We're Going Hollywood!

Patty is back from her travels and turns out I didn't interview her either! Years ago, Patty saw an add in the newspaper about the weaving Center and had even taken the beginning class over the summer one year, but because of her work commitment she was unable to come back to the Center, though she was weaving on a loom at home. Once she retired she started to come to weaving on a regular basis.

Patty is weaving rugs on the Studio Loom and this particular pattern is called the Hollywood Rug. She is alternating 2 different wefts to get this effect.

We first ran across the Hollywood warp pattern when LouAnn purchased a rug loom and the warp on the loom was this pattern but it was all kinds of weird colors (light and dark purple, pink and yellow). It took her some time to figure out that it was a simple twill progression throughout. Then one day she was looking in the Rag Rug book by Meany and Pfaff, and lo and behold there it was! The Hollywood warp pattern is made of a "Chicken Tracks" center panel bordered by a couple of different twill runs, all in black and white.

We had a robust show and tell today. Pat brought in several pieces that she is donating to the Tuesday Weavers to sell in the shop, but the funds that she raises for these items will be donated to the new building fund that we have established in memory of the 4 weavers that we have lost in recent years. Bonnie, Carl, Sharon and LouAnn, I think a plaque will be in order once we get the building built!

Mark brought in a couple of towels that he wove this week, he said that they were supposed to be the same size, but you know MATHS!!!! We had all sorts of suggestions what he could do with the smaller one, for of course we have all been there!

The last contestant for show and tell was Dana, our youngest weaver. She wove several towels on a rigid heddle and she found that math is also a problem sometimes. Dana is eagerly awaiting Carols return from her vacation to actually get started on the basic weaving course, but I think she is making great progress on her own already!

Towards the end of the weaving day, Pat and I were talking about the old barn loom and how it has a chain and spring set up that makes is really hard to push the beater out of the way to insert the rug shuttle. I told her that if I was weaving on it I would unhook the beater from this system, because it looked like she was working too hard! Well before you know it, I was on a ladder and Patty was on a chair freeing the beater, and making life a lot easier for Pat!

Dana sent me this picture, she was trying to snap it while I was still on the ladder, but missed her chance. I think you can see the eyebolt on the beater and the chain hanging down to the right. That's it for today from the Center, Tina, for all