Serving Seattle Since 1974
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This installment in the Weaving with Handspun series is really more of a show-and-tell than an instructive post, since the project idea comes straight from another blog, and needs no improvement!
And, as usual, jumping right into a weaving project results in unexpectedly learning a thing or two, answers some questions, and leads to more questions.
If you have been a spinner for any substantial length of time, no doubt you have a box (or two!) of lovely little bits of handspun. Whether from sampling a new fiber or technique, or leftover from larger projects, these wee skeins are too precious to get rid of, and too small and varied to become larger projects. May I humbly suggest tapestry weaving as a way to use all the small bits, and enjoy them thoroughly the whole time.
Being a handspinner and a weaver seems like a perfect pairing of skills. So why am I terrified of weaving with my handspun yarns? (spoiler alert: it's the cutting)
I invite you to come on a journey with me.
I do believe this is the first project I have woven with a specific gift recipient in mind- two recipients, in fact: my lovely niece and her new husband. As a wedding gift, I wanted this to be something special and personal, and also useful. Since I had Such Fun with the warping paddle last time, I wanted to make this a mixed-warp project, too.
No longer able to resist the siren call of the Weavers Texture Sampler, I recently set out to make a simple, gauzy length of fabric featuring this array of many-textured yarns. Fuzzy, twinkling, slubbed, crisp, and diaphanous- it was going to be an adventure!
This quick summertime shoulder bag was inspired by sunny days and Juniper Moon Zooey, a cotton-linen blend that is crisp, strong, and soft, with an earthy, slubby texture. The medium weight makes for quick work, and the slubbed texture does not demand precision. It's the perfect formula for casual, summery weaving!
The weaving experience needed to make this bag is minimal, and the finishing techniques can be very basic, or as finicky as you wish.
