The Last of the Weaver's Poker Challenge



We are looking back for a couple of years now, when Not 2 Square Weavers decided to do the Weaver's Poker Challenge.  Sue R. drew the following cards for her challenge.  Double Weave, Variegated Space Dyed yarn, Fibonacci Sequence, Random Stripes & Blue. 

 Sue decided to dig into learning all she could about Double Weave before she attempted to work on her challenge. At one of our meetings, someone was giving away their extra copies of Handwoven magazines and Sue picked up the issue from Summer 1983 with a couple of articles about weaving double weave on a rising shed loom. 

Sue studied this issue for a while before she embarked on her double weave sampler which contains all the elements in the cards she chose. The photo below looks like the Fibonacci series to me. and naturally the color blue.

 

Then variegated weft for this sample, which I think is probably double width weaving with the opening in the center of the warp.

 

 

Then random stripes - this time a pouch stuffed with poly fill and then woven closed.

 

And more double weave fun that wasn't in the "cards".  A lace weave on one layer of the double weave.

 

 

A pouch which is open on one end with a bit of fanciful fringe - and hemstitched (how did she do that?)

 

 

 Some color and weave effects.

 

 

And finally, a bit of pick up.

 

 







This project was very much in the spirit of the challenge.  Learn something new and have fun with all the experimenting.

Another First Project

I realized that I forgot to include one of our member's first project in the previous posts.  Sue Habegger shared her first sampler.  It is a twill sampler.  She used different twill patterns (and colors) across the piece.  The sampler was woven using the different twill patterns and different colors.

 

Sue's Sampler

Sampler details

 

This kind of sampler is a great way to see how different twills look when they are threaded one way and woven with a different twill.  It can also be used to look at different color interlacements.

 

 

 

 

 

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.


 

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.