So today I embarked on a new piece, silk strips I had hand dyed, some with natural dyes, and linen, likewise. Did this last year and set them aside for future use. The future seems to have arrived. Warped up with the silk, not wanting to work tapestry style this time.
In tapestry, the warp is covered by the weft, just a support, not a design motif. But in this weaving, both warp and weft will work together.
As you see I can work either horizontally or vertically on this loom. Sturdy enough to hold up, but lightweight to maneuver. Very happy with this new outing. See the clips in place along the bottom of the work. Vital with silk to keep it in one place. It's a slippery customer.
I have to tear more stash fabric to continue work on this, and I may rethink the weft threads. At this point, they're separate, so it's easy to rethink and move them about as I go. I haven't used clips on the sides at this point, so as to give me more thinking room.
When this piece is done, and there are a few more ideas to test as I go along, backing? spread out the tails of warp fabric? fray them? stitch it down? paint over parts? stencil onto it? stamp? and other ideas, when it's done, it will also be raw material for more of the transparency series I'm still working on. But this tapestry may be stitched, painted, cut into, don't know yet, it's a classic wip! And if you want to come along on the adventure, join me. Try it for yourself, too, and send pix of your progress.
I have a couple more long pvc pipes, from when I replaced the curtain rods with real ones last week. So I may build something else, once I think of what. To add to the niddy noddy and the loom, in my slightly loony diy frame collection!
Do you plan to take the woven cloth off your PVC loom? If you do the side warps will not be secure. I would suggest that you use a continuous cord or yarn and weave it into the same pathway as the fabric strips. It can be a size and color that would disappear or add to the color scheme. Since it will not be cut like the fabric weft, it will hold the width of the weaving nicely. Use a stick shuttle so that you are not pulling enourmous lengths of cord through each shot of weft.
ReplyDeleteDiane
Do you plan to take the woven cloth off your PVC loom? If you do the side warps will not be secure. I would suggest that you use a continuous cord or yarn and weave it into the same pathway as the fabric strips. It can be a size and color that would disappear or add to the color scheme. Since it will not be cut like the fabric weft, it will hold the width of the weaving nicely. Use a stick shuttle so that you are not pulling enourmous lengths of cord through each shot of weft.
ReplyDeleteDiane
Thank you for your ideas. Yes, of course the weaving will come off the loom. But I'm planning a different way of maintaining its shape, in fact this is only stage one of a mixed media work, which will involve other stages. There will be stitching and beading as well as mounting and framing.
ReplyDeleteFor another work I'll remember your suggestions, thank you. So good when people take part! Much appreciated.