Saturday, August 13, 2011

Keeping a Good Balance



 Last week I showed you the four pieces of fabric I had pulled for my next tote.   My smallest piece of fabric was 8 inches wide, so I cut the rest of the pieces to match and  joined them end to end to make my tube for the weft.  I offset the final seam to start my strips.  Then to the "station" to start cutting the strips.

  I keep my rag cutter, bobbin winder and spool winder on this rolling cart so that I don't have to set-up and take down all the time.  Since this was a continuous piece of fabric, I just let it feed off the table, and I kept it going as it cut the strips for the weft.





   I wound the shuttle and started the tote, but I wasn't happy with way it was looking.  In this picture, you can see the header for the Stewart plaid winding off the beam, then the 4 strips of scrap fabric as a spacer.  The blue part is the header for this tote.....and then the new weft.  There's just too much contrast!!! 

  I do like the way the weft plays under the warp, but not with this header!  So...guess what???  Yes, sireee.....I un-wove!  I'll save this weft for a later tote or placemat!



  I grabbed one of the handy plaid bias balls and wound another shuttle.

  Thank heavens for all of those lovely plaid balls...they work up so nicely.  I'm ready to throw the handles, which will be the blue mop cord.

  I also got a new small tote started, and I'm ready to throw the handles on it, also.  I just need to finish basting the handle closed on the last strip.


  Some of you might remember last summer when I found some "Fire on the Mountain" wildflowers at the Farmers' Market.  It's also know as wild poinsettia.  From the one little pot I bought last summer....I now have a forest of plants!!!!  I didn't realize how much it would spread.  And, I have to admit, I LOVE it!  I know I need to thin it out, and maybe move some of the plants to some places that would benefit from this lovely foliage, but I'll work on that next week when the temps are lower.  I have a few other things on my dance card for this weekend.

  I've got to give the house a swish and a promise....the kids are coming over tomorrow for a "Happy Birthday and Back to School" party.  My "baby" turns 30 this week, and my SIL has a birthday, too.  So, I guess I should at least vacuum the rugs and take out the recycling.  Oh, yes, and I need to bake Birthday Brownies for my boys!!!!

Happy Weaving!
LouAnn

2 comments:

Bonnie said...

That darker plad weft does look better with the darker header. The lighter will make a pretty tote with a lighter header. Amazing what the materials look like together woven. It is exciting to put them together and create something. Have a great day tomorrow.

Joanna said...

Um, how do you throw handles? Totally clueless, but I would very much like to be able to weave a tote with integral handles, not sewn on ones.