Pick up Motifs

 

I picked up some motif charts from the "Lithuanian Sashes Book" that Grace had gifted to me.

At first I was a bit perplexed at how to go about weaving them on the 4 Shaft Dorothy LeClerc loom.

There was not instruction in the book, but there was a lot of interesting history and charts.

I wove a strip of motifs as practice or samples of how the designs would translate.  I think some of

the charts were from Kati Meek's book on "Reflections From a Flaxen Past".  Weaving was slow

going at first, and after a time, it moved along faster.

Once I understood what to do, I could simply browse the internet for charts of different motifs, and adapt them to the size that I wanted.  A pencil and some graph paper and a little math and I was having a good time.  There are many possibilities for this type of weaving.  Traditionally, the designs were woven for linens or incorporated into clothing.

When I cut it from the loom, I had a long strip that I'm not sure what to do with, so for the meantime, it is hanging in the doorway off the kitchen.  

a bit of krokbragd

 I had some wool that Greta had given me a few years ago.  It was from Sweden. I decided to warp the Dorothy Loom for a Krokbragd pattern. 

The samples were small, they were supposed to be mug rugs.

I decided to turn them into a small bag.

I stitched together the side seams with whip stitching.

I found the whip stitch to be unsightly, and decided to cover it with some fingerloop braids.

Using a 3 loop braid, I covered the seam.

The bag measures about 6 inches x 5 inches. I still have to finish the trim and add a strap.

The krokbragd is usually woven on 3 shafts, but a 4 shaft loom can accomodate the structure by

lifting shafts 2, 3 and 4 and then shaft 1&3 and then shafts 1, 2, and 4.  Lather rinse repeat!

After getting the hang of it, I decided to use up some handspun bits and that will be used for a larger bag.  There are so many different possibilities with this type of structure.

It is interesting to try different combinations of colors and number or repeats.