Turn, Turn, Turn

 

I made the decision to retire at the end of 2019 in around February of that year.  Why the delay?  Well, it takes time to close a business, complete contracts, wrap up projects.

When I went public with the news, some friends asked what I would do?

Well, weave, of course!  I had to.  I had All That Yarn that needed to be used up, one way or another.

But then in March of 2020 Covid arrived and all plans - for everyone, not just me - went sideways.

Since I am immune compromised, it was especially important that I be careful about being exposed to a novel virus, and we made the decision to begin masking as soon as friends started making cloth masks (triple layer), then buying 'good' masks to wear as they became more commonly available.

Since then neither of us has had a cold, flu OR Covid.  And we intend to stay that way, as much as we are able.

Then I got shingles - again.  I'd had it before, was vaccinated (with the 'old' vaccine, not Shingrex), and it went into my left eye.  After two years of aggressive treatment, my eye doctor declared my eye was clear and asked me to return in six months.  I assumed to be cut free, but instead she informed me (on my birthday, no kidding, worse present ever) that...shingles was once again scarring my cornea.

Once again I'm dealing with the effects of a compromised immune system.  Any thought I might have had about loosening up my restrictions disappeared in a puff of smoke.  Or a haze of scarred cornea...

During that time of Covid/Shingles, I wrote two books, presented remote lectures, explored a new-to-me weave structure (details in Stories from the Matrix) and generally wallowed around kicking the tires on the vehicle of 'life'.  Oh, yeah, I also did classes for School of Sweet Georgia.

I also experienced the rapid worsening of several physical issues that have continued to plague me (never mind Covid).  With the help of my health team, I can keep weaving, although I have had to change how I do that - primarily, how long I can weave without stopping to take breaks, stretch, rest.

As I was wrapping up my exploration into the 'new' weave structure, since I felt I'd pushed it as far as I wanted to, I was feeling a bit rudderless, not sure what I would do next.  Of course I would weave! Bur what?

Then a student sent me a gift of some fine linen singles, so I wove off a warp of tea towels using that, loved it, and ordered more.  Five kilos more, to be truthful.  

But I still wasn't sure what direction I would - or could - go.  Until I got 3 emails in fairly rapid succession, each asking if I would be available to write articles for them.  

Since then I've written one, had it published in Heddlecraft, written two that are in the pipeline for School of Sweet Georgia, and worked on two for WEFT.  The first article is 'finished' and the text sent to the editor and the samples mailed to be photographed.  And yesterday I started sorting through the samples for the next article.

I'm still trying to find a couple of articles to reference before I start writing up the results of my experimentation, but I have a broad idea of how I am going to approach the subject.  I *may* wind up weaving some more samples, but that remains to be seen.  I can also dip into my teaching samples for more options.

If I can't weave the way I want to, anymore, maybe I can write.  Maybe I can experiment.  Maybe...

To every thing there is a season.  

Inching Along

 

Finished off the natural beige linen and started on the white for weft.  The colours are subtle - a pale grey and pale green about the same value.  It's an approach to creating textiles I like because it gives the cloth more depth, more 'interest', than a same yarn/colour warp.

Not that that is bad, of course not.  There are lots of times I will use a solid colour warp.  It depends.  (Bet you are shocked!)

The linen is finer than the 2/16 cotton.  Instead of increasing the number of warp ends, I chose to include some plain weave in the weave structure.  Doing this adds structural stability, and it keeps the cloth 'lighter' - more flexible.  Given the stiffness of the linen, this flexibility is A Good Thing (imho), especially for something like tea towels.

When I gift my towels to people, they sometimes protest that they are too 'nice' to use.  I hasten to assure them that they are not - and, that they will improve with use.  I now have several 'fans' who know and understand this.

The last time I gave towels to my massage therapist, I told him that if they have 'enough' of my towels they can re-gift them.  Without even opening the package he asked if they were more of my towels.  When I said yes, he said "Oh no, we love your towels!"

Yesterday I packaged up the parcel with the samples for the first article I did for WEFT.  I'll mail this week when I go to town.  I know I'm 'early' getting it done, but being a bear of little brain these days, I am working on getting stuff done well before deadline so that I'm not in a mad scramble trying to get it finished on time.

Besides, I am thoroughly enjoying the explorations and want to savor them, think deeply about them, and not rush to judgement about what I'm seeing and experiencing.  I also have very little energy, so I need to be aware of what I am capable of doing in a day and not disappoint myself and them and bailing at the last minute.

Once I've got my worktable cleared off, I will begin processing the samples for the next article.  They are all woven (unless I decide I need more) but there are quite a few of them and I need to make sure I've identified them all so that I don't lose track of what they were woven to illustrate.  

I may measure progress by the inch, not the yard, these days, but progress is still progress.

P G Fibre Arts Guild Books

 There are still some books for sale after the eBay auction.  The following is a list (alphabetical by author) with price including shipping to Canada/US.

Contact me if you are interested in any of these books.  Remember that these prices are in Canadian dollars, and I can take etransfers from Canadians or Paypal from US folk.

Bennet, Noel.  Working With the Wool   $30.00  Considered a 'classic' in the genre.

Buxton, Judith.  Selected Canadian Spinning Wheels in Perspective.  $40.00.  A close look at the variety of spinning wheels made/available in Canada.  Anyone interested in that history would find this book of value, I think.

Clarke, Leslie, J.  The Craftsman in Textiles.  Hardback.  $30.00  

Fannin, Allen.  Handloom Weaving Technology.  Hardback.  $40.00.  There are two copies in like new condition. Probably inventory from Allison's shop.

Hollister, U. S.  The Navajo and his Blanket and James, George Wharton, Indian Blankets and their Makers; the Navaho.  Both hardback.  These are being sold as a pair for $60.  

Larsen, Jack and Mildred Constatine.  The Art Fabric; Mainstream and Beyond Craft; the art fabric.  The first is paperback and the second hardback.  Offering these very large and heavy books as a pair for $100.00

Larsen, Jack and Jeanne Weeks.  Fabrics for Interiors, a guide for architects, designers, and consumers.  Soft back.  $40.00

Laughlin, Mary Elizabeth.  More than Four.  Coil back.  $40.

Mayer, Anita Luvera.  Handwoven Clothing, Felted to Wear.  Coil back.  $40.00

Mera, HP.  Spanish American Blanketry.  Paperback.  $30.00

Moorman, Theo.  Weaving as an Art Form; a personal statement.  Hardback.  $40.00

Pendleton, Mary.  Navajo and Hopi Weaving Techniques.  Soft cover.  $40.00

Proctor, Richard and Jennifer Lew.  Surface Design for Fabric.  Soft back.  $40.00

Samuel, Cheryl.  the Chilkat Dancing Blanket.  Soft cover.  $40.00  SOLD

Sutton, All.  Ideas in Weaving.  Hardback.  $40.00

Van der Hoogt, Madelyn.  The Complete Book of Drafting for Handweavers.  Signed.  Coil back.  $60.00

Waller, Irene.  Designing with Thread.  Hard back.  $40.00

Email me if you want to purchase any of these books.  laura at laurafry dot com

Dog Days

 

After a long cool spring, waiting to see what summer would bring, we are now in the Find Out portion of climate change.

The past week has been high temps, usually only seen in mid-late August.  Yesterday the wildfire situation 'exploded' and the province now has over 300 active wildfires.

Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

I'm staying indoors as much as possible.  So far we haven't had too much smoke pall, but that could change as we enter mid-30s for temps.  Or about 96F.  The bush, already fragile from drought is ripe to be set ablaze if we get another string of t-storms like we did yesterday.  Last year we had about 500 active wildfires by the end of the season.  It's only mid-July and we are already at 300.

For anyone not used to wildfire smoke, a mask is highly recommended.  Wildfire smoke in the density it has been arriving the past few years is very damaging to the lungs.  Not to mention the spike in Covid cases.  In the past month I know more than a few people who have caught Covid  - and the news out of Convergence is...concerning.

We bought a hepa filter a few years ago, not just because of Covid, but because of the increasing numbers of wildfires and smoke filled days.  Looks like that was a good call as things seem to be getting only worse, not better.  And, if the right wing folk get into positions of power, any and all mitigations for climate change will cease - until there is no more petroleum to pump out of the ground.  

In the meantime, I stay indoors as much as possible, wear a mask whenever I leave the house, use the a/c during the day and open the windows to cool the house at night - at least until we get wildfire smoke.

I finished the first article for one place yesterday and today I will write a cover letter, then package up the samples and get them into the mail.  Once that has been done, it will be time to begin processing the samples for the second article.  Since both articles are deep dives at their respective topics, it has been a challenge to cover the ground adequately, and show enough samples to 'prove' the premise.  I hope.  If nothing else, maybe it will stir others to thinking about the topic(s) beyond the 'accepted wisdom'.  TBD.

In the meantime, I think cool thoughts, drink cold drinks, try to stay hydrated, and keep weaving as best I can.

A Reminder

 

The challenging thing about trying to communicate to weavers is that...weavers come and go.  And while I may have written on a topic previously, newer readers will not be aware of that.  When I began this blog, I took advantage of the ability to 'tag' posts with a topic, and now there are over 4000(!) posts, some with multiple tags, some with none (usually because those dealt with personal concerns, not weaving.)

If you don't have one of my books, this blog will remain active for so long as I think of things to share - for free.  But honestly?  I won't be around forever, so if you like what I write, appreciate what I do here and elsewhere, and want to throw some coin at me, you can purchase my books here, and here, or leave a tip in my ko-fi shop here.  Of course, I also have some weaving in my ko-fi shop...

As for teaching in person, those days are behind me, but I keep writing because I keep learning new stuff.  :)

The first of the articles I was asked to write recently has gone live in Heddlecraft.  There are 3 articles planned for the School of Sweet Georgia (the first two are done), and I'm just wrapping up the first article for WEFT.

In the process of writing these articles, I got to hone my writing, and think through some aspects of weaving, again, but based on what new things I've learned since the last time I wrote about those aspects of weaving.  The articles for WEFT have pushed me to look harder, dig deeper, and think longer about what I'm seeing and experiencing.  Once we know the broad strokes of a craft, it is then possible to begin to tweeze out the subtleties.  And at this stage in my life, it is all about the subtle.

Not everyone wants, or needs, to dig as deeply into the craft as I have been doing and will continue to do.  I'm just grateful that there are people who are interested in what I have to say.

The world is going through upheaval right now.  Eventually weaving may become a necessary skill again.  Human beings tend to muddle through most 'interesting' times.  I just wish they weren't being 'interesting' on my timeline, but here we are.

If you are new to weaving, welcome.  If you have been around for a while, thank you for joining me on the journey.

Book Review - Knitting Yarns, ed. by Ann Hood

 

For some reason I had been unaware of this book, published in 2014, until recently.  When I discovered my local library had it, I requested it because it was a book of essays on knitting (and other fibre crafts, as well.)

All of the contributors are writers, and each of them has told a 'story' about knitting - how it has helped and enriched their lives, even when it might not be themselves doing it.

I knew Barbara Kingsolver was a well known writer, although I had not actually read anything by her (that may change now!).  Other writers in the book were known to me, like Sue Grafton, but most of them I did not know much about.

This has been a very pleasant book to read.  The essays are fairly short, which suits my current attention span.  Some are amusing, some tug at the heart strings.  Some are eloquent, some more 'essay' or 'scholarly', some delving into the history of knitting or the psychology of doing repetitive 'work'.

I'm not quite finished the book yet, but have found more than enough of interest and value to highly recommend it.  Rather than say more about it, I'm going to include the final paragraph from Kingsolver's contribution.

"And in the gloaming, when the ewes high up on the pasture suddenly raise their heads at the sight of you, conceding to come down as a throng in their rockinghorse gait, surrendering under the dog-press to the barn-tendered mercy of nightfall.  It starts where everything starts, with the weather.  The muffleblind snowstorm, the dingle springs, the singular pursuit of cud, the fibrous alchemy of the herd spinning grass into wool.  This is all your business.  Hands plunged into a froth of yarn are as helpless as hands thrust into a lover's hair, for they are divining the grass-pelt life of everything:  the world.  The sunshine, heavenly photosynthetic host, sweet leaves of grass all singing the fingers electric that tingle to brace the coming winter, charged by the plied double helices of all creatures that have prepared and justly survived on the firmament of patience and swaddled children.  It's all of a piece, knitting.  All one thing."

Nuff said.

Subtle

 

This is not a black and white photo.  It is the latest towel warp in the loom and the colours are a pale grey and pale greyed green for the warp, and natural linen for the weft.  The first two towels are with the natural linen, and then I'll switch to the white.  Which should show off the design more clearly.

When I sit at the loom and look at the cloth, I really don't see much of anything.  There is just the faintest hint of...something...going on in the cloth.  In order to get a photo that showed much of anything at all, I had to use a strong side light.  The light washed out what colour there was, but the resulting photo shows how much is going on in the cloth.

What I did was take the Snail's Trails and Cat's Paws block design and render it in point twill instead of twill blocks.  Then I messed about with the tie up, including some plain weave because based on the previous warp I knew that it would beat in too closely if I didn't.

If it looks 'raw', that's because it is.  The reed marks are very prominent and there are areas that will turn into a 1 end huck (one pattern end).  The plain weave areas are thinner and smoother, while the other parts vary in their 3D effects.  I'm very interested to see how they wet finish.  

So why did I put so much effort into making a cloth that shows the design so...poorly?

Because I can.  And because *I* know what I've done.  And it pleases me to do this kind of thing.

In the end, that's really all that matters.  

Weaving is a vast craft.  Anyone who wants to, can weave, and they can make what they like.  What I'm trying to do is to tell people who want to know more, the hows and whys of the craft.  To that end I continue to research and write about the craft.

In the meantime, my books remain available on blurb with my memoir of being a production weaver available (digital only) in my ko-fi shop.  Along with a bunch of tea towels.

There has been some chatter about Magic in the Water online and I'm still a bit amazed that it continues to sell.  But it is still really the only book 'out there' for handweavers about wet finishing.

In addition to Magic in the Water, I also do Zoom presentations, should anyone be interested.  

For now, it's back to the loom.  I want to weave once this morning, then massage at 12:30, which will leave me feeling like I've been run over with a truck, so this afternoon I'll press.  I wet finished the two lengths of yardage from the last warp and I don't want to leave the damp cloth for too long in the bin.