Leaping Into the Deep End

 

A local weaver has arranged to purchase a draw loom and since I've woven on one (attended Madelyn van der Hoogt's Weaving School) I have rusty memories about how they work.  I've offered to help, and Amanda has suggested that I can come 'play' on it once it is up and working.  So I'm very excited.

I really enjoyed weaving on a draw loom, but my neck was less than impressed.  So it didn't seem prudent that I spend the money required, try to find the space that would be needed, and the time to really get comfortable with getting to know more.

I loaned Amanda some books, the loom's owner gave her some more, and we've discussed a few others that will help her get ready for the plunge.  In the meantime, I've suggested that she set the loom up as an 'ordinary' shaft loom because she's not woven on a Glimakra previously and it would a good idea to get familiar with the mechanics of the 'standard' loom before attempting to use the draw attachment.

Not all of the books that I recommended to her are commonly available, but I gave her some suggestions of where she might obtain copies - Inter-Library Loan, for one, Handweaving.net for another.  Complex Weavers may have some as I think they have a draw loom study group.  But it's been ages since I have been a member of CW.  They also have a library, but I don't know about shipping books from the US into Canada, given current events.

I know that I'm not the 'best' resource for her, but I'm the only one here who has woven more than once on a draw loom.  And I have some of the books she needs and am willing to loan them.  It is also giving me something new and exciting to think about, and polish off some of the mental rust.  It's been decades since I wove at The Weaving School.  But I still have my samples, and I can dig them out for Amanda to take a gander at.

Coincidentally, I have a Zoom presentation booked for Saturday in which I will talk about The Weaver's Toolbox and one of the things I will discuss are the mechanics of the 3 main types of looms commonly available - rising (jack), sinking/rising (counter balanced) and direct sinking/rising (counter march).

This is the first guild presentation since I had the brain bleed.  I'm very nervous if I can manage it, but if I can, I will be open to add more bookings to my calendar.  (If you belong to the Greater Vancouver Weaver's Guild - it's Saturday morning this weekend.  Just saying.)

My list of online guild presentations is available at https:laurafry.com

Hubris

 

Once again I was reminded that I need to check ALL of the sheds to make sure they are clear before I jump in and begin weaving.

What this photo doesn't show is the repair I had to make due to a sleying error.

We are now advanced enough in the season that it is beginning to get dark by late afternoon.  We will get a reprieve when the clocks get turned back in a few weeks, but I took this quickndirtyndark shot under the loom to show someone inquiring about the latest warp what it would look like on the 'right' side.  Because I'm weaving it 'upside down' in order to lift the fewest number of shafts.

I got about 1/3 of the way through the first towel when my eye finally picked up the 'odd' thing happening and I stopped to try and figure it out.  I'm still not sure what was happening, just that somehow a couple of threads got wrapped around their neighbour threads and had to be cut out and re-directed.  Either I will keep this towel for me, or it can be cut up into dish cloths for a friend who prefers my oopsies rather than commercially made ones.

Or I'm quite sure a friend will take it off my hands as a 'second'.

I could have finished the towel as it was because frankly it was still weaving, just with a weird subtle thing happening.  But I didn't want to forget when I went back to the loom for the second towel so went ahead and fixed it.

And thought about the adage:  Don't spend a lot of time on a mistake just because it took a long time making it.

Mistakes are just that.  A miss-take.  They are not a character failing - unless you fail to own up to it and fix it.  The world will not end if you make a mistake in your weaving.  So when a miss-take happens?  It's just proof that you are human.  Mistakes happen.  Fix it and move on.

Last night I connected with the guild I'm giving the presentation to in Nov.  They approved of my approach so over the next few days I will begin pulling samples, sorting through my gigantic photo file looking for photos to illustrate my talk, and begin to build a Power Point presentation.  And then we'll do a quick run through.  Because I'm a Zoom newbie and nervous.

Hubris.  It's a thing.  And I still make mistakes.

(I am working on becoming more comfortable with Zoom and willing to do guild programs.  Also willing to tailor the topic to the guild interests.)