Mojo, Oh Mojo, Oh Where Have You Gone?
Anyone want a slightly used loom, kept in really good condition? Because at the rate I'm using mine, and with the issues I'm having when I am using it, I'm ready to boot the silly thing out the window.
I have 2 deadlines tentatively looming (har har - get it?!?). The first is January 22, which is when I have to submit a photo (ugh), short bio, and some handwovens to a gallery in order to showcase them in February and March, along with other artists' wares. The second deadline is March 3, when I am scheduled to take a few samples to the Maine Crafts Association to be juried for a spot in the store near the Maine Turnpike.
Now, I did weave like a maineiac (punny!) from mid-August to shortly before the holidays, so that I had inventory for the craft fair I attended, as well as a few things for the two stores I consign in. So I have had a break from weaving for awhile. But I've had much longer breaks than this, and to see me you'd think I've never woven before.
I measured out the warp (8/2 unmercerized cotton, 5.5 yards) for the crystal table runner I had planned, but I had horrible issues with getting the warp on the loom - again! Many tangles, ending with much frustration and slightly different lengths. I even went so far as to remove the lease sticks before I threaded. All you weavers out there know how stupid that was.
Threading also presented some problems. It's not particularly difficult - similar to the snowflake draft - but I had to redo some of that prior to sleying the reed. I double checked that all was well, just to be on the "safe side", then finished sleying...only to find that I somehow broke a warp thread while checking the shed. I didn't think I had hardly any tension, but I had cross-threaded between the heddles and the reed somehow, so that will have to be dealt with as I weave.
So here I am, 5+ hours later, and I still haven't begun to weave. I don't even want to. I need a new hobby. Or a strong drink. Or a vacation. I certainly don't want to have anything to do with showing my work anywhere.
Let's call the whole thing off...
Sorry there are no photos for you, but truly, there is nothing worth recording.
I have 2 deadlines tentatively looming (har har - get it?!?). The first is January 22, which is when I have to submit a photo (ugh), short bio, and some handwovens to a gallery in order to showcase them in February and March, along with other artists' wares. The second deadline is March 3, when I am scheduled to take a few samples to the Maine Crafts Association to be juried for a spot in the store near the Maine Turnpike.
Now, I did weave like a maineiac (punny!) from mid-August to shortly before the holidays, so that I had inventory for the craft fair I attended, as well as a few things for the two stores I consign in. So I have had a break from weaving for awhile. But I've had much longer breaks than this, and to see me you'd think I've never woven before.
I measured out the warp (8/2 unmercerized cotton, 5.5 yards) for the crystal table runner I had planned, but I had horrible issues with getting the warp on the loom - again! Many tangles, ending with much frustration and slightly different lengths. I even went so far as to remove the lease sticks before I threaded. All you weavers out there know how stupid that was.
Threading also presented some problems. It's not particularly difficult - similar to the snowflake draft - but I had to redo some of that prior to sleying the reed. I double checked that all was well, just to be on the "safe side", then finished sleying...only to find that I somehow broke a warp thread while checking the shed. I didn't think I had hardly any tension, but I had cross-threaded between the heddles and the reed somehow, so that will have to be dealt with as I weave.
So here I am, 5+ hours later, and I still haven't begun to weave. I don't even want to. I need a new hobby. Or a strong drink. Or a vacation. I certainly don't want to have anything to do with showing my work anywhere.
Let's call the whole thing off...
Sorry there are no photos for you, but truly, there is nothing worth recording.
Oh man, you need a hug. Go find someone and hug them.
ReplyDeleteAw... it gets better, it really does. Do you have Madelyn van der Hoogt's Interweave weaving videos? They're awesome. When I follow her tips, my warps flow smoothly onto the loom.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, kiddo!