Saturday, February 5, 2011

weaving is happiness


i learned to weave in college. from the first time i sat at a loom, i knew i had found a true love.









[[tapestry projects from college]]





there is something so meditative about the entire process of weaving. choosing the yarn combination, the pattern, preparing the warp, setting up the loom. color and weave, and tapestry are my favorite methods.

[[my first tapestry sample decorating our "hallway" on the left. i found that embroidered piece on the right in a thrift store. it almost looks Indian in origin]]

when i graduated almost 5 years ago, i left weaving behind. looms can be a bit expensive and quite large, not very practical for a small NYC apartment.

[[a weaving and dying project, using a shibori technique. aka resist dying.]]

my brother wears a scarf that i wove in college.

a few weeks ago, i found out that one of my favorite online stores for yarn, KnitPicks, is now selling rigid heddle looms. i bought one immediately! the great thing about this type of loom is that it is compact and can fold up for easy storage and travel, even in the middle of a project. weaving can be done on a table top, or a stand.

putting it together today.




























the finished product!

i can't wait to start a project, what will i make first?

2 comments:

Ruth said...

LOVE IT. I wish you had a photo of my shawl to post! SO SO SO beautiful, and my treasure.

I love the photo of you and Peter. I miss you both. :(

I look forward to seeing what you will weave, my daughter. I loved seeing your weaving room at CCS, what a memory! That huge room packed chock full of looms. The loom room! So cool that you now have your own. Will you have to take it apart when you move?

Unknown said...

mommy! i think that shawl that i made for you is my favorite. it's funny, i've been looking through my yarn stash, and most of my yarn is all for knitting!

i miss you too, and i miss Peter too.

yes, the loom room! that place was so heavenly, out of a dream. i would love to have a room like that of my own someday, where i can teach others the art of weaving. there is nothing like it. this loom is so compact, it just folds up for easy storage! when i start weaving, you'll have a better idea of the sense of scale. so no, i won't have to take it apart. :)

can't wait to see your chair project!