Building Foundations

 

I got back to the desktop yesterday and started working on the text and diagrams for the next article.

I don't expect them to use the diagram above - they have 'nicer' graphics software - but I wanted to provide the draft information to explain the 3 options for threading this particular weave structure.  So many new weavers don't understand how to 'read' this information and get all confused.  But this weave structure is an example of how things are not as they might seem to be.

A new weaver may assume that plain weave is always treadle a being tied to shaft 1+3 and treadle b is always tied to 2+4.  

(By 'a' and 'b' I am using the 'usual' notation that was common pre-computer days, where a small a and small b referred to the two plain weave treadles.)

In this case, Bronson Lace does not have those two treadles, but the two treadles on the left are the plain weave options.

I've had new weavers tell me that's incorrect, they want the plain weave treadles.  But here's the thing, you treadle the shafts that will result in plain weave.  And if you look at what those far left treadles are doing, they *are* weaving plain weave.

Then some new weavers get confused by the blue parts of the draft.  At this point, the weaver should be just isolating the actual threads.  In that part of the draft, there are no actual threads in the draft - I am simply trying to isolate the units that comprise Bronson Lace.  

Generally with a 2 block/unit Bronson Lace you can 'program' (thread) areas that are dedicated to plain weave, unit A or unit B.

So in the above diagram, I have given those 3 options in the threading area of the draft, shown the tie up to create 'lace' by making the weft be the threads that float over the rest, and then the treadling which gives four options - plain weave, unit A lace with unit B weaving plain weave, unit A weaving plain weave with unit B weaving lace, and lace in every unit threaded to the Bronson Lace weave structure.

To 'read' the threading draft I refer to the threads on shaft 1 as the 'foundation' threads, threads on shaft 2 as the tie downs, and the threads on the rest of the shafts (in this case four shafts) as the pattern ends.  

And that, in a nutshell, is how to read that diagram.

I suspect that the text of the article will be more extensive, but this is the Coles Notes version.  Also, I am just at the point in the article where I need to explain this, so this Coles Notes version was partly an exercise in refreshing my memory.

I'm still dealing with the effects of the brain bleed in Aug. 2024.  My brain doesn't always 'brain' well, especially if I've had a 'bad' night due to pain.

So I'm having my 2nd cup of coffee, and preparing myself to take a run at writing this part of the article.  And partly because I saw (again!) a new weaver asking for help to read a weaving draft.  So it was made clear to me that I can't just start this article assuming that everyone who reads the article will already know how to read it?  Or maybe I can.  But if so, the editors can cut that part.  It's going to be diagram dense and they may need more room for the diagrams/drafts/photos, which is the heart of the article.  Anyway, don't hold your breath.  I'm working on an article for an issue in 2027.  

Remote Teaching

 

Teaser...

Yesterday I finished weaving the samples for the next article for WEFT.  No, I'm not going to explain this photo - it's a teaser.

I don't know if the photos I took are good enough, but I needed to have photos to show what I was going to attempt to explain using words.  But not everyone learns from the written word, so I knew I had to provide visuals.  WEFT staff may choose to set up their own photos if mine aren't good enough.

It's the challenge in trying to teach 'remotely' - being able to provide information in different modes so that as many people as possible can process the information and be able to figure out what is happening.

Today I will press the samples I wove, then tidy them up when they are fully dry and will be rolling the information I want to convey around in the nether regions of my brain.  

The challenge with trying to write (or even think, some days) is that the brain injury opened up sinkholes and sometimes the words I want to use disappear into one or more of those sinkholes.  So it's now imperative that I must think clearly, if I can, about what I want to say - and how I want to say it.  And in the process, try to work out which words are missing from my vocabulary at the time I'm trying to craft the explanation I want to share.

In the meantime the pain I've been trying to 'solve' continues.  Some days and nights are better than others.  And I still see tiny glimmers of 'improvement' - I think.  But it never really goes away.  Not really and truly 'away'.  However, I have accepted that it may never totally and completely resolve, so in the meantime, I try to do the best I can to keep sharing information.  I am getting older every day and that isn't going to change, just get more challenging as time passes...

The local weaver who recently purchased a drawloom continues their journey, and I am joining them as best I can since I have actually woven on a drawloom, even the specific type of drawloom they have purchased.  They found Alice Hindson's book and I'm going to get my own copy and study it when it comes to remind me of my two decades old experience of weaving at Madelyn van der Hoogt's Weaving School.  

It seems I am finally finding my 'retirement' life.  I had written weaving on a drawloom off as something I could ever do, and now, here one is, locally.  And an invitation to come play on it.  My neck won't likely tolerate my doing very much, but I'm quite excited about being able to explore more and see what happens...

We are well into February and spring is 'early' it looks like.  OTOH, we could easily get more storms, and more snow.  But the days are getting 'longer' with every day that passes, and today we have a sunny one.  

Time to get to the studio and press the samples and tidy them up.  And then decide what I can do most effectively.  Maybe trying to write an article is not a job for today - especially when I have a silk warp calling my name...

Where Ideas Come From?

 

Here is a 'tease' - something I'm working on presently.  What is it?  My surname's first letter.

I am - or was - a production weaver, constantly looking for ways to work efficiently (and ergonomically, of course!)

I learned a technique about using pick up to extend the limitations of a shaft loom and once I saw the possibilities, I worked quite a lot (for me) with the technique.  I no longer have the pick up Bronson Lace piece I did for the Guild of Canadian Weavers level 3 since I donated it to the chemo infusion unit at the cancer clinic here in town.  

Since I had no idea what to do with it, and saw that other artists had donated pieces to brighten up the unit, I gave them the piece.  Is it there now?  I have no idea.  I have not needed further chemo infusions and that is not a place that I want to set foot in, if I can avoid it.  (Which I'm doing quite well, thank you for asking...)

When I started teaching more frequently I used the technique in one or two of my workshops, usually rendering the motif as a 'monogram' suggesting people could personalize their textiles by weaving the Initial(s) into the cloth using pick up.  

I had an alphabet that I had saved since I was using it quite a lot (some of the scarves have appeared here) where I wove words into the cloth.  Those were loom controlled because my AVL had 16 shafts.  The alphabet I was using (and I tweaked from a book) consisted of 10 blocks in height and woven sideways, made it possible to use a variety of loom controlled words.  Plus the computer assisted dobby, of course.

This one reads 'create joy'.  Others said 'imagine'.  Or other things I wanted to weave into my textiles.  I felt very 'clever' when I did it.

But there is NO secret about how to do this.  It is not, however, a technique suitable for a quick blog post, nor for a comment on a chat group question.  

So I'm currently weaving samples in Bronson Lace in which I will show how it works to pick the monogram up in that weave structure.

This is NOT a technique for newbies.  (Sorry - not sorry!)  As a weaver you have to understand certain things about weave structures, how they work, how they can be manipulated.

However, the article is scheduled for 2027 - so you will have some time to study up on, for example, Bronson Lace, so that when the article appears (if it does - many a slip betwixt cup and lip) you should be able to read through the text, study the profile draft, then understand enough in order to leap off the cliff and fly?

Weaving.  The craft that keeps on teaching.  And you can continue to grow and expand with it.

Hopefully people will continue to subscribe.  There are some extremely talented and very knowledgeable weavers who are writing for WEFT.  I am privileged to be included.  

Begin As You Mean To Go On

 

I was expecting to have a rather quiet day, but in my email this afternoon was the digital version of the spring issue of WEFT.  Of course I had to immediately stop and check out 'my' article...(ahem)

I have probably mentioned previously that when the brain bleed hit I was about halfway through weaving the samples and beginning to write the text for this article.  What I had been doing was a pretty deep dive into what happens when you take some fine threads, bundle them (*not* spin them) and then try to use the bundle in place of a spun yarn.  What was a fairly complex question turned into an even more complex job of taking a badly injured brain (the bleed hit my speech centre - hell for a teacher who has aspirations to write) and then try to comb through the sinkholes in my brain looking for my words.

It was enormous support from my alpha reader and then the technical team at WEFT that I managed to produce something that doesn't 'solve' the mystery of bundling vs plied yarn, but will - I hope - encourage others to approach the subject with a bit of caution.  Because the two 'yarns' do not behave the way one would expect.

So it was with some trepidation that I caught the article in the stages of being edited, tried to provide the information they wanted/needed, and have it make some kind of sense.  When it does not follow the 'myth' of being able to take 4 strands of 2/20 merc cotton and treat it as though it is going to behave like 2/5 merc. cotton.  Because it will not.

If you want to do this for certain reasons, be prepared to sample.  More than once, if need be.  Then make sure you wet finish your samples to find out the quality of cloth that has been produced by using a bundle of fine threads instead of a spun thicker yarn.  

Maybe it won't matter for your project.  But if it does...don't assume!  

The issue has been sent out to people with subscriptions for the digital version of the magazine and the print copies will be mailed shortly.  (It is a holiday season, after all!)  If you are interested in the depth and breadth of topics being covered, do consider a subscription.

For myself, having the magazine arrive today - the first day of a 'new' year - well, I was reminded of an old adage - begin as you mean to go on.

I'm still fighting with my body, trying to keep it going when it doesn't wanna.  I see a counsellor in a week, which I'm hoping will help with some aspects of living with chronic pain.  And I have begun a new supplement which is supposed to help heal damaged nerves.  Who knows, I might find myself in a more comfortable place in this brand, shiny, new year?  Eventually?

Doug has managed to bring home all my inventory from the guild sale events over the past few months, and I've pulled an order that I hope we can get into the mail on Monday.  Once the rest of the tea towels have been put away (on the shelves which *used* to hold the rayon chenille), I will be able to set up the small lever loom again.  Over the holidays Doug cut down a reed so that I can weave my samples for the next WEFT article with the reed I want to use.  I did one sample at 24 epi, but as suspected it was just too dense.  So, 20 it will be.  The samples are small, but will show a technique for weaving using pick up in order to increase the patterning capabilities of a smaller loom.  It's a technique I enjoy quite a lot, and I have tentative designs for the samples for the article.  

Tomorrow I will finish the current warp and dress the loom with one more tea towel warp, and whatever is left of the singles 6 cotton will be donated to the guild.  Or a weaver who really wants to play with 'energized' yarns.  TBD.

I had a lot of doubts about my being able to continue.  I was feeling like a burden to the WEFT technical team, and finally confessed my difficulties.  They were incredibly supportive.  And, since I DO still have things I want to write, I have signed the contract for this article, and hesitantly submitted an idea for the one after.  

I see so many new wannabe weavers, confused, dazed by the deluge of information that is needed to get comfortable with the craft.  

All I can really urge them to do is to learn.  Learn as much as you can.  Learn how to read the language of weaving, and the 'codes' that we use to convey concentrated bursts of information.  And please stop expecting perfection on your very first warp.  Weaving is a *skill*.  It takes time and mindful practice to master.

As I look forward into 2026, I have no idea what will happen to my health.  But if I can keep writing articles to document my explorations, and try to explain some of the 'mystery' of working with thread to create cloth, I will do my best to share what I've discovered.  

With the help and support of my alpha reader and the technical team at WEFT, I'm hoping I can continue creating content for a while longer.  Because I'm still learning.  And still fascinated by how threads rather 'magically' turn into cloth.

November 15, 2025

 

It finally happened.  Oh, there have been episodes of sleet, although they never amounted to much.  But winter, late as it is, has been creeping closer.  Yesterday the trees were covered in hoar frost - the first 'real' hard frost we have had, here, and this morning a sprinkling of light snow.  It won't last, but it's quite late in arriving.

Climate change.

I appreciate that young people don't realize how rare it is to have warm temps and no snow this late in the season.  If they are in their 20s, by the time they were born climate change was already well advanced, so they don't know how it 'used to be'.  They don't know how unusual this is.  And while I am grateful to have it be late due to my difficulty in walking and all, I find it also concerning that human beings continue the head long dash towards burning ever more oil and gas.  It will not be me who will 'suffer' for it, I don't think I have more than a few more years left in me.  But the young folk?  They will be the ones who watch the sea levels rise, coastal cities become inundated, food scarcity, natural disasters that become worse, year after year.  Places where whole additional categories of severity of storms will likely continue to grow, winds becoming stronger, wild fires rage more violently, ground water dry up due to drought and/or poisoned by industrial pollution.

Well, that was not my intent when I sat down at the desktop to share the photo above, but it is what I have been thinking of and out it came...

Back to the usual programming...

Yesterday I cut off the last warp as there wasn't enough left to make even one more towel.  Then I changed my mind about what colour(s) to use for the next warp.  I'm getting very low on 2/16 cotton, and it's hard to decide what I want to do because there isn't really enough of any colour to do something I want to make.  I'm down to nubbins of tubes.  Yay?

I'm playing yarn chicken with the next warp, which I got half beamed yesterday.  I have to decide when to change out one colour (there are 3 in the warp) and I'm pretty sure one has too little yarn left to make it through the entire warp.  However, I only need 9 tubes and I had a total of 18 so I know I can do the warp.  There *should* be enough yarn left on the other two colours to last, but if not, I have *some* 'extra' tubes.  We'll see if it is enough.  

If push comes to shove, I could always make the warp a couple inches narrower, but the highly twisted weft I want to use up means higher shrinkage than 'usual' and I don't want them to be any narrower than they are turning out, so...guess I'll Find Out?

Tomorrow is the weaver's show and share and my WEFT magazine arrived so I have the two boxes of samples and the magazine packed up in the wheeled cart.  I may get Doug to drag it up to the guild room.  I'm not feeling horrible right now, but I still have the rest of the warp to beam and my legs were not happy after doing the first half yesterday.  Every day is a 'wait and see' day - can I do this?  That?  Or nah?

Next week I need to do light duties, so on my task list is to do the math for the article samples I've just agreed to write.  I've borrowed a small table top lever loom, which will make it easier to get photos of the process (which needs, imho, to be well photographed to understand how it works).  I need to wind a warp chain on the warping board and dress the small loom.  The deadline is in 2026, so I'm not too panicked about getting it done, and if I'm not feeling great, weaving on the small loom means I should be able to weave a little bit.

In the meantime, I look at the calendar and remind myself I need to get the 2026 calendar set up.  I have booked a Zoom presentation in February.  That seems far enough away to be 'do-able'.  Because I haven't given up on things improving.  My next infusion is on Tuesday and it took about a week for things to settle and if I see if there is improvement.  Little by little, I nurse my tiny pot of hope...

Just In Time!

 

With the Weavers Show and Share booked for Sunday afternoon, I was getting concerned if the latest issue of WEFT would arrive in time.  

Voila!  This morning's mail contained the magazine.

I have to confess that when I write (and I actually include most authors) I sweat bullets trying to include ALL the information, work hard and choosing the words that best convey what I did, hoping that anyone who wants to do the project, or even just learn by reading what I did, will get enough information to take them a step further.

I don't know if most newer weavers are aware of how hard authors, editors, publishers, work to make their magazines/books informative and interesting, and how many of us get so wrapped in the task that sometimes it's hard to *stop* polishing and just finally accept you've done your best and let it free, out into the 'wild' (so to speak).

Frankly, it has been months since I finished the article for issue 3.  During the time between I wove the napkins and finished writing the article, I have had an 'interesting' time, with the brain bleed on Aug. 28, 2024, continued adverse effects from the drugs I was hoping would make things 'better' and made things just...worse.

It was with a considerable amount of trepidation that I opened the envelope this morning and holding my breath, read my article.  (Yes, of course I read mine first!)

To my relief I was able to read the article in its entirely without wincing once.  I have not looked at the drafts - I sweated bullets at the time, and since I was using computer generated software, I'm pretty sure the drafts are accurate enough.  The question that will arise is if I have done a good enough job of explaining what I did.

I am hoping some of the weavers that come on Sunday will bring their textiles, too.  It is by sharing that we all learn.  I have been encouraging weavers to contribute to the magazine, and the guild ordered a subscription.  I am hoping that the new book I ordered will arrive tomorrow so that I can bring that for people to see, as well.

Weaving is an ancient craft.  We keep it alive by learning it, writing about it, reading about it - from actual practitioners.  In a craft that changes every time circumstances change, it is easy to forget that very few weaving questions have definitive answers.  It depends!  And that the individual weaver will need to produce their own 'samples'.  But we can still share our knowledge and encourage others to develop their own foundation of knowledge.

And if you are interested in my long form writing, my 3 books are still available at blurb.  Printed in the US, they will not have a tariff on them if you are in the US.  If you are not in the US, they are also available in pdf form.  

Time Passes

 

I am taking a bit of a break from writing for WEFT.  Not that I'm not interested, but right now?  Most of my ideas are consuming a whole lot more time and energy than I have available.  I did suggest a couple of ideas, but have not heard back - yet - and frankly it's a bit of a relief to not need to sort out what it would take to do what I offered to do.  I may yet find the energy if they do get back to me, but I'm sure readers will appreciate having other ideas.  And frankly, there enough articles already in the pipeline, I won't be far.

Honestly, I'm old enough now I've been asking myself if I need to step aside and make room for other, younger, authors.  Instead I have been at the desktop, but reviewing the work of others.  And I find that is a task that is more in keeping with my current energy levels.

I have been continuing to try and find ways to keep my life meaningful while not using up every ounce (gram?) of energy.  This week the lab work came back, and surprise!  I'm 'normal'.  On the one hand, the relief at finding out that nothing nasty was inhabiting this body was huge.  But that meant that there was nothing to 'fix' to help me feel better.

Oh well...

Today I have a visit with a weaver and we will go through the latest box of returned samples from WEFT, and I can't remember if she saw the last box.  So we can look through that one as well.  I will bring both boxes on Nov. 16 to the guild for the Weaver's Show and Share.  I am very 'proud' of the work that I did for the Tables issue (current issue just out).  They aren't 'perfect' but pretty darned close.  Especially since I combined two weave structures in one, and used one weft that wasn't the same grist as the warp for the other.  So already I was pushing the envelope.  For the current issue and the next (samples just returned this week) I did the majority of the weaving and a significant part of the writing prior to the brain bleed.  The rest of the articles took a lot more 'braining' that I possessed to do it, and only with the help/support of my friend Sheila was I able to do it at all.  As it happens, writing and puzzling out weaving issues became a huge part of my 'recovery'.  But when I sent off the last article for Winter 2026 I think, I needed a break.  Maybe when I finish reading the two Olds thesis(es?) I will want to generate new content.  And who knows, maybe the new drug will be providing the relief I need to keep going.

That said, if any of the Olds students are interested in my reviewing their ms?  Let me know.  I have finished one and have a second in hand, and as soon as I finish the reviewing I'm doing for Michelle Boyd's (and you *will* want her book - trust me) I will get to the 2nd thesis.

If anyone wants to know more about how I self-publish my books?  I'm happy to share what I know.

Things are changing faster than we can imagine right now.  Tariffs, AI/LLM bots 'stealing' content, then even worse using someone's name and reputation and *changing what they say, even to the point of creating false citations*?  

(shudder)

At any rate, I promise I will NOT be using AI/LLM bots.  First I object to them stealing the work of creatives, then whining about how they can't make a profit without stealing copywrite materials, then using up gobs of energy and water, further polluting the world?  Nope.  Never.  I will never knowingly use AI.  Now if the industry would stop trying to shove that down our throats...

Anyway, Canada Post is currently on rotating strikes, and I'm sorely tempted to order more yarn while I can get it.  But I can't decide on colours, so I went ahead and beamed a dyed 2/16 warp.  I've got the warp threaded and hope to sley and tie on today.  But I get the Covid and flu vax today, so I'm going to take it 'easy' over the weekend.  We'll see how I feel next week when I talk to the pain doc.  But I'm trying to use up yet more of my 'stash' and I'm intrigued how this warp will weave up.  Because once again I'm pushing boundaries.  I mean, why not?

It Depends (honestly!)

 

Me, here, again reminding people that the only correct 'short' answer when it comes to weaving is...it depends.

If you are a long time reader of this blog, I'm quite sure I've posted this before (and will, no doubt, post it again). * 

So, here we have two yarns, both rated to 3360 yards per pound.  Both cotton.

Are they same?  Do they *look* the same?  Yes, they are both the same number of yards per pound, both two ply, but just *look* at them.  Are they the same quality?  (Not that one is better than the other, they exist for reasons, all of them 'sound'.)

It's true that they sort of look the same.  I had to change the colour photo to black and white to really expose the yarns for the ways they are 'different'.  Not only do they look different, they behave differently.  But some weavers will swear on Bibles that they are the same.   Then they say don't use them for warp because it's weak.  And they turn their noses up and say it's 'bad' yarn.  (The yarn in the photo on the top is Brassard's 2/8 cotton - and it's just fine used as warp as well as weft.  They they are not the same!)

As I've mentioned previously, I have been asked to 'review' a thesis.  Since it is not really even a book, just a manuscript that may - or may not - turn into...something...I am not going to reveal anything other than share this quote that I read this morning:

"Understanding these inherent color and luster variations across different qiviut suppliers holds significant practical implications for weavers and other textile artisans. The non-interchangeability of qiviut from disparate sources means that a specific supplier's product cannot be readily substituted mid-project without introducing noticeable discontinuities in the finished textile. This underscores the necessity of precise material selection and adequate procurement for projects requiring consistent coloration."

 

Yes, yes, yes!  Different processes, regarding fibre prep and spinning, will result in different qualities of yarn, which will result in different qualities of cloth.  

I had to contact the author immediately and ask permission to share this, which she gave.  If she decides to publish her thesis (in some form), I have offered to let people know when it is ready. 

Weavers need to understand the qualities of yarn, how they are achieved, what they are appropriate for, and weave some samples so they know what to expect when they go to weave with them.  With a fibre as expensive as qiviut, this is especially true.

Watch for more information upcoming in WEFT as I examine and compare different qualities of cotton yarn.  I don't remember which issues the information will be coming in, but soon(ish).

In the meantime I would like to encourage people who are doing deep dives into the craft to think about publishing - either articles or books.  With AI pumping out word salad/garbage, we need to take care to conserve the solid information for future/new weavers.

*As usual my books are at blurb

Hand Baskets

 

Scrolling through some of my old photos, I came across this one that was taken by a professional photographer as part of an effort to produce marketing tools when we were primarily weaving place mats, table runners, etc., and selling them to craft/gift shops.

We would attend the Southex Gift Show, held twice a year in Edmonton, stand on the concrete floor for about 8 hours a day for days, looking pleasant and approachable, while the shop buyers for the stores across western Canada would try to cram every moment of their day into finding great new products for their shops.

There were no sales to be made, only orders written.  This was very much a *professional* presentation, in our case. maker to shop, no retail sales.   So we didn't have any actual money when we went home - just the promise of money, if we managed to meet our delivery estimate.

We worked hard during those days.  Like *really* hard.  We had to look professional, act professional.  We had to know our product and our production schedule.  And we had to trust that the shop(s) would pay for the order.  

Mostly they did, but there were a few that...did not.  We were not shy about reminding the shops that they had agreed to a payment schedule.  One shop insisted their company policy was to pay 90 days after they had received the goods.  They were reminded that the contract they signed specified 30 days after receipt, and that *that* condition had been verbally explained at the time they signed the contract.

The owner sputtered and protested, but they were reminded we held a signed contract that agreed to payment in 30 days of delivery, and that interest *would* be charged.  The owner threatened to never buy from us again.  We told them we expected payment immediately or interest would be added to their amount owning.

There are all kinds of people out there in the world.  Mostly we found people were 'honest', but we did not hesitate to use our legal rights to collect overdue amounts we were owed.  We were too tiny to be able to 'finance' our buyers.  There were times when we had to be clear about their legal responsibilities and that we knew how to go to Small Claims Court.  

We had to learn how to be 'professional' within industry standards - and recognize when we were being 'played'.  And to point out that we saw what was happening and we expected to be treated fairly, within our rights.

It's called creating boundaries.  It's called being decent human beings - neither cheating our customers, nor being 'used' by them.

The Paradox of Intolerance is that the more you tolerate intolerance, the more others will try to take advantage of you.  You are allowed to declare that a boundary exists and that you will not allow someone else to try to take advantage of you.  We were always polite - but insistent.

The world appears to be on the road to hell with too many people wishing actual harm on others.  I do not know how to get the world off of this rather rocky, bumpy road.  But I will do everything in my power to not give people who wish others harm to collect more power to do harm.

I will continue to speak out against the alt right and their plans to shove the majority down while raising the few up.  

And I am ever so grateful that I no longer try to work every hour of the day - and sometimes night - but can take it 'easy'.  I wound up needing to take some time 'off' this week after a procedure that will - I hope - bring me more 'comfort'.  I had hoped to have the current warp off the loom by today, but instead I have not touched the loom since Monday.  And massage therapist strictly instructed me to take several more days 'off'.

So, I'm working on tagging/pricing the new inventory which I hope to deliver to the guild at the end of October for the fall sales.  I will try to do a final read through of the next WEFT article and email that.  And then next month I should get the book manuscript to 'review'.

It seems I'm not 'done' trying to teach - yet.

Books available in pdf or print formats at the Blurb website

Or if you are interested in what life was like as a production weaver, book in pdf format available here

Breadcrumbs

 

Ms and Ws weaving draft

As I scroll through my weaving files, I cannot fail to notice that so many of my designs have - at least lately - an abundance of twill variations.

This one is 'called' Ms and Ws and is a simple 4 shaft twill which can look 'fancy'.  But it can be used as a 'building block' when variations are generated, and then shafts added to create a 'block'.  And then the tie up can be changed so different tie-up combinations and treadling sequences can be used to expand the options.

Like many things about weaving - and life - it is what we wind up doing with it that creates something 'different', perhaps even 'new'.  Although given the mathematical progressions and availability of shafts for loom control, there are limitations.

How did I gather knowledge about how to do this?  Well, I generated a tonne of drafts, wove some, made small changes, wove them and observed what happened when I tried different yarn combinations, different densities.  

Doing this work (for it was 'work' for me) I was able to make a trail of breadcrumbs so that I could follow the progress as something changed and follow back to where I found something of interest, then perhaps change something else, and follow that trail of crumbs.

Lately the role of 'grist' has been on my mind (watch for WEFT next year with some breadcrumb trails) and how the thickness of a yarn is *related* to the length, but not exactly a 1:1 or 1:2 relationship.  

And in the gap between, lay all kinds of possibilities.  And lots of pitfalls.  Lots of 'failures' if I fail to meet the needs needed when I design a fabric.

This morning I was thinking about bread crumbs, trails, and messing things up.  A phrase in English is to consider the role of 'grist' in terms of sand, specifically sand in the gears of a machine.   And I thought about the Luddites, who were not peasants revolting against 'progress' in industry - specifically the weaving profession.   They were labour activists, trying to protect the professional weavers from being supplanted by machinery that they felt would kill off the weaver/workers.  So they chose to sabotage looms - mainly the 'factory' looms, looms which reduced the number of weavers by one half as there were now fly shuttle looms and one loom only needed one weaver instead of two for the broad cloth looms.

Up until John Kay perfected the fly shuttle mechanism in the 1700s, looms wider than about 48" needed two weavers.  Sometimes two were needed in order to create particular textiles, like vadmal.  Drawlooms needed drawboys until the dobby mechanism was perfected, and then in the 1800s the Jacquard loom.

All of those developments put actual weavers out of work.  Like developing AI to take work away from skilled creative folk right now.

We are facing the rise of fascism in the world (no the US is not the only one - some historians follow the crumbs back to the Luddites and their efforts to fight capitalism for workers rights) and the power grabs that are putting people with knowledge and skill out of work.  

Being a worker who follows their imagination, their creativity, and who becomes informed at the nuts and bolts (and the gears) of their craft, some people are trying to point out that the Luddites were working to keep people in skilled and meaningful jobs instead of shunting the 'work' off to AI type efforts.  And the evils inherent by so doing.

Which doesn't matter to the oligarchs, whose only aim in life appears to be like Mr McScrooge, swimming in his vault of money ('all mine!  ALL MINE!)  As if the acquisition of 'money' cast extra value on *them*.

If you work creatively, continue to create, when you can.  Do it because it brings you joy.  Or even just relief from the never ending pressure to conform to what someone else (who doesn't value *you*) thinks you should be doing.

Every time you add something to this world, born of your own experience, your imagination, you add light to the world.  Light to help others see you.  Light to help them see themselves as unique, individual.  Light to shine on the way you are being manipulated so that you can choose to add a little sand to the gears to slow down the steady creep, cutting you off from your creativity.  You.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...

Delays

 

My copy of WEFT arrived and I neglected to book the guild room for another 'weavers gathering'.  However, it looks like this coming Sunday, August 24, 2025 is available and the room/key person is willing to come open the room for me, so...even though I delayed getting the word out, people may show up.  Or not.  

The relationship with the US is about to change in really significant ways.  I have no idea how the saber rattling Mr. Trump is doing is going to affect people like me, living in Canada, shipping articles with woven examples,  in order to get our things across the border.  Things are going to get crunchy after Aug 30, 2025 when the minimus threshold is eliminated and every single parcel mailed/shipped to the US will need to be examined by customs and then a tariff assigned for the recipient to pay before they can get their parcel(s).

What a mess.

I am aware that there are big changes coming down the pipeline and how it will all play out is still a mystery.  

However, I have articles in the upcoming issues, and since I have a subscription to the magazine, I will keep fingers crossed the print copy I requested will actually arrive.  

I am back to weaving (took a couple 'extra' days of 'light duties') plus I have accomplished a few of those 'light' duty things.  September is almost upon us, the fall sales will be beginning the end of October, plus if the guild has a sale in the room in December, there is a chance of making a few sales.  

Because I've shut down shipping to the US until we know what, exactly, is going to happen.  As usual, my books are printed in the US so they can be purchased there, either print or pdf download.

I finished assembling the cards yesterday, plus I started printing out care instructions on labels and then sticking them to the hang tags.  I'm going to print out the cotton/linen labels and get those ready.  Then I need to write out price stickers, and tag the tea towels with a care tag.  Since my energy continues very low, I figured I had better get started on those now, not wait until the stuff is needed for the booth set up.

Yesterday I finished the first section of the warp (7 towels) and at the end I wove a 'small' sample using the single 6 highly twisted yarn.  I wanted to see how it was going to behave.  I've used it before, but ages ago, so I wanted to experience both weaving it (high twist = pig tails in the weft) and then wet finishing it.  Do I compress it as part of the wet finishing, or nah?  To be determined.

We continue to have 'variable' days, but we (here) have been 'wet' enough we haven't been dealing with horrible levels of smoke.  So far.  Of course that can all change in a heartbeat.

In the meantime, I try to get up and get to the loom twice a day (or do some other tasks).  But I find myself still wrestling with getting any kind of sleep and very low energy.  OTOH, maybe I'm just old, finally?  I know it is a privilege to make it to my age.  Not everyone does.  More and more I find myself tired.  But I still get intrigued by some aspect of weaving and that is enough to get me up and to the studio.  

Time to print out the cotton/linen care instructions.  I can put them onto the hang tags on 'breaks'.  Or at dark o'clock, like this morning when I could not sleep.  Again.  

Getting old is not for sissies...

New Tech

digital cover of Issue 2

I recently updated Windows with the help of a friend, and I'm still discovering new ways Windows doesn't work like it used to do.  :P~

However, here is the cover of the next copy of WEFT.  Yes, I have a small contribution in it.  :D

I got the 2nd issue the other day and scrolled through some of the offerings.  I think one of the things I enjoy about WEFT is that they seem to fully embrace the 'it depends' reality of cloth construction.  I have not read all of the articles - yet - because Friday and yesterday got super busy and I ran out of energy long before I ran out of day.  But a quick perusal of the contents page is intriguing.  In some ways, it's like going to a conference and able to listen in on many different conversations - all of them about weaving.  (Be still my heart!)

I've been stymied, for a number of reasons, on the current writing, but I had a meeting with one of my healthcare team on Friday and we have a plan for going forward.  I'm such a special snowflake, I'm a 'it depends' patient.  It depends if we have targeted the actual issues I'm having.  It depends if the plan works for me, or if we will try multiple approaches.  One at a time, so we know what is working - and what is not.

My birthday is a week away - less than that now.  It is a 'significant' number, and I have to decide if I keep trying or finally 'retire'.  OTOH, I had some nice comments from folk online who appreciated my feedback, so...I dunno.  But when I began this journey, my intention was to 'retire' at 75.  And here I am.  It has been 50 golden (sort of) years...

I do have two more articles to write for WEFT.  I have samples woven for one of them, and a rough idea of the shape it will take.  The other I will likely dig through my teaching examples for that one.  I have kept most of my samples from when I was doing in person workshops.  I couldn't bear to get rid of them.  Yet.  That day may come.

But Word doesn't work quite the way it used to do, either, and I'm still trying to figure how to do what I need it to do.  So perhaps these last two articles will be the last ones I do?  To be determined...

Ancient Does Not Equal 'Primitive'

 

one of my books (available here)

It's really nice to see the influx of 'new' weavers into the online groups.  It's just really difficult to give meaningful answers to questions when they have little knowledge of the craft or its language.  It is equally difficult to give answers that won't offend the new weaver - and the last thing I want to do is discourage anyone, especially when they want to know the answers.

Unfortunately, like so many other things about life, the only accurate short answer is 'it depends'.

I just had that experience with one doctor, and yesterday with the pharmacist, as - once again - my body is not 'simple' but full of 'variables'.  The conversation with the pharmacist was encouraging insofar as the recent testing revealed some potential things we can try to 'fix' - and guess what?  More questions!

So today I will phone my doctor's office and request a full panel examination of my thyroid function.

I need more coffee, first.

(Just posted to Bluesky that this morning spouse made the pot of coffee with the extra sarcasm blend and filled the sugar bowl with swear words, so it's not *my* fault...)

Yesterday I declared the warp done (I hate playing yarn chicken) and, after inspecting and repairing the tea towels from that warp, starting setting up for the next warp.  I even managed to get 8 sections beamed, which was a decent start and means that I should be able to finish beaming today and begin threading.  

Anyway, regarding the title of this post...

I saw another post about an ancient artifact that dates to 2000+ years ago.  The photo showed a stunning example of hand blown glass that some people would whiff away because 'everyone knows our ancient ancestors were 'primitive'.   Yeah, about that.  They may not have had the level of 'technology' that we have, it's true.  What they had was some extremely specialized knowledge and a great deal of skill.  To minimize and declare that it was done by 'aliens' is to diminish our own capabilities of creative creatures who studied, and learned, until they achieved incredible levels of skill.

And it all begins with that first tentative step on the road to learning.  And that's why I try not to offend when I offer suggestions.  Because the people who are asking the questions are *trying* to learn.  The problem comes when they expect *specific* answers, and 'it depends' is not what they want to hear!

To that end, I tried to collect the 'basic' information that I would have loved to be able to learn from when I was just starting out.  But the craft is nuanced.  Layered.  Not simple.  

But!  It *can* be learned, if the students keep an open mind and begin to understand the complexity of the craft.  And to understand that this IS a skill, and it needs to be practiced in a mindful, analytical way.  To accept 'failure' - or at least understand that not meeting one's expectations is to be expected, and that each time you try, you get a little closer to your goal.  And, that as you learn, your expectations may change.

For me, it's a 'failing' body that I need to accommodate.  That fall I took last August was a watershed event (won't call it a 'moment' because I am living with an injured brain - this has turned into far more than a 'moment'!) and I have had to adjust my expectations accordingly.

I am much less 'critical' of myself when I make mistake.  But every warp I do, I notice that I am 'regaining' some of what I 'lost'.

Best of all, through the vehicle of the articles in WEFT I have been able to use my writing as part of my 'therapy'.  And hoping that I can make my body more 'comfortable' I continue to try, and not beat myself up when I have 'mistakes' in my cloth.  I'm making tea towels.  They will still dry dishes...

Just because I have a fancy schmancy loom doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes!  But Life truly *is* a journey.  Sometimes some of the stops along the way aren't very nice, but it is *my* journey.  And since I'm still here, apparently I need to keep going.  If not for WEFT, then for here, if nothing else?

Onwards...

The Best Thing

 

The only thing better than sending a box of stuff to a magazine?  Is getting it back again.

(No previews - you'll see it soon enough.)

I've been writing articles for WEFT for, um, a year now.  They keep asking me if I'm interested in doing more and guess what?  

I *am*!  :D

It doesn't hurt that they encourage me to dig deep(er) and explore more.  And with the help of a friend, I've managed to roll the writing into my recovery.  I'm nearly at the 10 month point and after (more!) changes to my health and body maintenance, I can say that I'm actually seeing some progress.  When I write I don't need to 'proof read' every sentence.  Multiple times.  Now I can do paragraphs and some of them don't even need typos fixed.  The grammar is still a bit shaky but my friend gently catches them and helps with the editing.  A gift of love that means I can continue to write about what I love - weaving.  There is nothing quite like having a vigilant person riding 'shot gun' with you.

Today I think I am going to declare the current warp 'done'.  There will likely be a towel's worth of warp left, but I'm 'tired'.  And I'd like to move onto the next warp.  This warp has the 'samples' for another article for WEFT and I'd like to get them inspected/repaired and wet finished so that I can see what I have at the end of the long line of effort that takes threads and gets them woven into cloth.

The next warp will be another palate cleanser while I think about the two articles meant for the same issue.  Space in a magazine is at a 'premium' and I want to use 'good' illustrations - 'appropriate' illustrations.  I'd like to illuminate the topic - as best I can.  And again, I'm having to dig deep and think about how best to do that.

Will I succeed?   Time will tell, and the readers will decide if I've done a good enough job.

But I can continue to write, think and breathe weaving.  And for now?  That's enough.

Socializing

 

WEFT magazine sent their contributors a pin.  Today - the first time in a very long time - I went out to the guild room and spent some time socializing with a small group of people who were interested in the magazine, and the samples I wove for the first issue.

A magazine is a wonderful thing, but it's not the Full Deal Meal, so to speak.  Textiles are *tactile* and being able to *feel* them conveys a whole other level of information about what is, essentially, a tactile experience.

I remembered to grab the pin and wear it.  

Since I had subscribed to the magazine during their Go Fund Me, plus I contributed two articles to the magazine, I had a 'spare' copy which I donated to the guild.  I hope they will subscribe, but I let people know that they could buy digital copies at a lower cost, or just buy single copies - either print or digital.

A couple of the attendees were very new, some had a bit of experience under their belts, and some were more experienced.  It made for a nice interchange and a pleasant couple of hours.

At the end I suggested that if people were interested we could do the same after each issue comes out.  Since I have articles accepted for several up coming issues, I could bring my samples in and let people have a look.  Several said yes, so I'll remember to book the guild room once I have the magazine in hand and bring the samples with me.  Or at least textiles that are pertinent.  Some articles won't be illustrated by specially woven cloth, but pretty sure I can find things to share that may be suitable to the theme.

And I was reminded how much I had missed chatting with other weavers.  I had requested that attendees wear a mask, which may have prevented some people from coming.  But honestly, between Covid on the rise, AND measles, and bird flu - people like me tend to get 'left behind'.  We want to participate, but we don't want to get sick.  I've been managing by staying active on the internet, but there is nothing quite like actually sitting down and chatting.

It was lovely to meet one of the new weavers I had not seen before and re-acquaint myself with others.  The next issue comes out in August, I think, so maybe we can get together again in September.  

Something to look forward to...

Organized

 

Well, I am still not 'healed' from the brain injury.  

I used to be able to juggle several major projects - all at once - and keep track of the deadlines - and where I was in terms of progress on all of them.

I have been working steadily on writing content for WEFT magazine, and it occurred to me the other day that I have completely lost track of where I am in the writing queue.

Rather than bother the editor, I am going to have to take some time to go through all the contracts, figure out which issues I've completed, and what I have left to do.  Because I have concentrated so hard on the current article, I have simply no idea which issue I am working on, and when it is due.

I have enough of the warp woven now that I can tell it is working the way I wanted it to, and I even cut off the first 7 towels and got them through the washer and dryer yesterday.  After my chiropractor appointment I will turn the press on and get them pressed.  Then tomorrow I can begin hemming them.

Last night was...not great.  I don't recall actually sleeping, although I might have zoned out enough to qualify as 'sleep' for a few minutes here and there.  This morning I opened Word and began putting words down.  I've been thinking about this article for weeks and I finally sorted out how I wanted to illustrate it (and was happy enough with the current warp to use it) and what I wanted to say.  I did the rough draft, and at the end I was satisfied with what I had done.  But getting it proof read, and then sent to my alpha editor is critical!  So I will carry on weaving off the rest of the warp and leave the rough draft to sit for a few days before I do the first pass in 'editing' mode before I dare to send it to my friend who has been supportive and helps pick out the 'nits'.  I want what I send to the magazine editor to be 'sensible'.

I am extremely lucky in my friends (and spouse - my first line of assistance!) who have encouraged me and helped me by giving me valuable feedback.

But it appears I am feeling 'well' enough to recognize that it is time that I figured out where on my life journey I am, and make sure I'm not flailing around 'lost' in the maze of deadlines.  

It's time to get organized!  Maybe.  If I can...

Production Line

 

I bit the proverbial bullet today and started working on the samples - again.

What you see in the photo are just *some* of the samples I wove - there is a bin on the back of the loom with more in it - because there just wasn't enough room on my work table to hold the rest.

My work table is a table of all 'work'.  This is where I cut/serge my things before wet finishing, then press it.  Between the serger and the press, plus some work 'clutter', there isn't really much room to do very much.  But I can sit while I work at something like this, and I have good task lighting, plus my other odds and sods.

I had done some prep work before I wet finished the samples - I needed to be able to match them up to their 'before with after', but it was still complex, and frankly, when working with fairly fine yarn (2/20 merc. cotton) to fairly thick (4/8 cotton) plus some other yarns I wanted to test, it was getting really hard to tell them apart.

If I was having problems identifying them, anyone else down the work chain would probably have an even harder time.  So, to make it easier for others (who may or may not be familiar with the yarns I used) I decided I'd better document them very carefully.

Since I haven't been feeling...great...it was a level of 'detail' work I really wasn't in the mood to do - but needs must.  I have made a promise to myself that before beginning another article I will finish the one I'm working on.  My brain only processes so much before it becomes overwhelmed and I can't function - at all.

I cut it close on this article because I have already begun working on the 'next' article.  The loom is about to become 'nekkid' because I cut the warp off yesterday, cut/serged yesterday afternoon, then inspected/repaired this morning.  Those towels are ready to go into the washer, but now I want to beam the next warp.  Because that task takes up *all* the space behind the loom.  And since I need to sit on that stool at the work table to press - and there is just no room for me to do that while the loom is set up to be beamed - it's just easier if I get that done and out of my way first.  So that's the job for tomorrow.

Otherwise I spent several hours going through the samples, making sure I had them identified properly, write out 'string' tags to affix to the samples for easy identifying, and then double (or more) checking them as I attached them, suddenly the afternoon is pretty much gone.

I'm not sure if I have the spoons to finish putting away the samples and begin setting up for beaming.  At this point I suspect it must be 'tea' time.

And a pat on my back for getting that part (that I had been *dreading*) done.  Now to do one more pass through the text, correct the list of the samples (I made a couple boo-boos) and then collecting everything to go into a box for when it is time to mail it all to the magazine.

Will I learn anything about *not* procrastinating about a task that I don't want to do?

Doubtful...

Debut

 

Yesterday I got a peep at the new WEFT magazine.  

I have enjoyed writing several articles for WEFT, and am working on the next.  (Just finished roughing out the draft for one of the examples.)

One of the things I am struggling with right now is a distinct lack of energy.  I'm not sleeping much, which I'm thinking is an adverse reaction to the current pain meds, and I am really having a hard time getting my engine started - and keeping it going.  After a lifetime of being 'on' almost every day, it's disorienting and disturbing to find myself more limp than anything else.

I have one more drug to try, and I'm hoping to get permission to start that next week.  But it looks like I've nearly run through my options for pain control.

Someone recently suggested to me that ultimately I am going to have to 'choose my pain'.  Not a message I wanted to hear, but the comment has stuck with me and I'm trying to make my peace with what is happening to my body - and my ability to do much.  

As we get older, our bodies begin to wear out and down.  My expectations of being able to weave like I used to do in my 30s etc., are having to be adjusted.

Part of me struggles with acceptance, but it looks like this year is going to be a time of changing circumstances and adaptation to the lack of drive and determination that carried me for nearly 50 years.  And still does, to a certain extent.  The only way forward is to find out what I can *actually* do, and then find enjoyment in being able to do 'that'.

I'm trying to taper off 'producing' so much - which I then have little ability to sell.  But that doesn't mean I can't weave 'samples'.  

With the whole world walking on tip-toe, wondering when saner heads will prevail, trying to weave to sell seems an exercise in frustration.  Since I've done a pretty decent job of weaving down my stash (to certain levels of 'decent') my energy and thoughts are tending to focus on the topics for WEFT and what I feel capable of doing.  And then, of course, they need to be interested.

So what *will* I be doing?  Frankly, I have no idea.  I'm hoping to feel 'better' with my 'hail Mary' pain medication, but I have to also prepare myself for it to not work very well.  

I have enrolled in the pain management classes sponsored by the pain clinic, so I'm hoping to learn some things from those.  

The next month is going to be...fraught...with our federal election on April 28, trying one more pain medication, start attending the pain management classes.  And keep weaving.  

Right now I can still weave and I mostly manage two 45 minute sessions a day.  For 90 minutes a day I can shut my brain off and just 'be' at the loom.  

Hopefully after the next few weeks things will begin looking 'better'.  And if not, time to get into the trenches and work on making the most of what *is*, not what I *wish*.

In the meantime, I have one article just in the 'polishing' and organizing state, and the next article is taking shape.  I'm nearly finished the current warp and the next should be good to toss onto the loom late next week.  And then see what comes down the pipeline - and if I can scrape up the energy to work on something that people might be interested in reading...  

Anyway, if you are interested in this new magazine, I do encourage you to take a look.  It is available in print or digitally.

Community

 

When my samples were returned from WEFT after being photographed, they included a lapel button.

For a moment I had regrets that I am no longer travelling so that I could go to a conference and wear my 'contributor' button.

I've been contributing to magazines for a rather long time, so it's not like seeing my name in a list of contents is 'new'.  But it's a 'new' magazine, and it seems a bit special to be included.

What the button did for me, however, was remind me that weaving is a community.  And while too many forces in our society are, right now, trying to rip people apart from their communities, to take a stand and say 'this is my community' is much more important than to ignore it.

It is through community that we find support, encouragement, find answers to questions.  In this time, standing up for one's community is - in many ways - a political act.  An act of resistance.

I am, frankly, flattered that the editorial staff seem to like what I'm providing.  There are many times I have been chastised - for my focus on efficiency, my equipment choices, my standards.  It took me a few years to understand that we all get to choose.  And to realize that everyone needs to make the choices that are appropriate for *them*.  

Gradually I got to the point that my focus was to provide the information, document the 'spectrums' that are built into the craft, and help people decide which were appropriate for them.

Ultimately the craft of weaving has far fewer unbreakable rules than it does cases of 'it depends'.  

As I have been weaving the samples for WEFT, I have had time to explore many of those 'it depends' issues.  Over and over again I am reminded of how little I truly 'know' and how much I tend to tweak what I am doing to encourage the quality of cloth I want to be brought into reality.

Sometimes it works.  Sometimes, it doesn't.  

But every warp, every project, increases my knowledge.  And if what I know (or suspect) is helpful to someone else, then the time/yarn/money I have spent exploring that particular rabbit warren has been worth every penny.

Because knowledge is never a waste of time.  And community is necessary to help grow the foundation of knowledge of the craft.

The first issue will begin arriving soon.  

WEFT

 

honeycomb - loom state

honeycomb - wet finished

Well, here we are - March 25.  As in, *nearly* April - and the debut of the magazine WEFT.

I've just spent the morning reading through 'proofs' (not sure that they are called that anymore - yes I'm *that* old!) and sending them back approved or corrections noted.

I'm excited to have this opportunity to continue to write about weaving and looking forward to this new addition, see how it grows.

In many ways I don't feel like I have much more to 'offer' than what I've been doing since the 1990s and first got onto the internet using a Free-Net portal (yes, including the electronic 'hand shake'!)

However, just writing the first few articles I've learned stuff.  Sometimes it is a sharpening of my focus, sometimes it's realizing I've gotten used to certain 'assumptions' that are sort-of correct, but not the entire picture.

(Amazing how the picture changes when you add a microscope!)

It is part of what continues to fascinate me about textiles.  How many times can a person take the same quality of yarn and make something 'new' and/or 'different'. 

Perhaps even 'original'?

OTOH, with the centuries that humans have been making textiles, the sophistication of the technology, even long before the age of 'computers', I don't know if some ancestor has done what I've done, previously.  So I give a nod to Elizabeth Zimmerman (knitter) who never claimed to have 'invented' anything knitting related, but would say instead that she had *un*vented something - as in she was pretty sure that someone at some time in history had likely done the exact same thing and she had only 'uncovered' it again.

With the fall last August and the slow recovery (it feels like, experts tell me I'm doing *really* well), I have been struggling with the rather huge change in my physical well being.  But it's been almost 7 months since I woke up - rather surprisingly - in Vancouver General Hospital sporting a rad new scar.  It was a pretty radical change on top of everything else I was dealing with, but eventually I had to stop being angry at what I'd lost, and grateful about what I was still able to do.  Much more slowly, much less energy to burn, but - still here.  Still weaving.

And - still learning.