The space between courses

My loom

Sending off my final piece of work felt like a real milestone but it left a gap that being the person I am I have had to fill.  And I've missed writing in my blog; it's become something of a habit. Yes, I know I have to prepare for assessment but I have become the proud owner of a 24" Kromski Harp loom so I have been having a play. Whilst it's not exactly course connected I think it's worth recording. 

My 29cm x 67cm sample

Considering the problems I had with tension on my tapestry work I'm quite pleased that the width of this is much the same throughout.

I warped up with some 4 ply wool and found it very stretchy and I had to keep tightening the warp threads or the heddle fell down constantly.  I have used several types of yarn in the weft; more four ply wool, some chunky synthetic yarn (some variegated) and a small amount of cotton.  As with my tapestry I found the weft showed best with the chunky yarns.  I have the Ashford Book of Heddle Loom Weaving (Hart, 2002) and I have used this as a guide.  As ever, I'm impatient to get a good result so I wasn't happy with my first rows.

Difficulty with turning - it got better

Various yarns and patterns

"Bronson" as described in my book

All in all I pleased with what I have made.  However, I'm itching to use a few more adventurous yarns and see what happens.  Running before I can walk again.

Warping up the second time was easier

My husband fashioned a lovely oak stand and this has made life easier because I am more comfortably positioned.

Masson Mill

I spent a lovely day in the White Peak.  The aim was to show Richard Masson Mill which I visited a few weeks ago.  He brought his engineer perspective to the Museum and was as fascinated as I knew he would be.  For me it was a chance to take more photos which have generated some ideas.

I liked the colour and texture contrasts here

Spools

We also had a walk.  We parked in Winster and took in farmland, moor, woods and almost anything else you can think of.  Again I was looking for opportunities for photos with possibilities.

Debris at the quarry

Cat Rock.  I love the carved initials.

If I imagined that the end of my course was going to provide a holiday I need to re-evaluate.  The looking and thinking I've been encouraged to do over the past year has got into my bones and its influence pervades throughout my life.  I'm reminded of my therapy training - you can't "un know".

Hart, R. (2002) The Ashford Book of Rigid Heddel Weaving.  Ashford Handicrafts Ltd.  New Zealand.