Potholder Weaving With Imagination

Potholder weaving at our October meeting for some of us was a bit of nostalgia wrapped in memories of one of our first weaving experiences as a child. For others it was a whole new experience and something to look forward to doing with family members in the future.

One of the books we had available for inspiration was Radical Potholder Weaving by Deborah Jean Cohen.  It includes instructions for doing clasped weft designs, and a number of patterns with floats going over or under two or three loops as well as many plain weave patterns using color and weave designs.

Suggestions for faster easier weaving included picking up the pattern with a knitting needle so that you can slide the hook into the shed thus created more easily, beating the weft into place using a large tooth comb and using the knitting needle to check the straightness of the weft.

There is also a clever hack at the beginning of the book for making a 19 loop pattern on an 18 peg loom. It involves adding a loop in the middle of the warp and the middle of the weft. The author suggests looping an elastic hair band onto each end of the two extra loops and attaching them on the back of the loom with an S hook. I found rubber bands were easier to remove than the hair band. It does crowd the warp a bit in the middle and makes keeping the weft in line a bit harder but it is well worth it for the flexibility in pattern making. 

Someone asked at our October Meeting if anyone wove using both sides of the warp loops separately. Toward the back of the book there are designs called Indian Weaves that are woven this way. The patterns are formed by places where the loops are woven as usual, under or over both sides of the loop. It makes a denser pad and deserves more exploration as a technique.

Another split loop technique involves beginning each weft going over or under half a loop and then continuing with the other half of that loop and half of the next one and ending with another half loop. If the warp has alternating colors this makes a pattern of a different sort.

The author notes that adding tension to the potholder as you crochet the edge keeps the loops from hopping off their pegs prematurely. Bullnose office clips work well for this. I used the smaller ones but the picture in the book shows the one inch size. They really do help.

The book also lists sources for loops other than the ones from Harrisville. All in all an excellent manual for modern potholder weaving.

Another Little Loom Project

 

Jen has once again inspired us with her colorful patterned potholders.

She had a wonderful time with her family playing with an old fashioned potholder loom. Remember those when we were kids? They still have them at Hobby Lobby and Harrisville Designs, The Woolery and more.

 

It's a great way to try out color and weave patterns without having to warp a table or floor loom. We prefer the cotton loops over the nylon ones that melt. Some of the looms come with 18 pegs per side (Hobby Lobby)and some have 19 (more expensive). It will make a difference in the pattern possibilities.

We recommend this book for inspiration:

Happy Weaving!

October Meeting with Judy Hilbish

 Reno Fiber Guild had a slow start to their regular guild program year because of a recent fire near Mt. Rose.  However, we were rewarded with a nice October meeting in which Judy Hilbish was our guest speaker.

Judy is a weaver with over 50 years experience.  Her focus for many years has been weaving rugs and assorted weft faced, summer and winter pieces on Heidi, her much adapted counter marche loom.  Judy studied the shaft switching device devised by Peter Collingwood in his book, Rug Weaving Techniques:  Beyond the Basics and set about to make one for her loom.  She revised the instructions and decided to make a device for half blocks.  This allowed her 180 blocks on her four shaft loom.

 

Judy explained that  the technique she uses allows her to make curves (see the rug she is holding in the photo), but not circles.  The half block system allows smaller steps when making a curved design.  In the photo above, her cat approves the design and feel of a newly woven rug. Judy says he claws almost everything except her rugs - so he has great appreciation for them too!

 In an arduous trip to view some petroglyphs near Virginia City, Judy, her husband and their guide got stuck in mud.  Her rug (shown below) reflects the memories of that day with the tire tracks around the red motifs in her design.

 If you would like to learn more about shaft switching, you can download the Peter Collingwood book in pdf format for free.  On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics  (The link takes you to books with authors last names starting with C.  Look for Collingwood.)

 Another excellent resource is a DVD done by Jason Collingwood.   Rug Weaving:  Block Weaves and Shaft Switching.  You can find this at a variety of online weaving stores and sometimes on E-Bay.

You can buy Judy's wall hangings, table runners, etc at third Thursday sales at the Generator in Reno. 

Echo and Jin Workshop Part II

Here are more photos to share from the Echo and Jin workshop with Denise Kovnat.  Instead of adding them on to the previous post, I'm making room for them and any others to follow in a new post.  Enjoy!

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Would like to say this was a great workshop for both structure and color.  Denise did a great job presenting it on Zoom—so much so that I’m ready to do another!   Diane S.

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 Samples from Suzanne W.

 I’m Dharma 16 shaft.  The first one is my sampler washed and ironed for a complete view of the difference patterns woven with various wefts.

 

This Dharma Echo as a Double Weave, resleyed at 48 epi using two wefts.   I used turquoise and a rusty copper 10/2 yarn which were 2 of the colors in the 4-colored warp. 

 

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Everything I thought I knew about weaving with colours, went right out the window with this structure.  This is different.  I tried several colour combinations before I found the right one.  Once you found the right colour, it is absolutely beautiful.  The class was excellent.  Denise did an excellent job. Eileen L.

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After the workshop, I finished hemming and washing this towel from my second set of samples of Dharma 16S 4 Color.   So many of the changes due to both weft colors and treadling we tried were not always what one would expect so it'll be fun to have this available to view as future inspiration, and to show off, in my kitchen.

Great workshop.  Besides learning how Echo works, this workshop is inspiring me to delve deeper into network drafting and tie-up changes.  So much more to explore!  Next on this warp, some place mats, each different but coordinated.

Many thanks to Denise and all involved in providing this workshop,
Barbara C.

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 16 shafts. Next project is Dharma for over the fireplace and if there’s warp left perhaps some clothing fabric in one of my own Jin patterns.  Anni B.

 

 

"Echo and Jin": A Zoom workshop with Denise Kovnat

 In March, COVID closed the door. Not just for Reno Fiber Guild, but for most guilds in this country.  The unthinkable became a reality.  We would no longer be able to meet in person.  We couldn’t hold our monthly meetings with guest speakers.  Our pending workshops had to be cancelled. Our regional conference and Convergence were both cancelled.  But, we are a resilient group and soon Zoom meetings started popping up and discussions about virtual workshops gave us hope that we could continue meeting, sharing and learning in new ways.

In late July and early August, Denise Kovnat held a “virtual” workshop for our guild.  Several other guilds had members who also wanted to join in and so two separate sessions were held over a period of a few weeks.  This coming together with members of other guilds is something that usually only happens at conferences, so we were excited to be meeting old and new friends online.

What follows is the remarkable collection of samples woven using the technique of “echo” threadings and treadlings and also jin (aka turned taqueté) in our workshop with Denise.  In many ways, this was a challenging workshop. Participants chose patterns based on the loom they wanted to use and patterns ranged between 4 and 16 shafts.  Some chose a four color warp and some a two color warp.  The threadings were difficult and without a dobby loom, treadling sequences hundreds of picks long were hard to follow. But, the woven results are fantastic and I think the comments that accompany the samples will give you a good idea about the success of this workshop.

 Here is our show and tell.  Each participant took their own photo. ___________________________________________________________________________________

I had a great time! Learned a lot, have so many resources from the class to continue my learning! This is the Fun House, two color (purple and gold-Lunatic Fringe 10/2); 8 shaft, 2nd treadling with a dusty red (Lily 20/2) weft. I am weaving this as a scarf, hoping I have enough weft! I do have some other red that is very, very close so I think I will be fine. Excited to try the Double weave in Echo.
So glad I did this class!
Shelley N.

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 I absolutely loved this workshop.  I have been reading Denise's blog for some time now and was thrilled to discover I could take a class from her.  Due to the pandemic and the stay at home order, I am very grateful for the opportunity to partake in distance learning via Zoom.  Thanks to
the Reno folks who made this possible!  Sue V.

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This was my sample of 6 patterns(2 colors on each) of 4 shaft blooming leaf.  I have enough warp left for 2 scarves Still deciding on color for weft.  Thanks Denise.   Sue M. 

 

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This is Fish Tank Double Weave.  I sent front and back pictures.  It had large pockets and with one of the wefts cotton 20/2 and the other Jaggerspun Superfine Merino I got some lovely texture!  It was a fabulous workshop!
Mollie F.

 

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Eight shaft samples from Kathy R. after wet finishing.

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 I had a terrific time weaving these samples and trying out all sorts of different color wefts.  Being able to weave at home, made it possible for me to weave with 16 shaft patterns.  I learned lots and have lots more ideas for the future.  Thanks for the workshop, Denise.  Beryl M.

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Thanks to the Reno guild for the opportunity to attend the Echo and Jin weaving workshop. Denise Kovnat is a knowledgeable and patient instructor. Her ability to pivot and teach via Zoom is outstanding. I am thrilled that I was able to complete and document all the samples for the class. As a slow weaver, that rarely happens. I am inspired to deepen my understanding and have started planning a project based on my new skills.  Mary P.

 

 

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!