CaySwann Crafts: weaving

Wrapping Up a Crafty Year

I sat down to post a collection of images and thoughts but I found a draft post in my blog folder. So, a short digression first.

Some Small Project Details

I made a small purse with an across-the-shoulder strap, quite some time ago, that I wear every day at work to carry my iPod and a small wallet/coinpurse. It is the smallest module of "My Purse" when I just need to quickly go somewhere. It's really more like a large wallet than a small purse. The lining finally wore out so I just ripped and cut it and threw it away.

But ever since I made the bag, the shoulder strap was braided from yarn that was too thin, so the strap always cut into my shoulder. And because it was too thin, it also wore out too quickly. The thin braid would snap, I would tie it back together, and the strap got shorter and shorter and shorter.

At my last week of work in the office, it snapped again and it was too short to wear comfortably "at my hip" (now realistically, it was riding almost at my elbow). I'd been meaning to rebraid some chunky (softer) yarns, but I'd been brainstorming about the main problem for some time: yarn wears out and the straps break. I purchased some coated wire that people use to hang frames on the wall, intending to run the wire down the center of a four-strand braid.


The whole purse	First shot of the new strap, showing the steel core

The first picture I posted on twitter didn't really show off the tricks of this fix, and I thought some of you might appreciate the details.

Close-up of the 4-strand spiral braided strap.
I also love the embroidery I did on the original purse.

A Look at the Past Year

As I flipped through the photos from 2012, I had to smile at all the things I've worked on this year.

I continued to make floral hair clips for the Dance Haflas.


Hafla Preparation in March 2012	Hafla in August 2012

Hafla in November 2012

I completed several floral commissions.


Commissions for a performer at Renn Faire	Commission for a Set of Bridesmaids

I created business cards for my Store and my crafty items.


Large business cards	Small business cards

I learned a new skill (inkle weaving)....

First two pieces, for me and my Sweetie

A new skill which sort of snowballed for a while...

A few highlights from my weaving in October and November

And then started painting for the holidays....

Images from hand-painted stationery, gifts to family

All in all, I would call this a successful year.

I hope you all have a very successful 2013. Happy New Year's!

I started weaving narrow-wares with Card-weaving. And my first addiction to card-weaving was the Rams' Horn pattern. I could not get enough time on my loom... it made me SO happy. I finished several rams' horn patterned pieces and even taught a 2-hour workshop on my weaving method (now affectionately called "Gypsy Eyeball").

The beginning of my love form Rams' Horn card-weaving

So my dear friend of mine has a trait similar to me: A love for sampling different craft skills, one after another. Not every craft we've put our hands to has become an addiction. As she was experimenting with inkle looms and weaving, a friend of hers saw her weaving, went to her father who built and sold inkle looms, and procured a loom as a gift. By this time, my friend had moved beyond weaving to some other craft skills, but of course, the loom was so beautiful, she happily accepted the gift. A very LARGE gift. A very large gift that sat gathering some measure of dust, waiting to be used.

Enter my social media interaction and our participation in a Fiber Arts community. We were both at the same retreat, and during the raffle I did *NOT* win the large floor inkle loom. My friend noticed my disappointment and knew immediately she'd been fostering that loom on my behalf. She explained to me that she wanted me to inherit the loom from her, and several months later when I hadn't yet visited, she found the occasion to bring the loom to me. (Of course, I still owe her the social visit! Coffee! Chatting! Scritching the kitties!)

The first day I had the loom, I simply *HAD* to learn how to use it. I'd heard over the years that weaving simply Tabby-Weave bands and ribbons was MUCH easier and faster than card-weaving, but I'd never put my hand to it yet. I'd also heard that you could create "continuous heddles" rather than hand-cutting and tying each heddle individually. So I made up a system, warped up my loom with random embroidery floss skeins, and set to weaving.


First warp -- Achievement Unlocked! (10/7)	Second warp -- warped by sunset and firelight, woven in the dark by firelight, drums, music, and dancing (10/8)	Close-up second warp -- approximately three yards, woven in the dark (10/8)

Finished first two warps
-- "Sunrise, Sunset" for me, "Midnight, Twilight" for Sweetie #weaving (10/11)

Having completely caught the bug for weaving on the inkle loom for fast, production weaving, two looms now live in my car and travel with me. The card-weaving project still lives on my front seat, but I can fit this new *gigantor* loom in my back seat, too. Anywhere I go, I can weave.

I'm preparing now for a post-Thanksgiving sales event, trying to weave as much product for my booth as possible. I'm also learning how to experiment with simple tabby patterns. I'm not completely secure in planning the patterns on the fly, but I'm getting better with each piece.

So, please enjoy the photos I've taken for the past week. I know I'm enjoying them.


-- weaving, and I can see the end in sight. #crafty (11/13)	-- playing with crayons, to plan for weaving ideas #crafty (11/14)


-- arrive at work early, warp a loom on your trunk. Everyone does this, right? #crafty (11/15)	-- New warp is ready to weave #crafty (11/15)


-- Pattern emerges #weaving (11/15)	-- Warp, contrasted with woven inkle. #weaving (11/16)


-- Dude! I can make things! From threads! #crafty #weaving (11/18)	-- so, yes, I love weaving. #crafty (11/18)


-- warp colors picked by Sweetie, pattern created by me #crafty #weaving (11/18)	-- the pattern I created is growing on me... Not an instant hit. But getting better. #weaving (11/18)