Fiona's First Woven Scarf!

My fantastically talented weaving student Fiona has just graduated with a First Class Honours Award in Scarf Weaving, as proved by the picture below. In only a few short months, Fiona has made the transition from complete novice to Hand Weaver of the parish of Littleborough. Three cheers for Fiona and well done!! Click on the photo to enlarge it and show up the colours to full effect!

Twill Checked Blanket Warp

Because I cannot bear to suffer from Empty Loom Syndrome (ELS) I decided to put on this short 48" wide warp which has been hanging around chained and ready in my workshop drawer (hasn't it Fiona.....) for some time now. I haven't quite decided on the treadling/liftplan yet, other than it will be based on a 2/2 twill, maybe a point twill, but it's a straight threading on 8 shafts with the plain weave selvedge threaded on shafts 9-12 (ah, what a luxury...)
Inspired by weaving simple twills for Kate, I decided to change my plans. I had originally made the warp in 4 bundles, intending to weave a HUGE double width ( 96") blanket...but instead it will now be two single blankets , in the same colours but of similar, not identical design. The blankets will be for two single beds which are side by side. The warp stripes are loosely based on the Fibonacci series. The yarn is 2/9 to 2/11 Shetland mill-ends from Fairfield Yarns (see Links)
Here is the warp, beamed but not yet threaded. My warping paper is rather lopsided at the end!

Just because I felt like it........

I was scouring the internet for knitted balaclava patterns and came across this image, and I could not resist posting it on the blog.....

New collapse weave wool scarves

Here is the latest collapse weave scarf, this time in a different colourway...more bright colours, fewer subdued hues. The Platform Gallery would like a few more scarves for the current exhibition, so this and a few others will be going to Clitheroe next week. It is very interesting to see how people respond to a similar design but in a different range of colours and shades. I didn't think these would work as the design process was a little rushed, but most people seem to prefer them!

Lancashire Breeds Wool scheme

I have been weaving samples for Kate Schofield, of  Lucky Ewe designs, with a view to creating some yardage and/or scarves, throws, cushions etc from next year's fleece. Kate buys the fleece from farmers in the Arnside/Silverdale area and has it spun into yarn by The Natural Fibre Company in Cornwall. Until now, Kate and her team of knitters have produced hats, scarves, shawls, tea cosies and other small items, but she is hoping to develop the range of products to include some handwoven goods, with a view to increasing the amount of fleece she can buy from Lancashire farmers with the longer term aim of raising the value and profile of this wonderful local product.
There is a deep satisfaction in weaving simple, traditional designs in a pure and beautiful yarn.......it reminds me of why I learnt to weave in the first place.....
Here are a few simple photos of some of the samples.

Kaleidoscope Christmas Exhibition at The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe

I am participating in the above selling exhibition at The Platform Gallery from 6th November until 8th January, and am frantically trying to complete the second batch of scarves. It is a lovely gallery, in a great location.
Sales at the recent Revamp exhibition at The Signature Gallery, Kendal, were very pleasing, and the girls and I are hoping to arrange some more collaborations next year-watch this space!!

First 12 shaft warp in situ!

To make sure everything is set up in a tickety-boo fashion, my first 12-shaft warp is a pleated satin scarf in Shetland wool, in 4 randomly-threaded warp colours and a single additional weft colour. Sett for 12 thread satin pleats very close at 30 ends per inch, around double the plain weave sett for these yarns, which average at 2/11 count. The intention is for the fabric to pleat naturally on finishing but without being stiff as a board.....watch this space....

Close-up showing weft at around 20 picks per inch