We All Have to Start Somewhere - Part II

Here is Part 2 of our series highlighting how our very talented weavers got started.  Beryl & Igor learned to weave at the City College of San Francisco several years ago. 

Here are two examples of Beryl's early towels. You can definitely see her interest in complicated weave structures started early in her weaving experience when looking at the towel on the right.

A towel is a nice easy first project.






Igor shared two pieces with the group. The first is a sampler. He tried lots of different techniques and structures with this piece.  This was fairly long - the pictures highlight different parts of the sampler.  Even though many new weavers want to have their first piece be a finished item, weaving a sampler allows the student to have the freedom to experiment with structures, color and texture.



 His second piece is a scarf.  

                                Stay tuned for another installment of our early pieces.


 

Two Blue Scarves

One of the challenges the Not 2 Square Weavers gave themselves for this year, was to experiment with chenille.  Almost (if not all) of us have this yarn in abundance and we know we need to get over our fears about worming and start weaving with it. 

Diana Abrell brought this scarf to our latest meeting.  She used a 10/2 cotton warp, with supplemental warp threads in wool and rayon (the pink threads) sett at 20epi.  The variegated chenille in blues, was in a skein which had to be wound into balls.  The structure is plain weave, with floats every few picks for the supplemental warp.  No worming!

Now for Dee Jones' story about her scarf.  Jackie brought lots of embroidery floss as a give away to our group.  Dee used some of her skeins of blue in the weft of this scarf.  Here is what Dee says about this scarf:  "The embroidery floss was used as every other weft. Alternate weft was ringspun rayon, same as the warp. 16 skeins were used for a scarf 6 1/2" x 64". (7" in the reed, by probably about 70" measured on the loom."

Here is the draft from Anne Dixon's Handweaver's Pattern Directory, it is on page 76, the first pattern

We All Have to Start Somewhere: Part I

Everyone who has a hobby, craft or pursues some kind of artistic activity starts somewhere.  There may be 2 year old weaving prodigies, but most people begin with few skills.  Recently the Not 2 Squares shared their weaving beginnings.  Here's a glimpse at a few of the first efforts of our members:

One of Dee's first projects was a red bag.   Here is an example of some later work - a beautiful vest.  There's lovely sewing and detail.  Also a recently woven scarf.

Diana's first sampler, with a detailed look.

One of her first projects was a checkered towel.








One of Gus' first projects was fairly ambitious overshot fabric to be used to cover dining room chairs.  The upholstery lasted many years before being replaced with newly woven fabric. 

 

 

 There will be more examples in future posts.