Entries from the Fair

Several of our members entered woven items and handspun in the County Fair this year.  I realized I forgot to photograph the hand spun but here are the woven entries.  

Several items woven by Betsy, including two table runners, a rug, shawl and scarf.

 Dee submitted various items including yardage, a scarf, a jacket sewn by her daughter using Dee's woven yardage and a shawl.  One of her scarves won the "People's Choice" Award.

Diana's entries included a scarf and two towels.

Ingrid submitted a scarf and two towels.

Marcy entered a huck placemat and dresser scarf.

 

 Sue H exhibited her tablecloth and fiesta placemats.

Sue R entered an inkle band, small towel, small basket and a vest. 

Inspired by Our County

In the "Wool" Division at the County Fair, there is a section for handwoven or knitted / crocheted, etc. with handspun yarn items that were inspired by the County.  The exhibitor may look at native plants, scenic features, like the local river or other geological features.  In the past, native plant dyes were used to color yarn used in a woven piece. 

Diana's Table Runner

Three members of Not 2 Square submitted woven pieces inspired by plants and nature features of our beautiful County.

Diana's Table Runner was inspired by the Madrone tree.



Dee's scarf got it's look from local colors.




Ingrid's scarf attempted to bring to mind the Manzanita.

Dee's Scarf

Ingrid's Scarf

This has been a fun challenge to inspire us to create interesting items that showcase our County's beauty.



 

Pictoral Tutorial - Weaving placemats and napkins on the same warp

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that Sue Habegger used to sell placemats and matching napkins using a technique in which the placemats are on a dense warp of 30epi and the napkins are woven on the same warp at 15epi by using half the warp threads for the upper layer and half for the lower layer. 

 

Here is the process in pictures and the weaving draft is here. (4th draft from top)

Cones of cotton yarn for warp

Warp being wound on warping reel

Warp set up on loom - sleying the reed

Keeping the warp under control

Heddle threading half way done



Warp beam down for access to heddles

 

 

 

Warp wound on the warp beam

 

Tying warp to front beam

Placemat weaving begins.  Sue uses mop cotton for the weft and a plain weave tie up.

Layers separated for napkins (note one shuttle for each layer)

 

Close up of the two layers for napkins

Finished napkins and matching placemats.