Another Chair

What is this fascination I have for chairs? I just see them everywhere...This lady was waiting on the pavement - near the bins - waiting for somebody to take care of her...how could I possibly not comply? I removed the old seat cover - then I thought a nice handwoven new one would be nice...but for now she's got a piece of dark grey wool fabric. I think it works ok - and I can use it in the meantime!

These are three scarves (still to be finished) from the geometric series - another four to go!

Happy December!

I just can't throw them away....so I have a bin where all the thrums end up - it's nice to peek inside and recognize previous projects!

At the moment I am only having fun with block twill - I am weaving a series of 7 scarves with the same threading but different treadling. This is the first one which was promptly nicked by my sister - the others have a different colour scheme.

Some other projects are on their way, I need to find some time and study my drafts! Main inspiration is the work of fantastic Petra Borner

beginning

I've been thinking lately about some issues...or better, so far I just can't find a definitive answer...

Some time ago, and precisely while doing market research at Bradford, I came across a handweaver who is based in Italy but sells around the world, in exclusive boutiques and shops. The products were not quite my taste (please note this it is only a personal opinion, and thankfully we all like different things!) but I kept an eye on this designer, wondering when I would have the chance to get across some of those items...

Then, while in London in October, I had the chance to see some of the handwovens and finally touch them, and pay attention to the details. I have to say I was very surprised.
A throw, woven in plain weave, with very nice colours (but nothing daring), horrible loose selvedges, and a very prickly wool. The price tag was high - of course - according to the type of shop I was in.

Questions, questions, and more questions...
If you sell an item, what is the level of quality you aim to propose? Selvedges are to be perfect? The quality of your yarn is important?

That blanket was the perfect example of what I would never sell - or buy -
then I thought ' if that throw is there there must be someone buying it'

Maybe selvedges are less then perfect and the wool is prickly because this is a way of saying "look! this is handwoven! it's not perfect - you can imagine the trembling hands of a weaver throwing the shuttle! ".

If it were perfect nobody woud recognize it - and think of the long hours spent dressing the loom, weaving, finishing, etc etc - and would not be prepared to spend such amount of money for it.

I know the work of many talented weavers, but their pieces are on a completely different level, screaming "I'm gorgeous" from every single fibre of their warps and wefts. Yet they don't command the same price level.

So what makes low quality so appealing? Is the public educated enough to recognise what is well woven or what is not? Brand name is enough? Compromise is necessary?

Why should I spend hours designing, getting the best yarn I can, striving not to make mistakes and keep my selvedges consistent?

Because I couldn't do otherwise - I want to be proud of what I make.


Interesting exhibition about Home Decorating in the 50's - with textiles by Lucienne Day and Jacqueline Groag at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture

31/10 happy birthday to me me me

Today I had a pomegranate - I love them but don't often get them.
I thought it would be good luck to eat one on my birthday!

...not much progress today I'm afraid. I'm the queen of procrastination!!!

I just love October

I had the shape of this cushion in mind for a while - a simple rectangle with short ends stitched at 90° degrees, when I found a stripey piece woven some time ago and decided to have a go.
The good thing about this shape is that it's lovely to cuddle! Maybe now I'd need a matching throw...
October is always a magic month - I reckon autumn does good to me - even if it's raining -

Have a Happy Weekend!

Weekend break

I finished the jacket - the simplest shape and no lining - the merino is so soft it's a pleasure to feel it brushing against the skin. I'm proud of it! - and am already planning the warp for the next woven length - maybe this time I'll try some more complex shape.

I managed to overcome my fear to cut and sew handwoven fabric - I washed the length in the washing machine - wool cycle - before ironing it and starting to cut, and as a precaution I zigzagged all the pieces before sewing. Then welcome bias binding!

Last weekend my husband and I spent three days in London - we went to see Origin, week 2 - quality of the pieces on display is incredibly high, and exhibitors are friendly and willing to share about their work.
Woven textile designers were there too - a feast for the eyes!

Weaving and Thinking

What do you think of while you're weaving?
After the first ten centimetres the rythm is set, I know the repeat and I know when to change the weft - so I just go on automatic, while I listen to music or some interesting radio programme...

The weaving proceeds and I follow my train of thoughts.

It is usually triggered by the music, as I have my favourites (that I listen to over and over again) that recall particular moments, or just trivial things like 'what am I going to prepare for dinner?'

This time I tried to jot down a few ones, so as to have an idea of what goes into the weaving apart from warp and weft.
It starts with the memory of
- a yellow vintage coat bought in a sinister place in Koln when my best friend used to live there
- a series of mental pics of Germany
- a bouquet of flowers, possibly roses, yellow and pale pink
- autumn colours, we haven't seen them here, yet
- I'd love a new woolly hat, I can see the shape, maybe with some fantastic yarn from Noro - or Malabrigo
- my gran, who used to knit a lot - and wouldn't teach me how to crochet because I was (an still am) left-handed...

And so on, like this, for hours - until I get to the end of the warp.

I now got the habit to keep a notebook by the loom, so I can write down anything worth remembering - because most of the times, once I move away I will definitely forget what I was mumbling about!

In the studio I keep a photo of my gran when she was young - she is always with me.