Despite my hankerings and searchings for ways to study tapestry weaving, I was taken by surprise when the tapestry weaving workshop I signed up for in December started this past Saturday. That meant I hadn't done any preparatory design work at all, and since I don't prefer to weave other people's images, I was left standing there feeling unprepared and a bit desperate. I found a copyright-free photo online of a sunset, and decided to try to interpret that in my own way. I decided to work small, thinking that would give me a chance to finish the piece, since the workshop is only 3 weekends long -- just 6 days work. But then the teacher and I got caught up in the design, and we used a much finer set that I have in the past: 10 warp ends per inch, and I wove and wove and wove... and didn't end up with much done after the first weekend. Plus, having not spent time on the design, I am now not happy with what I am doing with it.
So yesterday on my way home from work, I stopped at the Hobby Lobby I pass most days, and bought some canvas stretchers. Stapled together, they make a good portable tapestry frame, though one that does not have any sort of tensioning system, of course, (except for the longtime method of sticking rulers or shims or stick shuttles under the warp to tighten the tension :> ) I also fell for and bought a craft floor stand that I am hoping will hold the frame so I can weave while sitting on the couch (and watching the Olympics). At the moment it droops a bit, when holding onto the stretchers, but that in fact works -- the bottom of the frame rests on my lap while the frame holds it at an angle. Tonight I will try tightening all the bolts to see if it can hold, for example, my neverending needlepoint project up off my lap. I will post pictures when I get the whole contraption working.
The SOSS continues. See? (well, I'll post pictures when I get home tonight). I am at the beginning of the gusset increases on one sock, and almost ready to turn the heel on the other. But what I learned -- again -- row gauge matters. Using the Liza Souza sock yarn, which is a light fingering, left me surprised that my usual number of rows for the gusset did not reach the right point on my heel. So gusset increases continue, on size 0 needles. I have a visible hole poked in the index finger of my right hand, and I need to find those adhesive quilters thimbles that I use when I am foolish enough to knit with needles that are literally needles.
And the final surprise: we have been told to expect sleet and/or snow tonight. In San Antonio. That's just not fair.
Comments