Boat-Shuttle Capable

Day 75: While it is theoretically possible to use a boat shuttle on a loom without a race on the front of the beater bar, my experience with trying it did not end on a positive note. I've owned five (?) large looms in my life, and Daisy is the first one to have that "ledge." The threads in the lower portion of the shed should rest on it so that the shuttle can glide smoothly over them when thrown along the race. It takes a bit of practice, and as I learned quickly, Daisy is a very sensitive lady. If I rest a foot on the next treadle to be used as I have gotten in the habit of doing over the years, it may bring threads from a different shed into play. I'm developing a technique of sliding my inactive foot back as the active foot depresses the desired treadle, but sometimes my timing gets a little off and I throw the shuttle before the shed is "clean." Picking out an erroneous throw is not as easy with a boat shuttle as it is with a stick shuttle, believe me! That said, a boat shuttle is faster. I already have a foot woven on the first towel in this trial run. Like people, every loom has its own character which may be why so many of us name them. I'm learning Daisy's peculiarities and personality quickly, and I expect to spend many happy years with her.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Day 74: He gave me a hug, arms around my neck and face pressed to mine (for the first time of his own accord). That was for Christmas Eve. This morning, he laid on my chest before we got out of bed, content and purring like a donkey engine to wish me a merry Merry Christmas. This, my friends, is what Christmas is about: love in its many forms. It cannot exist without being shared, so get out there. Stimulate some oxytocin in your family and friends! And don't forget the little people: the companions in our lives, and the ones outside our doors. As it is sung in "The Muppet Christmas Carol," "It is the season of the heart / a special time of caring / the ways of love made clear. / And it is the season of the spirit / the lesson if we hear it / is make it last all year."

Dressing Daisy for Christmas

Day 73: Daisy is almost dressed for Christmas! For this first trial run, I'll be weaving a Finnish twill (p. 37, Handweaver's Pattern Book, green version), and will only be making two towels roughly 30" in length before shrinking. Because I have to leave the raddle in place to compensate for a bow in the back beam (it will be replaced soon), I had to allow a little extra yardage as loom waste, so I measured the warp at 12'. That should give me plenty of space to weave a sample or perhaps even a placemat, and any thrums will be used either on a rigid heddle loom if they're long enough, or to make bands. Daisy was an absolute dream to warp, but for one small "operator error." I've become so used to winding warp on Max's overhead beam that I got the stick on the wrong side of the back beam, and when I started to wind on, it took me a minute to realize why it wouldn't work. D'uh! The warp goes OVER the back beam, not under it! See? Fifty-plus years of weaving and I can still make beginner mistakes with the best of 'em. In any event, threading is next, and I'll be weaving on Christmas unless the storm carries me away.

A Latvian Design

Day 72: I don't recall where I found this design, but I copied it down in my own weaver's shorthand on a sticky note, and taped it inside the front cover of an inkle-weaving book. I've made several iterations of it in different colours (this is my favourite combination) and using a variety of techniques including inkle and backstrap. Despite looking rather complex, it is a very easy pickup pattern. The threading is 2 red, 2 green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 2 green, 2 red (a total of 23 threads), and is threaded in the normal fashion (hole/slot/hole/slot, etc.). The two single green threads near the center are manipulated every third pass, either pushing them down out of the way when they're in the upper layer of the shed (leaving the red to appear as a dash), or lifting them up from underneath when they appear in the lower layer of the shed. The band is functionally identical front and back. I was uncertain how pickup weaving would behave on the tape loom given that one changes hands with each pick, but actually, it's the same as weaving it with a backstrap loom, and not at all difficult or awkward.

Daisy

Day 71: Let me introduce you to Daisy, who has occupied the better portion of today. She came to me as a Christmas gift, at least in part, thanks to a generous gift certificate to Eugene Textile Center. She's an older lady, a 36" LeClerc Artisat, and although she appeared to have a few minor emotional problems, they were nothing we couldn't solve on the spot. I still have to tidy her up a bit, install bumpers for the beater, add additional heddles and we'll be ready to weave! She replaces my Schacht table loom, by virtue of having more working space between the breast beam and the shafts. She has a "ledge" for guiding a boat shuttle, two of which were also part of the gift, along with a bobbin winder. Finding her brings to a close a two year long search for a loom this size.

Solstice Tidings

Day 70: Dance the Holly! Dance the Mistletoe! The Light is now returning and dark nights swiftly go! A good Solstice to you, my friends. It won't be long before my body begins to recognize the lengthening days with a lifting of my spirits, and shortly after that, my head will recognize the change even though it only brings a few minutes of extra daylight. I have always been closely attuned to Nature, something I inherited from my father who could feel the changing of the seasons in his bones. Within two weeks, I'll say, "Hmmm...it's lighter out tonight" when I close my drapes in the evening, or "Brighter this morning" at dawn although the sun will undoubtedly be hidden behind cloud. Nature continues her deep sleep, but Solstice finds her dreaming of leaf buds and rising sap. Her eyelids will flutter as the crocuses emerge, to fully awaken with the daffodils. Spring is coming. Hold onto that hope, and dance the Solstice with me.

Christmas Cat House

Day 69 (bonus): Merry likes the Christmas Cat House, a soft-sided, padded "cat tent" with a cushy pillow inside. He assures me it's a big improvement on the Time-Out Box (his carrier) which has been his private space for months now. Y'see, sometimes when he knows he's going to get into trouble, he voluntarily puts himself in solitary confinement until the mood passes. However, this morning was exceptionally stressful for him because Mama was moving furniture to make room for a new (used) loom which will arrive some time fairly soon. That's a story for another day, though. This is about a little cat-cat who doesn't like the status quo being disturbed. No cat does. After expressing his displeasure by repeatedly attacking my thigh (a series of events which resulted in his being confined to the bathroom for half an hour), he decided it was just better to spend some time in the Cat House, no redaction necessary.