New Weavers Workshop presents

October, 2011
New Weavers Workshop presents...
Each year, Linda Adamson works with the
new weavers to challenge them in learning
something new and present it to the group.
The October meeting will show you the
results.
This year we tackled 3 shaft Krokbradg (sounds
like an illness doesn’t it.), Double Corduroy (Oh,
how life piles on) and a surprise. We will share
with you what they learned and show their
samples and hopefully give you some new ideas
to work with as well.
There will also be lots of show and tell from the Workshop with Rita
Hagenbruch. Anyone who attended the workshop is asked to bring your
woven samples to the October meeting to share.
September Meeting review
The September meeting gave us a chance to meet
Rita Hagenbruch, the workshop presenter. She gave
us a wonderful trip through Finland, seeing the
people and the weaving of that area. Many examples
of the weave
structures for the
workshop were also
shown.
N ext M eeting
Saturday
October 15, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Fishers Library
9 Municipal Drive
Fishers, Indiana 46038
Social time: 9:30 a.m.
Meeting starts: 10 a.m.
N etwork D rafting
S tudy G roup
Mindy McCain will be
leading a study group in
Network Drafting this
winter (8 harnesses or
more).
If you are interested in
meeting to learn this
interesting method of
extending your patterns,
please email mindy@
crittur.com.
For an introduction to
network drafting, read
this article by Bonnie
Inouye: http://www.
weavezine.com/content/
flowing-curves-networkdrafted-twill
October 2011, page 2
Halvdrall and Monks Belt Workshop Review by Ellen Germann
Fourteen eager weavers from the Guild gathered at
the Arcadia Indiana Town Hall on Sept. 16 through
18 to learn about Swedish weaving techniques from
a delightful and knowledgeable instructor, Rita
Hagenbruch. Each weaver had received a weaving draft,
either in Monks Belt or Halvdrall, so she could prepare
her loom ahead of time.
Drall is a class of Swedish weaves that makes check or
block designs using weft floats alternated with warp
floats. Halvdrall (half drall) is one of the simplified dralls
that makes a two block weave with short weft pattern
floats. Monks Belt is a Swedish pattern weave that
creates two blocks of pattern weft floats on four shafts
and four blocks on eight shafts. Both of these structures
use a tabby weave to anchor the floats.
The workshop
Rita showing her method of dressing the loom. Note the
began with a
raddle at the front of the loom.
discussion of how
the two structures work and an attempt at understanding the profile
drafts for each. It was generally agreed that profile drafts meant
a whole lot more to many of us after we had actually woven the
structure. Rita brought many textiles as well as several magazines
and pictures of
textiles that showed
some of the wide
design possibilities and served to inspire us to greatness.
Everyone was weaving away by noon of the first day and
the intricate and diverse patterns were starting to emerge.
It is always amazing how, with 14 weavers, there is such
a wide variety of color and texture. Some used a fairly
open weave created by a heavier warp of 5/2 cotton while
others used 10/2 and even 20/2 cotton for a finer warp.
Some warped with white or neutral while others warped
with stronger colors. The weft materials also were widely
varied, including cotton, wool, variegated
colors, and multiple colors on a single cloth.
As is our custom with workshops, everyone
brought something to contribute to our lunch
menu and we all had more to eat than we
needed which gave us food for the entire
workshop. We certainly have some really great
cooks among us!
October 2011, page 3
Workshop Review (continued)
In addition to learning about these wonderful Swedish
weave structures, Rita offered and demonstrated several
weaving tips. Along with many tips given to individual
weavers, Rita showed us all:
• how to get perfect (or almost perfect) tension the
first time when tying on to the front apron rod.
• a way to tie the cross when winding the warp that
makes separating the warp on the raddle very easy.
• a quick and easy back-to-front warping technique
using curtain rods. Several weavers took videos and
one took detailed notes. Interested? Ask someone
who was there.
Here’s a photo from the workshop Rita gave that shows why
tying the back lease stick to the castle is so helpful. The front
lease stick then drops down, and when you sit to thread your
heddles, every thread is so easy to see.
• how to tie your lease sticks so that you can easily see the cross.
• how to tie up your loom by looking at the drawdown
• how to easily unply weft yarn when finished with a color, then divide it and wrap half of it around
the end warp, bringing that half back to meet the first half, so that the weaving remains even.
• how to design future projects using the Halvdrall or Monks Belt techniques.
Having Linda Adamson’s weaving shop, Tabby Tree Weaver, available two blocks away was a boon to many.
Several times during the weekend a few of the weavers would disappear, only to reappear with arms laden
with new yarns. It is always so hard to resist more stash… Even Rita made the trip down the road. If a
weaver didn’t have just the right yarn for the design they had settled on, Linda could help.
By Sunday, several weavers had finished their projects, a few had even done more than one project, and
everyone had gained considerable knowledge—not only about these charming Swedish weave structures,
but about some basic weaving techniques as well. And, as usual, everyone made at least one new friend.
We have a wonderful group of people in our guild who all make attending workshops enjoyable and
informative. If you haven’t taken advantage of one of the workshops, you’ve missed a great opportunity to
get to know some interesting weavers, to share techniques, to learn new things, to eat well, and to leave
with a new piece of cloth.
Your local source for yarn, looms,
spinning wheels, and spinning &
weaving classes
Dealer for Ashford, Glimakra, Louet, & Schacht
107 E. Main Street
Arcadia, IN 46030
317-984-5475
www.tabbytreeweaver.com
Hours: Wed. through Sat. 10:00-5:00
Tues. by appointment
October 2011, page 4
October 2011 Sample
Halvdrall
by Ellen Germann
This is the sample woven from the threading provided for the
Halvdrall and Monks Belt workshop. Halvdrall is woven in blocks,
with tabby woven between each pattern weft. The beauty is that
you can change blocks and colors whenever you like, creating
numerous patterns from one threading.
I used 5/2 cotton (from UKI, color Banana) for the warp and
tabby weft, and 3/2 cotton from UKI for the pattern weft.
The pattern weft colors: dark teal, rust, copper, off white.
The sett is 16 epi woven at approximately 14 epi (pattern and
tabby weft combined).
I hemstitched and fringed both ends.
The threading below shows one pattern repeat with a selvedge at each side. Weave Block A with a pattern
weft, followed by the first tabby treadle with tabby weft, then another Block A with pattern weft, followed
by the other tabby treadle with tabby weft. Repeat, using Block A or Block B as desired, changing colors
as desired. Adding several rows of tabby between blocks is also an effective design element.
Learn more about the
workshop and the weave
structures used there on
page 2 of this newsletter.
Download the WIF:
2011-10sample-halvdrall.zip
October 2011, page 5
Election of Officers by President, Mary Alice Donceel
At the November guild meeting, we will hold the election of 3 board members for the positions of
president, treasurer, and membership. At this time we are still seeking candidates. It it not necessary to
have years of weaving experience under your belt to fill any of these slots. If you have a desire to see the
guild continue to exist and grow, then you are qualified! Each of these positions is a 2-year term. There are
typically only 4 board meetings during the year that you are requested to attend. Below are the general
descriptions that are contained within the guild’s policies. If you would like additional information on any
of these position, please contact that current board member, or Mary Alice.
President:
W ho loves page layout ?
a. Preside at all meetings of the Guild
b. Be the contact person for individuals or groups interested in
We are also in need of a new
information on Weaving Indiana
newsletter editor.
c. Preside over quarterly board meetings
d. Make appointments and final decisions on issues when needed
Currently, the newsletter
Treasurer:
is being created in Adobe
a. Receive and record all monies given to Weaving Indiana and
InDesign, but you can use
provide receipts for all monies
any software you like.
b. Provide a report on expenditures and accounts received at board
Contact Mindy McCain if you
meetings and guild meetings quarterly
would like to know more
c. Cash all checks within 30 days of receipt
about this position or would
Membership:
like to volunteer.
a. Maintain an up-to-date list of guild members
b. Produce and distribute a membership list in January
c. Make current membership lists available to any member at any time upon request
d. Provide membership cards to paid members
e. Send Welcome packet to all new members, including the website password
Attention Fiber-Holics!
This is a call out to all you ULTIMATE fiber-holics, those of you who have in the past or still do, “grow”
their own fiber. In 2012 we will have a program on Weaving with Hand-Spun Fiber. Let’s take that one step
farther. If you have or do raise sheep, alpacas, rabbits, llamas, dogs, bison, etc. and harvest their fiber, or
have grown cotton, flax, or other plant materials for its fiber, please read on. I’ll be pulling together future
newsletter article(s) on all you fiber-holics and want to hear what you’ve done. Before Thanksgiving,
please email me about your experiences.
Please include: what sort of fiber you’ve grown? how long did you do that? Did you ever spin any of it
yourself? Did you ever weave with it? Do you regularly have any of it available for sale or free for other
spinners/weavers? If so, what form do you have it available in? (raw fleece, cleaned, roving, bolls, etc).
And also please share any stories or what have
you about your experiences. I’ve been amazed
National ARBA Convention
how many of you do take your fiber passion to
this level and I’m anxious to share your info
The National Angora Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
with the rest of the guild.
will hold a Wool, Skein and Garment Contest on Oct. 30 this
Remember...Before Thanksgiving, please. Email
[email protected]
year, in conjunction with the national convention being
held in Indianapolis at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Visit
their web site (www.nationalangorarabbitbreeders.com)
to learn more and download an application.
October 2011, page 6
T ech T alk
Rug weaving in Texas
This is a link to a great video about a rug company in Texas that still weaves rugs by hand.
http://www.tvkim.com/watch/1325/kims-picks-the-benefits-of-human-hand-manufacturing
Facebook Fans
If you have a Facebook account, please “Like” the Weaving Indiana page. As soon as we get 25 fans, we
can have a shorter URL for our Facebook page.
Did you know that any of you can post on our Facebook page? You can add photos of what you are
working on, or ask a question of your fellow weavers. Facebook is a great place to interact with your
weaving friends and learn more about weaving. Login and learn!
Looms for sale at auction, October 8
An estate auction in Pendleton, Indiana, on October 8 will include 2 floor looms. For more information, go
to http://www.markvolk.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=102 or contact Linda DeBoer at 765778-4405 before the auction.
Weaving Indiana online
Weaving Indiana web site: http://www.weavingindiana.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weaving-Indiana/217905711574345
Weavolution: http://weavolution.com/group/weaving-indiana
LibraryThing (online list of our lending library): http://www.librarything.com/catalog/weavingindiana
********************************************
Your Weaving Indiana representatives...
President: Mary Alice Donceel [email protected]
Vice President (Programs): Kris Seel [email protected]
Secretary: Linda Flanagan [email protected]
Treasurer: Marianne Fitzpatrick [email protected]
Membership: Donna Hudson
Member-at-large: Ellen Germann
Newsletter Editor, Website: Mindy McCain
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Librarian: Nina Kennedy [email protected]
Workshop Committee: Nina Kennedy [email protected]
Ellen Germann [email protected]