When it comes to warping up I tend to be a good planner, which ultimately allows me to be a very lazy warper.
As my warp is set at at a pre-determined set on each of the 3-4 different looms I work on, I am able to make use of this personal propensity towards short-cutting through the boring bits. Because I use up-right vertical looms with the capability to wind on metres of warp without too much bother, it makes sense to warp up for several pieces at the start. I weave the most urgently needed weavings first, just in case I need to remove one of them before I have finished all the pieces that follow after them as I make my way through the warp. In other words if I need to remove tapestries before I get to the last ones I planned to weave, I CAN cut off the ones I've done if I need to, then re-tie on the warp to the front beam, and continue weaving the other pieces. Of course this means I will waste a certain amount of the warp, so it is very rarely that this happens.
Here below is an example of 4 separate weavings that shared a wider warp.
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| Note the spare warps between each individual weaving. |
The 2 tapestries below are shown here being woven side by side sharing the warp. Note the unused warp threads between the pieces. These weavings were preceded and followed by another wider weaving on the same warp above and below them. In total, this warp-up was enough for me to weave 4 individual works on it.
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Thank you for that insight into the way you work! That is a great idea, especially for miniature tapestries ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michelle. I've been meaning to write back to you on your email in which you shared some of these ideas. I love that you can do several pieces at a time on one warp!
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I bought my floor loom, the lady had it dressed somehow that you could tie your own ends to hers and thread it through the reed and heddles but I hadn't a clue how to do that (at the time), so now I just take months to dress a loom. I really am so very slow.
I was hoping to take a class in tapestry weaving at the Midwest Folk & Fiber Festival coming up at the end of June, but alas, it isn't in the classes being offered. That said, the festival is where I bought my tapestry weaving book and I'm sure I'll be able to get some tips on where to find a class. I'm looking forward to getting started.
Your pieces have such a modern art edge to them!
There is always a right way and a wrong way, and then there is just a way.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm blogging I'm never quite sure what is going to be of real interest to other people. For me, it is always inspiring when I come across techniques or materials that I wouldn't have thought of using myself. The wonderful thing about seeing other peoples ideas in action is realizing there are so many ways to create on the loom. Thanks for your comments