Warning! This is a photo-heavy post. If you’re on cable, DSL or whatever, you’re ok. If you’re on dial-up? Take a break. Check Fluffy’s litter box, get some tea, coffee or have a pee break and come back.
Ready? Onward to the post…
Wow, does it seem like I’ve had this new loom forever already? And, will I EVER weave anything on it or is it just all about making things FOR the loom? I promise, there IS and will be weaving. Let me prove it to you now.
This is the current view as I sit at the loom. It’s the shelves of handspun yarn and a few of my previous woven scarves. And, yes, I have a portable radio on the shelf so I can listen to Sunday Morning Jazz, Loren & Wally, or talk radio.
And this is the warp, stretching from the Baby Wolf loom, across the weaving studio floor, down the hallway and into the bedroom and across the bed. Either it’s a really long warp, or an awfully tiny apartment. In all honesty, it’s the latter: a tiny apartment.
The shuttle bobbins are already wound and ready for action.
But, wait! STOP THE WEAVING!
There’s something wrong.
I don’t like the all-white warp. Actually, I kind of HATE it.
A lot.
This can mean only one thing: UN-WARPING (De-warping?) TIME!
Now it’s time to introduce a second color, basic black. See all those coral threads in the reed? Those are where the old warp comes out and the new warp goes in. And, hey, did I ever mention that I had astigmatism in both eyes? I have a problem focusing on things linear, like lines. And, see all those lines in the reed and the lines created by the yarn? Those all mess with my vision in a HUGE way. This means I have to be super-extra-careful so I don’t make any mistakes, which is pretty easy for me to do. But this had to be done, and I’m the one to do it.
Here’s a shot of the white and black warps, kept somewhat safe from feline danger.
And this is The Duster, giving me a look when I refer to him as "feline danger". I speak from experience.
This isn’t the "feline disaster", this is where it all comes together at long last.
One word: YIKES!
Oh, sure. NOW Dusty wants to help now that the hardest part is done, re-threading the reed and heddles. This is a shot from the floor in the bedroom back to the loom, passing Warp Inspector Dusty. He’s checking for dangling ends.
Ok, let’s fast forward a couple of days and get on with the First Weaving on the new Schacht Walnut Baby Wolf Loom. Look, the first inch:
Look! MORE inches! And an 8-harness pattern emerges for the first time. DO YOU KNOW HOW EXCITING THIS IS????
I had been eyeing this pattern in one of my weaving books, and my friend Margaret from the NOBO Handweavers guild recommended it, too, as a first-time 8-harness project. That was all the incentive I needed to go ahead and try it. That was the reason for switching out the warp. I HAD to try this one.
It’s a beautiful pattern, and using black and white (natural) allowed me to really see a pattern emerge. The stars are like little waves cascading across the surface of the weaving.
And it was also my first full-width weaving.
It’s beautiful…
Nearing the end of the warp, I ran out of black and white yarn. No reason to waste a perfectly good warp, right. It was the chance to introduce other colors. SO interesting to see the patterns emerging in different colors. Let’s take a quick tour of the weaving patterns created on this first weaving project on Wally the Walnut Loom…
And probably one of the most fun things about this first project was to actually begin unwinding the yardage.
Yes, it was a lot of fun to unfurl the first full piece of fabric, walk it into the next room, and the stretch out on it and take some photos. Wow, that first time really is special…
Once the cats realized there was something to explore, it was time to gather it all up and get it to safety.
WHEEEEEE!
And this fabric is already destined for a project 30 years in the waiting making. But, that’s a post for another day…
Pattern information:
Weaver’s Book of 8-Shaft Patterns: From the Friends of Handwoven (Paperback) ~ Carol Strickler
Publisher: Interweave Press (November 1, 1991)
ISBN-10: 093402667X
ISBN-13: 978-0934026673
Lynn in Tucson
Holy cow. Thanks for the vicarious thrill!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:41 am
Divine Bird Jenny
I am in awe of the finished fabric and all of those little samples! The curly star pattern makes me happy.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 1:33 am
PattiHN
wow, that’s a beautiful fabric! please, i want more details though–yarn, weight, sett, &c.!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 1:35 am
Susan
That has to be my favourite pattern ! I did a series of scarves in fine tussah silks (black and gold) and they sold like hotcakes! People are drawn to the pattern. It’s classy and elegant.
Now that’s what I call a good first initiation for your new loom!
Susan
Oct 29, 2009 @ 1:42 am
Brigitte
Wow, you actually do all these patterns by yourself??? Wow! (Just have to repeat it!)
Oct 29, 2009 @ 4:21 am
anne marie in philly
is it my imagination, or is dusty’s fur getting darker as he ages?
“feline danger” indeed!
as for the weaving…plain B&W reminds me of herringbone…gorgeous in its simplicity…like a chanel suit fabric…
thanks for sharing, dave!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 6:14 am
Paula
Oh. I so want to try that.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 6:33 am
Walden
Wow, it looks so wonderful!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Benita
Oh. My. Gosh! That is some stunning weaving and I can just see you happy dancing all over the apartment when you pulled the yardage from the loom. This is so cool!!!
We’re waiting with breaths held to see what it is to become.
But, oh man, WOW!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 7:41 am
Cindy in FL
Yeah, weaving delights…….! Utterly perfect-great first time 8 shaft weaving. (Is this some of your handspun yarn in the weft?)
Oct 29, 2009 @ 8:00 am
penny
STUNNING! Stop it! I had just shaken the “I want to weave” out of my system and then you go and do THAT? I mean I do have that guest room and it would be gorgeous to put a loom there, but uhm… please, not right now. I love you, but please… Please keep weaving and sharing your projects. They are quite inspiring. Thank you!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Ginger
Yeah, what the other posts have said! That is an awesome amount of yardage for the first time on this loom. The stars remind me of snail’s trail type quilt block…..
Oct 29, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Life Looms Large
I love that pinwheel pattern!!! And, of course, you did a great job with it!! Looking forward to the project 30 years in the making!!!!
(Glad I’m not the only one who lets project ideas incubate that long!)
Congrats again on your fabulous birthday gift named Wally!
Sue
Oct 29, 2009 @ 9:23 am
Tina M.
HuZZAH! That is is a gorgeous pattern, and one I’ve eyed myself for quite some time after seeing it in person. Great job on rescuing the warp, I’m in awe of how much time and effort that must have taken. I probably would have been tempted to light it on fire.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 9:34 am
Roxie
OMG! OMG! Do you totally Rock or what? Gorgeous in black and white, way cool in colors. That tan and grey looks very craftsman style. The name Morris flaots to mind?
Now look, you do NOT need to re-thread everything when you make warp color changes. Trust me. You can DO this. Just lift the threads you want to change on top of a ruler or piece of lathe or whatever. Clip them off about 4 inches from the reed, hold the end of the new yarn together with the end of the old yarn and knot them together. When everything is tied on, wind the back beam till the knots are tight against the reed, and coax the knots through the reed. Wind the back beam till the knots are tight against the heddles, and coax the knots through the heddles. (Especially easy with metal heddles) Wind on your new warp and weave.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Kathy in San Jose
Beautiful work! Your eye for color and pattern is unbeatable, and I want to have about 5% of your talent (and time) for any of the fiber arts you do.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 10:04 am
Leslie
Did I see Halloween fabric mixed in there? Or is that orange section just to make Dusty his own special cushion for use while performing QC on the weaving?
As usual you amaze me.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 11:04 am
DPUTiger (amy)
Holy crap. That very first 8-harness pattern you showed literally took my breath away. Amazing!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Cheryl
WOW! Wow! Wow! I love it! That’s amazing! And, how fun to see the patterns emerging and playing with a third color! That is soooo cool! You make me want to add four more harnesses to my loom (it has the spaces). Hmmmm?! Maybe I should look into that.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 11:45 am
CC
VERY impressive for a first 8 shaft project!!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
Amy O'
WOW!!! No, I still do not want to weave (or dye, I’ll stick with my spinning and knitting thank you) but WOWZA is that amazing!
Thanks for a nice lunchtime break treat!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Ginny
This is so beautiful! I am just a beginning weaver, learning on a rigid heddle, and I am in awe. I want to learn how to do that!
You are an inspiration!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
Heidi
*THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE!*
Wow and wow again. Just fantastic, Dave. And to prove great minds think alike, check your email in a bit.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Jennifer
Wow. Just Wow.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Dot
So, you’re not disappointed with the new loom?
8 shafts are a lot of fun, there’s loads of 8 shaft patterns, and extended / advancing twills, and even lots of possibilities for using 2 x 4 shaft patterns. I’m looking forward to seeing what you weave next, this is going to brighten up some dark winter evenings.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Margaret
In awe! Clearly fabulous – weaver and loom!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
Kathie K
Okay- I’m speechless….
Oct 29, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
Sara
I am speechless! What gorgeous, gorgeous designs…I love what you do with yarn and a loom…
I want to know what that project is!!!!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
DebbieB
Fantastic! I love this pattern, and must weave it myself one day.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
Judi
The whole post is fascinating – love every pattern. I can see that wave pattern in blues and/or greens. Very pretty.
But I think my favorite pic is the one of the threaded and not yet wound on warp – makes me feel better about my “tangles from hell”.
Oct 29, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
kitkatknit
Oh no. Not showing Knitting Hubby these pictures. Now way. He’ll realize what a weaving slacker I’ve become!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Saffron
You sound excited or something.
but seriously, so cool to see you having fun. 
Oct 29, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
Michelle
I can see why you went through all the trouble to be able to try out that pattern. It looks amazing!
Oct 29, 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Dorien
OMG, Wow, there is something about black and white in this pattern that is really appealing.
This is soooooooo nice!!!
Can’t wait what you are going to make out of this fabric.
Oct 30, 2009 @ 12:55 am
holli
Love, love love it! Just amazing. Can’t wait to see what it becomes.
Oct 30, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Debe
That is an awsome pattern, what book did it come from? If you said I missed it…I do that sometimes.
Oct 30, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
Rhonda
I remember the first time I unwound fabric from a loom — what a feeling, to cradle a piece of fabric in my hands, knowing I made it! I have to admit that I’ve never progressed past 4-shafts, but this is certainly an inspiration.
And the Baby Wolf… swoon.
Oct 31, 2009 @ 1:27 am
Devorah
My jaw just hit the ground. That is amazingly lovely!!!
Oct 31, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
bj from Red Bird Ranch
In Love … I’m in LOVE! Well spoken, Lynn, vicarious thrill indeed.
Thank you for sharing the lovely visual diary of your ‘first’. It all has such wonderful rhythm, joy, and inspiration.
Nov 01, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
Anne
I have always loved that pinwheel pattern as well but didn’t have an 8 harness loom. Now I do! I have a semi permanent loan of an 8 harness baby wolf. It will be here tomorrow! I’ll be ’storing’ it for a couple of years. Perhaps I’ll someday warp it up for a scarf for me in that pattern. Hopefully it will as lovely as yours.
Nov 01, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
jackie
Been at a spinning retreat all weekend. (can you say heaven?)
But really, Dave! Beautiful and brilliant! You are going to have so much FUN with your new loom and you are going to blow us all away! Can’t wait to see what you do next!
Nov 01, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
Charlotte
Wow what a stunning pattern. I’ve never seen your blog before but I’m going to keep reading – how exciting to have made such beautiful fabric on your first go with your new loom!
Nov 04, 2009 @ 6:47 am
moiraeknittoo
Holy smokes that’s *gorgeous*! Wow!
Nov 04, 2009 @ 1:41 pm