#weaveallthethings

hash·tag

noun

1. On social media sites, a word or phrase preceded by a hash or pound sign (#) and used to identify messages on a specific topic.

Sometimes I use the hashtag 

#weaveallthethings

when I share my work.

That little tag really encompasses what I love most about weaving.

For example the above shawl was woven with:

• Reclaimed sweater yarn.

• Vintage yarns from garage sales.

• Yarn naturally dyed with Oak bark from my yard.

• Handspun yarns - with fiber that I hand dyed.

• Reclaimed silk from Indian Sari garments.

• Random balls of yarn found at thrift shops.

• Yarn given to me from guild members.

• Left over yarns from knitting projects.

The garment above was not woven with any yarn purchased specifically

to "weave a shawl'..

 I find it is much more fun to #weaveallthethings !!!

Part One: Process

The first scarf I ever made was woven on a board with nails.

Not knowing how to "weave" or what yarns to use,

I made it up..

Shortly after that I started looking for sources of yarn that were 

inexpensive.  Not knowing what proper weaving yarns were, I started 

taking apart sweaters.

Creating with what I could find was addicting.

I am now a curator of discarded fibers: sweaters, cones, and odd balls of yarn.

It has been four years and weaving with found

materials makes me happier than ever.

This discarded linen blend sweater was unraveled to be made into 

a new scarf.

The yarn will be paired with hand dyed indigo and with a 

cone of discarded yarn at the guild Trash-to-Treasrue swap.

~

Stay tuned..

Something from nothing..

After all the precision work for the Master Weaving homework, 

I woke up craving Saori.

The warp was wound from scraps of yarns

given to me from other weavers.  I love using cast-off, donated, 

and reclaimed yarns.

The Noro weft was dug from deeeeeep in the bottom of

the stash.

I was having a great time weaving, but

my studio partners were not amused...

The scarf woven is open and etherial.  I'll post some

some photos once the fringe is twisted.

The remaining warp was beat down tight.

Loving the fabric it made!

Hoping to have enough to make a small pouch.

The magic of scraps and Noro ; )

Weave big..

So there is this space above our bed...

A few weeks ago I was hit with the thought of making a tapestry for that space.

The thought wouldn't go away...

....so...

I decided to 'go big'

Heres the thing about big..

It can be daunting.

I like small.

Miniature even!

Nothing felt 'right'.

Its been a few days now and 'big' and I are getting a bit more friendly.

Slowly chipping away.

Adding.

Subtracting.

More subtracting.

Finding peace in life through the process.

My weaving partner...

She finally took a break from DIVING in the fringe (ugh)!

All the  yarn is reclaimed: estate sales, thrifting, found, from sweaters.

I love that.

A bit of hand spun from Craigslist fiber.

Stash busting.

This piece is going to take some time, but it is going to be

totally worth it!

~

Weave all the things..

It was Saori weaving that sparked my initial desire to weave. 

That loom....calls me back again and again. 

For some reason using non-traditional materials suits me. 

Free from expectations. 

Full of joy. 

This piece, created on the Saori Loom, contains: 

reclaimed sweaters, 

thrifted yarns, 

hand dyed yarn, 

hand spun, 

and 

cast off freebies.

~

Summer in a shawl..

Yarn Along..

re • claim: To bring into or return to a suitable condition for use, as cultivation of habitiation.

This warp.

Currently on the Saori Loom -

Reclaimed, thrifted, recycled sweater, and hand spun yarns.
A complete conglomeration of deliciousness.

The use of salvaged materials frees me.

This cast aside yarn is getting a new life.

There are no expectations.

A little bit of this..a little bit of that..

No fears or hesitation.

Which leads me to Craig's List.

Gosh I love Craig's List...

So I stumbled on this little beauty this past week.

A barely used Schacht tapestry loom (with stand).

YES!

This is the first weaving I made on her.  It is ready to come off the loom, but

there is still warp to be advanced so I am weaving another before I take this one off.

Weaving tapestry is incredibly fun!

This was woven with all reclaimed fibers...Sweater bits, yard sale finds,

and estate sale yarn.  

Reading:

Completely lost in the beauty and history of the Bauhaus weavers..

~

Joining Ginny

Little Wren, Big City..

Yesterday I had the honor of teaching a companion class at the

David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh during the 

American Association of Woodturners convention.

The companion classes were hosted by the lovely 

Society for Contemporary Craft for folks who were attending

the convention that were 'non-turners' of wood.

I ended up taking the long way around to the craft room

and stumbled on some beautiful roof top green spaces.

We had a wonderful time weaving some mug-rugs

with my  'Found Object Kits'.

Thank you ladies for a most wonderful afternoon!

Safe travels to all who were visiting from out of town!

Wishing you many more happy 

weaving projects..

~

Weave all the things...

This past weekend I spent two days at the Society for Contemporary Craft 

teaching a DIY weaving workshop.

We made picture frame looms and created a custom wall hanging.

Students learned some basic tapestry stitches and how to 

source and use reclaimed fibers.

So. Much. Fun!!!

A few samples of their gorgeous weaving..

(top: Lauren, left: Amy, right: Finn)

Thanks to the amazing students who joined me for 

a fun and inspiring weekend!

Keep on weaving...!!

~

New to me..

New to me table,

Reclaimed fiber,

Vintage tools,

Nature bits,

and

sun.

~

Sleeping Spring..

I know your under there.

Somewhere.

Under all that snow.

Spring.

Sleeping.

Little wall hanging created on a DIY 

frame loom with:

Naturally dyed hand spun yarn,

Recycled sweater yarn,

Reclaimed yarn,

and 

a stick from my stash.

~

Snow..

 All the snow recently had me thinking about one of my 

favorite books as a kid..

 

Do you ever do that?

Read the books that hang in sweet memories

of childhood?

The original 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'

..'Wacky Wednesday'..

SNOW!

I've been dreaming about this little Japanese

out-of-print book that I came across on Pinterest

quite a while ago.

Lisa from 'This and That from Japan' was able

to track down a copy!

..gasp..

(Lisa is totally amazing and I can't recommend her shop enough)

Weaving with reclaimed fabric.

Many of you know how much I love sourcing

reclaimed materials.

Thrift shops, estate sales, random things

given to me from folks who know I love yarn.

Even though there are at least three proper looms in the house,

I still love to just "weave with what I have".

Cardboard from a shoe box,

reclaimed sweater yarn,

take-out fork,

and a

plastic darning needle from thrifting...

=

a fun little mug rug!

..or..

a custom patch to decorate a plain bag.

So if you are suffering from a bit of the greys or cabin fever,

maybe you'll want to try digging out these..

~ a cheerful read that will make you smile.

~ some odds and ends in your stash and craft happy.

..instead of digging snow..

: )

...