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.

Three out of Four

 Thanks to Paivi Suomi over at All Fiber Arts

And Lena Shevtsova's Slavic Patterns for Beginners

I managed to try something a little different, and was successful at weaving a pick up pattern on the 4-shaft loom, using only 3 shafts.

It opens up some possibilities for other ideas and future projects and eggsperiments.

Making Mitts

V's Food Bank Mitts

Noro Silk Garden over size 5's

6th pair in a series