on the front beam and can start weaving.
My plan is to have all four looms set up by the end of next week, so that I can then spend the summer weaving.
If you'd like to contribute to this project, gift certificates to the NSCAD store are most welcome. I can offer my undying gratitude. ;-)
Monday, 1 July 2013
July 1st, Happy Canada Day!
So we ended up just going for Saturday of the event. We being Pierre, me, and six other members of our group. We set up an awning and got fire made, food and tea and coffee and fed around 20 people from the rest of the encampment throughout the day. It was damp, but not raining like it had through the night friday, so we were comfortable, but all glad that we didn't camp overnight.
Saturday it rained again all night, and yesterday for most of the day. Glad I am not drying canvas this week.
Today I went in to the studio with Pierre tagging along. For 5 solid hours of work I am 1/3 of the way of winding my 15metre warp for shirts and aprons and I need to order more thread.
Yes, that is 5 hours of just winding the warp, we figure about 15 hours to wind, another three to get it on the loom, and then I can begin weaving.
Pierre filmed a bit of me winding
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10151728034619669&set=vb.606679668&type=2&theater
I didn't realize he was filming, so you get me concentrating on my warp.
If I go in tomorrow (Pierre has the day off, so I may or may not), I will wind the warp for one of my other projects and maybe get that on a loom. Then it will be one more warp to wind and get on the loom and all three of my projects will be on looms for me to weave. I have pretty much the whole studio to myself, with many looms, so I might just get all the tedious work done up at the beginning. The only other fibre artist in the studio is doing needle felting, so she is using just the work table.
Tired Kelly is tired now though, and I need to do some housework and supper before calling it quits for the night. More pics will follow as I start to weave.
Saturday it rained again all night, and yesterday for most of the day. Glad I am not drying canvas this week.
Today I went in to the studio with Pierre tagging along. For 5 solid hours of work I am 1/3 of the way of winding my 15metre warp for shirts and aprons and I need to order more thread.
Yes, that is 5 hours of just winding the warp, we figure about 15 hours to wind, another three to get it on the loom, and then I can begin weaving.
Pierre filmed a bit of me winding
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10151728034619669&set=vb.606679668&type=2&theater
I didn't realize he was filming, so you get me concentrating on my warp.
If I go in tomorrow (Pierre has the day off, so I may or may not), I will wind the warp for one of my other projects and maybe get that on a loom. Then it will be one more warp to wind and get on the loom and all three of my projects will be on looms for me to weave. I have pretty much the whole studio to myself, with many looms, so I might just get all the tedious work done up at the beginning. The only other fibre artist in the studio is doing needle felting, so she is using just the work table.
Tired Kelly is tired now though, and I need to do some housework and supper before calling it quits for the night. More pics will follow as I start to weave.
Thursday, 27 June 2013
night of the hump...yes, I realize that it's not wednesday, we get monday off too
Thursday night, the night before our first event of the season and it's supposed to rain all weekend. I am just going to put it out there, that I hate being cold, and it's looking like it will be cold, wet and icky all weekend long. I may go through my entire can of tea before sunday afternoon.
Yes we are going.
I didn't get as much sewing done this week as I had hoped. Some buttonholes on Pierre's new frock coat, a bit more on his shirt done. I will bring the shirt with me to work on this weekend.
Tomorrow we pack the car and the season begins for us.
Catch you on the flip side of this long weekend, please pray for just cloudy weather. Weaving begins monday!
Yes we are going.
I didn't get as much sewing done this week as I had hoped. Some buttonholes on Pierre's new frock coat, a bit more on his shirt done. I will bring the shirt with me to work on this weekend.
Tomorrow we pack the car and the season begins for us.
Catch you on the flip side of this long weekend, please pray for just cloudy weather. Weaving begins monday!
Monday, 24 June 2013
a week of 'vacation'
This morning I start my week off between classes and residency. I have been slowly getting up to speed for the day, first thing I needed to do was find the den again...a whole grocery bag full of paper to go to the curb and I can now see the top of the desk and the table beside me where I rest books when I am writing. Just like cleaning my studio, it's like clearing the brain, getting ready for the next project.
And speaking of projects...Last week while I was procrastinating writing, I looked at Nova Muse, the online collections database of Nova Scotia
Check out this lovely blanket circa 1800 in blue and white check made of wool
http://novamuse.ca/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/12726
The first piece of cloth I am going to warp up will be for a work shirt for Pierre and an apron for me in blue and white checked linen. In The Dress of the People by John Styles, page 265 there is a great little check from Foundling no. 13169, London Metropolitan Archives. Unfortunately, I cannot link to the picture as the documents are unavailable until the exhibit is over. Page 294 of that same book shows an etching by Thomas Rowlandson entitled The Maid of All-Work's Prayer c 1801, British Museum, London, BMSat 9792. The maid wears a checked apron in blue and white.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=271972&objectId=3027673&partId=1
I have also become quite the fan of coloured neckerchiefs or fichu, and now have three in varying colours along with a white one and a very light pink one. I have cotton dyed a nice yellow colour waiting for blue decoration, as soon as I figure out how to do that without silkscreening it. I am toying with the idea of carving my own blocks for printing.
And speaking of projects...Last week while I was procrastinating writing, I looked at Nova Muse, the online collections database of Nova Scotia
Check out this lovely blanket circa 1800 in blue and white check made of wool
http://novamuse.ca/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/12726
The first piece of cloth I am going to warp up will be for a work shirt for Pierre and an apron for me in blue and white checked linen. In The Dress of the People by John Styles, page 265 there is a great little check from Foundling no. 13169, London Metropolitan Archives. Unfortunately, I cannot link to the picture as the documents are unavailable until the exhibit is over. Page 294 of that same book shows an etching by Thomas Rowlandson entitled The Maid of All-Work's Prayer c 1801, British Museum, London, BMSat 9792. The maid wears a checked apron in blue and white.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=271972&objectId=3027673&partId=1
I have also become quite the fan of coloured neckerchiefs or fichu, and now have three in varying colours along with a white one and a very light pink one. I have cotton dyed a nice yellow colour waiting for blue decoration, as soon as I figure out how to do that without silkscreening it. I am toying with the idea of carving my own blocks for printing.
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