Same colors, different name

What do these three weaves have in common?

Zen Towels from Oct 2011

 

Trellis runner From Feb 2012

Crackle Weave Study from Dec 2012-Jan 2013 

Believe it or not, all these weaves have the exact same colors in common, except the last one has an additional color of green added.  It just blows me away how different they all appear to be, and yet it must be just the arrangement of colors that makes such a difference!

I love color!  But I especially love weaving!!

My friend Dawn on Ravelry and the author of this blog wanted me to write a review about the crackle weave book been I have been using for my experiments.  I thought I would share my thoughts here, also!  Enjoy!

 

Like all texts, there are pros and cons to the Weave Classic Crackle & More book by Susan Wilson.  My overall impression is very high and I am very impressed with the knowledge gathering that Ms. Wilson has done.  She is obviously very qualified to write the book because she has been weaving crackle since 1969 AND she has achieved quite the honor by receiving the Master level Certificate in Handweaving back in 1990.  I mention this because Susan’s book and the other crackle book I used in my personal crackle adventures this last month (called A Crackle Weave Companion by Lucy M. Brusic*) have conflicting information in them for what certain crackle weaves are called.  As a crackle-newbie, it was confusing until I threw the official names out the window and just concentrated on the weave structures.  However, taking into consideration Susan’s numerous publications along with what I feel is a respectable amount of professional weaving certification, I trust that her nomenclatures are the correct ones.

Crackle weave is already a very complex structure and is not for the faint of heart!  It has some characteristics that are like no other weave, yet you can weave it like overshot, summer and winter, Bronson lace, etc.  A weaver who is new to crackle would definitely benefit from a source such as this.  However, the book Weave Classic Crackle and More is not for the weaver looking for patterns to weave.  It does not tell you exactly how to set up your loom or how much material to use.  The book does, however, cover from the very basics of crackle and builds to the very complex weaving structures, all the way from 4-shaft to 8-shafts. 

Chapter 1 starts with some history and chapter 2 covers the characteristics of crackle, for example it explains how crackle is made up of block weaves and describes each block, including the incidental thread for each one.  The crackle pattern that was written out in a structural draft on page 19 was particularly useful since I was just beginning to learn about it.  This draft gave me a chance to really study what the threads were doing.  The crackle draft is very unique, and can be pretty confusing at times without the right references.  Chapter 2 also has some profile draft explanations and design ideas.  Page 25 was my inspiration for my latest colorful crackle project.  I found her description intriguing enough to try it with six colors and loved it!

Chapter 3 covers many different treadling variations that you can use in crackle, like you can weave crackle as other weave structures: overshot, summer and winter, Bronson lace, honeycomb, and other structures that I’ve never even heard of before, but they are very pretty.  (To be honest, I have personally made it to the summer and winter point so far, but I hope to continue with more studying soon!)

Chapter 4 has some good descriptions on how to design crackle weave.  But first it starts with polychrome, and also goes into weaving crackle in Italian manner, and oddly classic crackle actually fits into this chapter, although the other weave structures in chapter 3 were fun to do, as un-classic as they are!  This chapter also includes information on boundweave and other weft-faced samples.  Later there is a section to help you through designing traditional polychrome crackle, and the reason why it’s more difficult to work with is because of all the independent color combinations going on here.  Even though it is more difficult to work with than classic crackle, it offers more versatility and exquisite design options!  Susan does a really good job explaining the difficulties of this weave.  In this chapter, she also goes into a thorough explanation of hue and value of colors in crackle weave and the design process as a whole, which is extremely useful considering the non-independence of each block in crackle.  Susan includes wonderful pictures to graphically explain this little quirk that makes crackle so much fun!

The last few chapter in the book discuss crackle on 8-shafts, turning the crackle draft, and color-and-weave effects.  It even has a section how to make 8 blocks on only 4-shafts!  And I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful the pictures throughout the book are.  In fact, they are some of the best I have seen in a while, and they are so numerous!  They didn’t skimp in this department!

There is definitely a lot of info in this book and it can keep a weaver busy for a good long time.  One of my complaints though is coming from the point of view of a brand-new crackle weaver: I wanted more structure in my studies because I didn’t have a clue what to do and having something so open was rather scary.  I was afraid I was doing the weave wrong, and I had to study really hard to make sure I wasn’t.  I feel that this book would benefit from a section for the new crackle weaver that said something to the effect of thread your loom like this, now try this, this, and this crackle weave structure and walk the new weaver through step-by-step.  I mean, I didn’t even know what sett to use because it’s a twill based structure but is it sett at twill?  (The answer is no, it has a tabby sett!)  It would have been nice to have that a little bit clearer description and starting point.    However, once I decided to not be afraid and just throw an experimental warp onto my loom, it was so much fun!  I just used the threading from page 19 and went through the weave structures like traditional crackle, crackle woven as overshot and woven as summer and winter.  Like I said before, I have only made it to page 39 in my personal studies, but I have enjoyed the experience!  I hope to be able to continue my studies using this text very shortly!

*A side note: In comparing this book to the other one mentioned (called A Crackle Weave Companion by Lucy M. Brusic), I like it so much better because the other book seems like a collection of a lot of obscure references that are hard to get a hold of these days.  Also, it is written like an essay and the pictures aren't quite as good.  The ways the examples are written out are hard to follow and understand. I didn't reference it as much as Susan's book.

 

I'm a weaving Goddess!

It's nice being on the top pedestal, eh?

My biggest fear with this project has been the total width and length.  The person who ordered it was very precise about the measurements.  In fact, my aunt had to go over and help.  It was very exact, and the project needed to be very exact.  I almost laid awake at night fearing I couldn't make it this precise.  I carefully made all my measurements 10-15% bigger than they needed to be, and you know what?  It ended up exactly-right-on-perfect!!!!  Wow, I can't believe I did that!  Even the FRINGE was perfectly the exact right length, even after I twisted it!  I didn't have to cut off a single fiber from the bottom!  I have never been able to be that exact in weaving sizes before.

As you all know, it's sometimes a gamble!






 Ahh... now I can finally rest assured that it's perfect and I'm done and I can move on with life now!!!

Linda's project is done!

Just finished Linda's project!

According to my calculations, I should have had more warp leftover, but the little knots were right at the heddles when I finally finished!  I thought I calculated everything correctly, but I am SO GLAD I was finally able to finish this project!  It has been a little bit stressful since February when Linda asked me to weave it.  I mean, first the yarn fiasco when it wouldn't come in, and then I found out it might be discontinued after I get started, and then I ran out of red right in the middle of the table runner... now I just have to hope it shrinks down 10-15% in the washing machine and dryer, like I originally calculated it would do!

Soon, it will be on its lovely way to Kansas where Linda can enjoy these beautiful pieces on her dining room table!

Almost there!!!!

I've been making major progress on Linda's table runner!  I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the runner, plus I think I have a little extra warp left on my loom for a very small piece.  BUT... I ran out of the lipstick yarn!  I even calculated everything very carefully!  And this yarn is so impossible to get! 

Luckily, I can get the very last tube available in my entire city!

And Linda's project continues!

 We're half way and making progress everyday!!!

This little guy is also scheduled to go with these placemats and runners.   His new name is Armando!

The Knots

Someone asked me what type of knot I used to tie onto the old warp.  I think I used an overhand knot.

But anyway this is the type of knot I used to tie on the old warp:

And here is a bigger pic of the new color combo:

Love it!
I have done 2.25 placemats.  I need 6 total.  Then I have to make a runner.

I was thinking about these darker colors for placemats, and they are probably a very good idea indeed.  Why?  They will hide any stains really well! 

Fixing the already good warp

So my day started with fixing an already good former warp.  I just had to extend it somewhat on each side.  I am planning on tying onto this old trellis warp, it is correctly threaded and this will save a lot of time!  I used some inkle straps to hold the back in place while I tie-on.  That way the threads won't be yanked out of my hands while I'm trying to tie-on!  I feel like it's one of the more clever things I've come up with!

To refresh your memory on this project, I need to make a 78" table runner and six 17" placemats, all with 14" width.  I know shrinkage is a huge deal, so I added about 15% to everything.  So my width is now about 16", instead of 14".  My length for everything will also increase, like the runner is now 90" total and the placemats are each 20" total.  This should be just perfect!

I am going to warp 8 yards of 10/2 perle cotton in lipstick red.  All I have to do is tie it onto the old warp from my other trellis table runners, but it's going in two threads at a time in a 10 dent reed, so it's 20 epi.  I am going to use the 5/2 perle cotton in mountain color for the weft.

This is my pattern using the correct colors:

Linda's project

I can finally continue on with Linda's project!!  I have the 10/2 perle cotton red!!  It never came in with my February order, so I had to go hunting around for it.  Thanks to my friend for having some on hand and saving the day!!!  I think that these colors are marvelous together and will look great in trellis!  I can't wait to get started!

I can finally use my 4-shaft loom again!  It has been waiting for this warp since February.  I've been wanting to tie-on onto the old warp so I haven't used it at all!

PS. Where's Zip??

 

Linda's Projects

 Just a status update on Linda's projects!  The teal color finally came in. It is the 5/2 that I am going to use in the overshot weft for the trellis project.  Now we are just waiting on the 10/2 red color for the warp!  Too bad the warp color didn't come in first, then I could get started already!
 

The trellis plans:

 I also got some turquoise eyes onto Linda's armadillo and he's all ready to go.  So cute!

Back to waiting... I don't dare touch my 4-shaft loom because it's all ready to tie the new warp on.  But maybe if I did start touching it and tempting it, then the yarn would come... hmmm...

Linda's Trellis

A few weeks ago, my aunt's friend Linda contacted me about weaving a few special projects for her.  She wants a table runner and 6 placemats done in Bertha Gray Hayes' Trellis #55 pattern.  She also wants an armadillo with turquoise eyes!  Linda sent me a sample of the colors she wants in her overshot projects.  She was aiming for a deep red/rust color for the background color and a teal color for the pattern float.  I ordered UKI 10/2 perle cotton in the color lipstick for the warp and weft and I ordered UKI 5/2 perle cotton in Mountain for the pattern float. 

 
If all goes well, this is what it should look like:

The width of everything needs to be 14", so keeping in mind a 10%-15% shrinkage, I think I will warp for 16".  The sett will be 20 epi, so I need to warp 322 ends, but I might do 330 instead for a little bit extra.  In order to weave the 76" runner with 4" fringe on each end and 6 placemats of 17" each plus a little fringe on each one, plus the loom waste and a little extra for practice, I need to make at least a 5 yard warp.  I think I might go for 6 yards.

Luckily Linda contacted me before I was completely done with the trellis project that was already on my loom so I plan on just tying on to ends of the old warp and adding a little bit to each side.  Remember this one?  I just finished it!!

 

The finished size of the last trellis project was only 12", so I just need to add a few inches.  Tying on to the last warp will save a lot of threading time.  I am excited to see this project come together! 

Now I just can't wait for the yarn to come!

Almost too busy to weave!

 I finally finished the trellis table runner warp!!  However, as of this point, the person I originally made it for hasn't received it in the mail yet... and I sent hers more than a month ago!  Unfortunately, none of these are the right length... so.... I guess this one will be repeated whether or not I want to!  Good thing I liked it, it was just slow weaving because of my zoo, Utah trip, and spring cleaning frenzy!

 Yes, I did say spring cleaning frenzy!  I have been very busy cleaning the house!  After living here for 2 years, I haven't even touched some of this stuff.  So it must go!  I have also been watching lots of reruns of Hoarders on Netflix, so that really helps me to stay motivated.  This is 1/2 of one of two piles... so 1/4 of the stuff that is to go. And it feels SOOOO good!

But the cat stays... he's just enjoying some old favorites.  Maybe he won't notice when they go missing...

Bertha's Zen Trellis

  

Crayon weaves

Warning: This is a lot of color to take in after all those plain animal skins!!!!

I like how this looks like it's been colored with crayons!

 

Looks WWWWAAAAAAYYYYYY different from the zen towels even though I used the same colors, but I LOVE IT!!!  I think it's because in the zen towels, the colors are in chunks, but in the trellis runner, they are all mixed together.

Here's the pattern again, for just in case you missed it!
(I think this one is also weaving upside down... but that's ok!  I'll just flip it over!)

This gets my official Stamp of Approval!
I'm going to have to make one for myself.  Good thing I made an extra long warp!

Warp of pink and orange

We've set sail on another project!

Just in case you missed it all yesterday, we've got the zen towel colors weaving into a table runner that will be 12x60 inches.  I am going to make it 13" across so there is room for shrinking.  I am setting it at 20 epi and threading it to Bertha Gray Hayes Trellis overshot design.  I made a 6 yard warp so I could possibly keep/give away/or sell it.  I have 260 warp ends to thread now!  The tabby weft will be yellow and the floating overshot yarn will be the blue and purple mixed together.  I think I am just going to lay them next to each other on the shuttle.  I've done that before and it gets off just a little bit, but it all seems to work out OK in the end!

Trellis by Bertha Gray Hayes

A few months ago, I discovered the concept of the profile draft.  It is such a powerful weaving tool, one can take weaving patterns of all sorts and turn them into profile drafts and then use those to weave all different things!  Suddenly, it seemed as if a whole new weaving world unfolded right before my very eyes.  I felt so powerful.  I started looking at patterns much differently.  I started taking ordinary overshot patterns and turning them into all kinds of different things, like summer and winter or lace.  You might even remember my big discovery!  One day I turned Bertha Gray Hayes' Trellis pattern into a profile draft, and then started playing with it to possibly weave it in summer and winter.  I loved it!

 Trellis in Summer and Winter

A few weeks ago I tried making the table runners, which were so narrow that a very small portion of the pattern would actually show, so I changed it just a little bit.

But the whole time I was weaving those, I was wondering what it would look like if I did the real thing... the original pattern in summer and winter.  So, on Thanksgiving weekend I got my loom all set up with 8 yards of warp and measured it out so I could have 4 repeats across.  I decided to use more classic colors this time, which isn't really what I do, but it's a nice change.  I chose a dark teal blue and a cream.  And this is how it looks:

I love the tessellations! 

The lines are very interesting and it will make an excellent dishtowel!

Table Runners

The table runners are done already!  I really like how the opposite side wove up!  Look at that neat texture!!  I love those little designs!

 Even though I ironed these already, they still look pretty wrinkled.  I am not sure if they just need another washing or if my iron isn't getting hot enough anymore.  But the weaving design is really cool!

 And here is the other side, but again, it looks pretty wrinkled.  I might try washing one again to see if it helps, and taking it out of the dryer while it's still a little moist.  That would probably help quite a bit!  I also see a few threads that need to be trimmed, but otherwise, they turned out pretty cute!

I have some more of the cotton to use!  I think I might do a twill runner next!  I am going to try using quite a few colors in the warp.  I think that will look really neat!

Table Runner

This project is weaving up super fast because the yarn is so chunky!  I love the look of summer and winter with these greens.  I used Bertha Gray Hayes' "trellis" pattern, but I had to modify it to be a little bit smaller because this yarn is very big.  This project has a sett of 10 ends per inch.  When using the modified pattern in summer and winter, I only got 2 repeats on this project in about a 12" width.  But doesn't it have a neat texture?

The original pattern changed into a profile draft: 

 

 My modified version:

(Note: I made 2 repeats across in this example so
you can see what the table runner will look like)

So far, so good!

 

 And the backside under the loom:

(My weaving companion for this project was Zip!)

This is only a 3 yard warp, so I will probably rip right though this project!  I think I want to do another runner in an 8-shaft twill next, and then after that I want to explore this trellis pattern again with my 12/2 cotton.  I think I will be set with project for a few weekends anyway!