Huck Lace Workshop with Rosalie Neilson

Reno Fiber Guild has not been meeting in person because of the Covid virus for a year now, but we haven't been away from our looms during that time.  A week ago we started a virtual class about Huck Lace with Rosalie Neilson via Zoom.  Because we can all use our home looms, this has been an adventure in which we chose our own yarns for the projects and designed them ourselves with the help of Rosalie.  What follows are projects woven on 4, 8, 24 and 32 shafts.  Each different with the special touches that come from the individual weavers.

 From Anni's loom

After weaving two towels with sections in ten different colors and a different pattern in each row, I decided to try weaving the patterns with the same color as the stripe in the warp.  I also took an idea from Suzanne and did the separating stripes in the two other colors.  I rather like this one.  I think it's my favorite.

I also did a set woven completely with a natural off-white color and designs that were only comprised of weft floats.  It kind of looks like there is a warp float were the floats hold the threads in, but there isn't.  The reverse shows all warp floats.  -  Anni B.

Shelley's Projects

Shelley used a slightly different red for weft to create contrast in the red block on this towel.

These are the designs for Shelley's towels, using the overlays from Rosalie's book.

 "I learned so much.  I now have a much better understanding of blocks, and how to design - so cool!  I may be tying on to this warp and trying two 4 shaft designs on the same row!.  Big jump for me!  Thanks Rosalie and Suzanne for organizing!"     Shelly N.  

Cathie C.'s Napkins  woven on 32 shafts

 There can be a bit of a disconnect between the drawdown image and the way the actual fabric looks. I think I have a better handle on that now with huck after designing so many blocks.    Cathie

 Beryl's Table Runner woven on 36 shafts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I quite enjoyed this class and learned a lot about designing huck.  Rosalie was there for all of us, making sure that we understood her directions and giving assistance when needed.    I designed a whole lot of blocks and was fortunate that I could use my multishaft loom to weave my projects.  Love Zoom workshops! - Beryl M.

Susan M's Towels 

 4 towels of cottolin.  When I was warping back to front, I found 100 threads short by one yard. I tied on these 100 threads so I would not waste so much warp. It worked!! Enough for 4 huck towels and not much shrinkage with cottolin.  Now will add on a  towel kit I found of natural dyed cotton  and use Huck instead
Susan M.

Nancy B. Towels

I really enjoyed Rosalie’s workshop.  Besides feeling like I was finally beginning to grasp the concept of weaving with blocks, I also gained some great general weaving tips.  I will look forward to the next workshop!! Nancy B.

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 Darla's huck project

 This Zoom workshop was great for me. The second day of the workshop a multitude of conflicts appeared suddenly on my schedule, but I knew I would have access to the recorded videos so I was able to alleviate a lot of stress.

My warp was inspired by images of 18th century Indian calico or chintz. I used my bright red and greens, but softened it with a pale buttery yellow and sky blue.

All in all, I’m enjoying this weaving project--despite the puppy literally running away with my warp while winding on, pull-in (solved with a temple), and unattractive scalloped edges (also solved with a temple)  Darla G.

Controlling Creative Chaos Workshop with Kathrin Weber

Reno Fiber Guild members have long been awaiting this exciting workshop on how to warp several painted warps at once.  The workshop has come and gone and what follows  is eye candy for weavers in the form of a myriad of painted warps on the loom and being woven.

Cheri B. said this about the workshop. "The Controlling Creative Chaos workshop was excellent. Kathrin’s enthusiasm as a weaving instructor was contagious. It was helpful to learn her design techniques using a dummy warp and tying on color groups at the loom.  I summoned up some courage and used color as I never had before. This is a rep weave and I will use as a table runner."

 

Kathy R. wove a bit of repp weave in the class and had the rest of this warp left to weave at home.  She says "I can't wait to change it to my other loom and get going"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betty Vera Workshop - Weaving Beautifully with Neutrals



Members of the Reno Fiber Guild have been eagerly anticipating a workshop with Betty Vera on weaving with neutral colors.  The workshop had been planned for nearly a year and the three day weaving extravaganza in November came and went all too soon. 

 

There were 16 students in the class, each with a loom they had warped according to Betty's instructions.  Each person used a different threading which was capable of being interpreted in 6 different ways with treadling and color variations.

Weavers started by weaving on their own warped loom, then rotated to another loom for a grand "round robin".    The goal was to weave seventeen samples for each of 6 treadling sequences on every loom.  Some looms got all the samples woven, and some looms turned out to be very labor intensive and didn't produce as many different samples.  The color surprises were everywhere and from time to time, Betty did a grand tour and talked about what was happening on each loom.

 



A five color gradation  in the warp sets off a variety of overshot patterns.  This warp was one of the most spectacularly successful in the workshop







Nathalie weaving a lace sample from one of Else Regensteiner's books.

 In the photo to the right, Betty discusses the progress of a sample with Kathy.  Betty encouraged weavers to interpret the weft color selections she had outlined with their own eye and  gut feelings.  Weavers were often asked to pick a weft color that they would never ordinarily use.

Betty put together this mixing of neutral yarns with an explanation about how they could change the appearance of the woven cloth.  Very good advice and ideas for future projects.

Summer and Winter samples gave amazing results with a warp using black and four different shades of gray.

 The photo to the right and the one below show more repeats of the lovely Maltese Cross overshot pattern threading with different treadling sequences and different colors.

Suzanne is engrossed weaving an 8 shaft intermittent twill from G. H. Oelsner

Four shaft crackle (with tabby) taken from Mastering Weave Structures by Alderman

Darla is deep in concentration as she weaves samples on an unfamiliar loom.

This is one of the intermittent twill samples.  The warp was a gradation of 6 cold grays.

Gloria and Kathy share the good light coming in through the window at the Wolf Run Golf Course Community room where the workshop was held. 

Cheri and Shelley cutting up samples to share

The workshop ended with the woven cloth being cut into samples which were inserted into a sample binder.  All the information for all of the  warps was included in each binder so that workshop participants had a record of what was woven on every loom.

Now, as we look at the fading landscape in late fall, our eyes are drawn to all those lovely grays and browns.  Color we used to shun are now eagerly embraced for future weaving projects.  Thank you, Betty, for changing the way we look at and use neutrals!

November "Cupcake" Dye Day

Last year, the guild invited Kathrin Weber of Blazing Shuttles to introduce our members to her fiber dyeing techniques.  We learned something from her called "Cupcake Dyeing" in which the yarn is dyed while it is in a center pull ball.  There can be several approaches the dyeing procedure and once the dyeing is done and the yarn restored to a skein, it will be magically variegated.

One of our members (Lorene) has a really nice area off of her garage where she pots and houses plants for the winter.  This was cleared away and made an excellent dye studio for us.

Fiber Reactive Dyes were purchased, and we set to work with our prewound balls of cellulose fibers. 


The photo above shows the "cupcakes" in their little plastic containers.  They will stay in them for 24 to 48 hours or more before they are rinsed.

There is hardly anything more fun than playing with color and this activity was pure delight.  We can't wait for the results.

Here is a follow up one week later at our Sage Weavers' Meeting.  Completed cupcakes.  Wow!