Dangerous Curves Ahead

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Diane

This past weekend, a whack of us descended upon Nevada City to learn Chimayo tapestry weaving techniques.  The three-day workshop was organized by the Foothill Fibers Guild and featured a husband and wife team out of Chimayo, New Mexico.  They supplied warp for us to set-up our looms and then came armed with tubs and tubs of dyed yarns for us to use as weft.  These are the yarns they use in weaving their blankets, rugs and vests.

My previous experience with tapestry had been limited to some solo-fumblings and a less-than-successful “studio” experience through a local community college.  The notion of tapestry and the idea of painting with fiber continued to appeal, so I jumped at the chance to not only take a class, but also spend the weekend with friends.

The class started with us coming up with a design that we’d then weave – using Chimayo techniques.  I drew geometric blocks/triangles of the ever-present mountains and ocean, chose colors, and got busy.  I weft-joined.  I plied/blended.  I made blocks and attempted to lay-in ends.  I wasn’t having fun.  It was a struggle to get the yarn to make the picture in my head and that nearly turned me into a petulant toddler.  So, by late-afternoon, I gave up and started to try and make the curves that I saw in my head.  Then we went home, spun, ate a HUGE salad, and went to bed.

The next day was more of the same; curves, colors and just soldiering on.  I was happier and definitely more productive.  Then we bought rugs, looked at other’s handwovens and retreated to another HUGE salad, wine and bed.  Third day was more of the same, this time peppered with conversations about whether or not we’d continue and if tapestry was in any of our futures.  I do think that it’s in mine – there’s enough opportunity for creativity and organic expression that I think I can keep going.  Plus, the Mirrix makes it easy.
First efforts are never what we expect.

But I expect to do more.

Posted in Weaving | 1 Comment

Some Assembly Required

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Diane
When last we left our heroine, she was getting ready to cut the now-dyed fabric into bits and pieces.  Yesterday morning looked like this:

And after about two hours of laying out, cutting, maneuvering, etc., I had umpteen pattern pieces of the main fabric laying about the studio.  I unvented something in the process – underneath the fabric is the back side of my blocking board.  It has a soft nap, rather like felt, and absolutely eliminated the problem of the fabric moving about on my otherwise slick folding table.  Also, the nap is fine enough that the shears had no problem gliding along, and I could have put pins into everything if I’d so desired.  It made cutting pieces out a breeze.  Plus, the fabric behaved like a champ.  I even took a moment to try and orient the pattern at key points (where the front closure will be, for example) and hopefully that all works out in the end.  After I finished the cutting, I dashed out for a run, had lunch and then went to work until nearly bedtime.

Cut to this morning when I swallowed my coffee and headed back to the studio.  Lining and interfacing are now also cut and I started stay-stitching and assembling the vest.  Here’s as far as I’ve gotten:

Interfacing attached to the fronts and I’ve pinned the fronts and side-fronts together.  The pattern calls for ease-stitching at the bust but the fabric is so lovely and compliant, I’m going to skip it.  This isn’t shirting so I’m not worried at all.
Amazing, this.  I’m so much more confident than I was with my shirt.  Whether it’s because I could check shoulder slopes and waist points, or have a better understanding of how this whole process works (thank you Vogue Sewing!), I’m just not worried about anything.  It’ll be what it is, and I suspect I’ll like it a lot.  Because it’s mine.  :-)
Now, the down side is that we’re going away for the weekend.  Today.  Shortly after lunch.  No sewing, no assembling, no nothing.  I’m hoping to be able to make some further inroads on this when we come home on Saturday afternoon/evening, but that feels unlikely.  And, Sunday is a memorial service for a dear friend, so that might be off the table as well.  But!  There’s hope that it’ll be done in time for the tapestry workshop next weekend and then Sara can provide a review.
Regardless, I’m very happy so far.  And I’m learning.  Perfect.
Posted in Sewing | 2 Comments