Weaving and Setting Up My Loomin-Area

Weaving - my "loomin'-area" was named by my sister and my husband goofing around.

I weave. I have woven. I'm a weaver. I'm weaving. I haven't been at this long enough to even know the terms. I've been weaving about three years now.

All I know is I love the process and the finished product. If you have never watched a weaver, take the time to do so. You will rethink "cookie-cutter" style accessories after seeing the process. Yes, it's very basic. No it's not real complicated. Time consuming? You bet. But the rewards of completing hand made items using such a basic tool are priceless.

Whether it's a belt loom, floor loom or table top weaving can be very relaxing. The scarves, wraps, place mats, rugs, table runners and baby blankets are all divinely inspired by the handmade touch. Combining fibers and colors make you feel so creative and artistic.

I've used bulky yarns to make rag rugs. Here are a few sample yarns that work great in making lightweight throw rugs.

I experimented with plaid on my first piece.

Yep, I chose the colors in class, after a great teaching on design from my amazing Weaving Instructor, Suzanne.

Then the tedious job of "dressing" the loom. The first time was so complicated, but now it is my favorite part, because I can see the finished piece in my head, and cannot wait to start.

The weaving was made with gray sock yarn as warp, then I used multicolored "self-striping" sock yarn to weave.

It's a long story, and a wonderful one. A very sweet Pastor, friend, made arrangements for me to take a class from a very experienced Navajo young lady. She taught me the art of Navajo Weaving in New Mexico. It's a lifetime opportunity.

My husband built the loom before we went for the week-long event. The men went fishing, and I sat under the tree where their Mother taught them to weave, learning the technique.

This is my loom with the beginning of a piece near the bottom. The rung hanging on top of the loom was a gift, and the picture above it is a framed art of the dye origins that the Navajo use. Beside the loom on the ladder is a Pendleton blanket I used as the color theme for my "Loomin-Area"

Some books that are very helpful! I've more visual, so having a book open, with step-by-step photos to guide me gets me through the tough process of warping my loom and setting up all the threads and treadles for my next piece. These books are a huge necessity for me.

Children weaving (rustic)

Dressing the Loom

Weaving

Fly Shuttle Weaving (unique)

Die Weberin

tachchen gewebt

So creative this is one of my favorite fiber arts. I pick the yarn for the warp, then lay out all the colors for the weft and imagine, or I get out the graph paper and the color pencils and draw the pattern.

I've enjoyed imagining the finished product, and taking photos is becoming a little easier.

I actually added Simply Soft by Caron to the loom ( a bright burgundy with little tweed flecks.) Then I wove the piece with self-striping sock yarn left over from a sweet little sweater I knit for my granddaughter. I'll post that picture (with her in her sweater, next).

My Life is but a Weaving

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

who leave the choice with Him.

~Author Unknown

I was honored to sit under the teachings of a 4th generation rug weaver.

I have always really liked rag rugs. A rug loom was given to me this summer. It took a while to get it "dressed," set-up for weaving, since I was unfamiliar with the Union Loom #36 model. But I researched several web pages and books, I finally found some photos and instructions online and that helped somewhat.

Ready to weave. I am using loops of chenille for this rug.

Here I'm showing the first several rows of the loops of chenille fabric woven into the rug. Weaving a rug goes pretty fast once the loom is set up. If you start with enough warp thread you can actually weave 3 or 4 rugs before having to dress the loom again and this is just my style of weaving!!

I can see many of my errors in the previous photo. This photo shows the shuttle filled with the loops of chenille and the rug starting to wrap around below.

I was given the gift of a loom, they received my first rag rug.

Let's discuss weaving.