Last year was a whirlwind of teaching classes. vending, and creating, but I sure did look forward to the end of the year, and the winter months, for big splurges of creating. Interestingly, not as much spinning has been on my plate, but lots of weaving. I love it’s challanges, as well as observing how many times I can make the same mistake, expecting different results (isn’t this the very definition of “insanity”???)

In December I was going through all my fun commercial-yarn buys, and decided I wanted to make something quick and fun (these were fat, bulky yarns), so this cocoon coat came into being. I wanted blocks of color, to really show off all those different yarns, and did this by creating little slits between the colors. Hence, it became “The Menopause Coat”! The fur collar was a perfect touch, and I ended up using a big shell button at the front closure.

It was quite a hit at the Wild and Wooly Fiber Expo in the Cleveland area a couple weeks ago! I want to “tweak” this pattern a bit, though. I feel like it needs a bit different shape at the lower edge, in order to lay better on the body. Next one will be a summer topper…linen & bamboo for sure.

There are about five finished pieces of fabric waiting for me to sew them up. Am I weaving more? Well, of course! The bug to sew will soon bite me, though…if not the slight guilt of having “too much fabric”.

Seriously? Not EVER!

Until next time, whenever that will be. Patrick and I will soon be on the road, so we will see you soon!

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Can we talk, for a brief moment, about the massive difference in handwoven fabrics between the fabric on the loom, and finished? We all KNOW it’s a huge thing. I KNOW that if I am really not digging the fabric on the loom, that I need to just give it a while, finish weaving it, set it aside for a bit then come back to it. And really finish it! I remember reading that fabric fresh off the loom isn’t really fabric yet…it’s a “web”. It’s kind of stiff, the threads seem like they oppose each other, and it really can be a bit disappointing right at first.

A few weeks ago, I wanted to try clasped warp. I figured I’d do a scarf. (Yes, I know. How creative, right? haha). I don’t usually weave scarves anymore…guess I’ve moved on to “bigger and better things”, but for a technique like this, it was a nice first-time project. It was a quick little weave; I didn’t even take any pics of the weaving process. There’s only one thing I don’t really “embrace” with any clasped technique, warp or weft; and that is the double-thread that results. Not a huge deal, but I feel that it gives that fabric a slightly different look and feel. I weaved the piece, and reeeaallly didn’t care for it. I set it aside for many days. Came back to it….still didn’t like it. Couple days ago, I bit the bullet and finished the fabric. I did my typical warm soapy water bath, massaging the fabric back and forth for ten-fifteen minutes, rinsed, spun dry, then used the Ironrite to press and dry.

Now let’s talk about compression. I did not know this was a “thing” with finishing fabrics until I read Peggy Osterkamp’s books. (which, BTW, if you don’t have them, PLEASE do yourself a favor and get them!) Apparently fabrics become their true “selves” after “compression”. Did she mean pressing? Ironing? Without steam? What exactly is “compression”? And how on earth would a fabric “bloom” after it’s been squashed (my interpretation of “compressing fabric”)? Well, I dunno all the ins and outs of “compression”, but holy smokes, after I ran this finished piece through the Ironrite, it became….BEAUTIFUL. SOFT. TOUCHABLE. And the DRAPE! Wow, just wow. I didn’t even mind some of the weird tracking.

So….more kudos to my beloved “Dort”, the Ironrite mangle iron from 1945-ish. It is now a handwoven fabric finishing tool. I’ll never curse a weave again….cuz it ain’t done until it’s DONE!

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My goal this year? To be more prolific. In everything! I want more creations coming from my looms. I want more product ideas coming out of my head. More ideas for fun ways to spin yarns, add interest to weaving & sewing, etc. There are only so many hours in a day, though, sadly, so I must prioritize things.

We have two “break” times in the year: mid-November through Mid-February, and another in the summer. Every year I dream of what I’ll get done during our winter/holiday break, and this year, I just kept weaving. I didn’t worry about finishing fabrics (steaming, shrinking, etc)…I just kept pulling fabrics off the loom. Now I have a pile of gorgeous handwoven fabrics, and I will use the rest of our winter break to get them sewn up. Virginia West designs, because I love the vision she had so much.

Stay tuned! I’ll get ’em done!

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