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Coracle for a Weaving Warrior

4/7/2020

 
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So I had an idea a few days ago --
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--one of those un-ignorable
"must try this RIGHT NOW"
kind of ideas.
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Can you guess what I was after?
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It was not,
I have to say,
 the coracle it apparently turned out to be.
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No, I was going for something
a touch more practical--
something apropos to the world
in which we now live.
Cuz everyone needs a face mask, eh?

Clearly, the idea didn't work.
At least as an object.
As a concept though....
​maybe. 
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Pulled warp is something
I messed around with back in about 2003
when I was developing projects
for my book Kids Weaving.
The book includes several projects
for weaving on cardboard looms
including the Rag Doll Warrior you see here,
and I thought pulled warp would be
interesting and unexpected
(the turtle was adorable),
Unfortunately, it involved adding
another warping method, 
​so fell by the wayside.
Picture
What joy, then,
to suddenly remember
the existence of that long ago sketch
while chatting (via Zoom, as usual),
about the making of face masks
with some dear friends.
Would the idea be workable?
Picture
Not that I expected it to actually function,
or be a substitute for the 'real thing'
(whatever that is;
opinions, you've probably noticed,
vary widely--if perhaps not this widely).
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Certainly choosing to weave my prototype
with used coffee filter yarn--
probably not the most
virus-proof material out there
even if  spun from a material
with the word 'filter' in its name
and designed to have boiling water
poured through it --
did not earmark it
to have a life in the real world
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But I am a weaver,
and pulled warp is a thing,
(check out Susan Iverson ​and Sue Weil  ),
and I had a a PVC loom put together,
so why not try?
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Wanting it to be a dense fabric 
(viruses etc -- even if I wasn't planning to actually use it),
I wove it on the PVC loom because
I could  work at 8 epi vs. the 4 of a cardboard loom.
Otherwise, cutting out the  template
and using the cut out bits as spacers
was the same as in the original.
Picture
It also tickled my fancy
to use the PVC loom
since I'd developed it
specifically for Kids Weaving--
(cuz really a subversive Adult book)

The loom, as I've said before,
is ​based on Archie Brennan's Copper Pipe design,
and skips all the hard parts,
like cutting (and mining) copper,
​drilling, braising, and using threaded rod.
It is also totally functional for tapestry.
​And did I say cheap?
Picture
Anyway, the weaving went quite fast
since I just made stripes.
It seemed counterproductive to put slits into the fabric,
though it has occurred to me since
that a series of little slits all around the edge
would make it easy to thread a ribbon 
for  head attachment.
Picture
I made the mistake of using
rather wimpy cotton yarn for warp
so had/have to be super careful
pulling it into shape
and can't do the kind of fine tuning
that might actually make the thing
a little more useful.
Seine Twine would be MUCH better
Because...nose shaping, anyone?
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I also made it too tall for my face
though the width (aprox 9"), is about right.
Right, that is, 
if one were going to make one for real--
perhaps with a lining for security
and indigo dyed yarn
for the extra bit of magic
and some clever way to attatch it--
none of which 
I'm actually going to do.
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No, what I'm going to do,
​when I have to leave my house
​(which I hope is almost never),

is continue to wear one of the
elegant pleated cloth masks
sewn by my dear friend Nicole,
Picture
let this lovely creature
use my experiment for her boat
(because a gal really does need a coracle),
Picture
then return my attention
to the ever increasing light
in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the making of
the perfectly useless
and entrancing
objects.
Picture
I do have a sneaking hope
that someone will take the pulled warp face mask idea,
 do something really wonderful with it,
so if you do, please let us all know!

Otherwise,
if you want to make something else,
since this seems to be a project-based post
and because Kids Weaving is now out of print
(link is to ABE books where you can find used copies
since I don't  make a penny from sales anyway--
never did, truth to tell),
I'm going to attach some pics
of the Rag Doll Warrior project
just in case you need them,
and end this super long post
and ridiculously long sentence.

Be well,
stay home if you can,
be careful if you can't,
smile as often as possible,
​cuz it helps.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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Patti Kirch
4/7/2020 02:48:24 pm

Your PVC loom even comes with 4 faces on the first 4 inches on the bottom beam!
I think Ripley needs a warrior doll with a coracle.....(although far away, she's keeing me busy) when an idea comes up got to catch it and run with it, love all of your inspirations Sarah😘

Janine
4/7/2020 02:48:51 pm

I love that book! And it was at SOAR Park City when the book had only JUST come out when I first met you (in person) and you signed my copy ......

Esther Kleinkauf
4/7/2020 03:01:15 pm

Being a quilter and not much of a weaver, I would have only thought to fold in the "darts" and stitch them. but of course, I doubt coffee filter yarn would not stand up to much stitching. Maybe wool and felt it?

Linda
4/7/2020 03:01:45 pm

What an intriguing project! Pulled warp isn't something I have ever done so , of course, pops right to the top of the list! I do love trying new things! Thanks for another lovely, creative post.

wendy van der Wal
4/7/2020 03:19:36 pm

Smiling with your eyes is perfect - mouth is covered by mask!!!

Daria
4/7/2020 03:29:48 pm

I love your mask. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you, too for showing the rag doll warriors. They are a nice little project to share in this very unsettling time.

I am delighted I was able to get a used copy of kpKids Weaving from one of the Goodwill Bookstores a few months ago. I volunteer in a shelter for abused women and their children and have used a couple of your projects with them. Also, from your book: my husband built a loom from your plans and is learning to weave.

Thank you for your wonderful, inspiring blog.
Gratitude and best wishes to you and yours always. ❤

June Covington
4/7/2020 03:44:04 pm

Thank you for all of this levity! I have been doing a weekly art class with my grandkids (online of course, but sadly). I will offer the doll for our next project.

Sarah
4/8/2020 06:04:31 am

What a wonderful grandmother. Have fun.

Pam
4/7/2020 03:57:44 pm

Isn't the pulled warp technique fun though?! I have made little bowls, and an actual mask or six--the ones with eyes and mouth! Lovely post as ever, Sarah.

Sarah
4/8/2020 06:00:15 am

Ooh — a proper mask with eyes and all sounds really interesting. And I love the thought of little woven bowls.

Barbara l. Nelson
4/7/2020 08:53:11 pm

The CDC did say that a tight felted piece would work for a mask. It would have to be made out of wool to felt.

Sarah
4/8/2020 05:59:23 am

That is wonderful to know. Pulled warp is really easy with wool, and felting it would be a piece of cake. Geez — we really could do this!

Sue Turnbull
4/8/2020 02:58:04 am

I love your posts, thank you (all the way from England). I'm trying to work out how you finish the edge of the coracle... Without the pulled warps being sneaky and it all falling apart. I'm assuming you cut it off the loom and then pull it into shape and then feed/sew the warps back on themselves into the body of the tapestry. Is that correct? Sue xx

Sarah
4/8/2020 06:04:05 am

thank you! I warped my loom using a 3 selvedge technique. This leaves loops at the bottom, so after taking it from the loom I pulled the strands at the top to shape it. Next would, indeed, be working all the ends in with a needle, or doing some other edge finish treatment like twining. Another possibility would be to weave on a loom with a continuous warp, four selvedge or just a small frame, and then tighten the warp in both directions from the center so in the end all you’d have is a long strand at the beginning and a long strand at the end.
Also possible, I presume, to shape the bowl then stitch around the top with a sewing machine then cut off the warp tails. Messier and faster!

Sue Turnbull
4/8/2020 07:09:50 am

Sarah, thank you ever so muchly xxx

Debra Price Agrums Sposa link
4/8/2020 07:59:37 pm

I can't tell you how many times I referenced your Kids Weaving book Sarah when I was teaching crafts. It was a favorite go-to. Such a great book, makes me sad you didn't get any royalties for writing it. Life is so not fair!

Erika
4/9/2020 05:48:52 am

I only discovered the pulled warp method this winter in the book “Weaving a Life”! Such a wonderful technique full of possibilities! Oh, to be quarantined WITH my looms instead of away from them! These trying times...

Sarah
4/9/2020 04:33:57 pm

How frustrating to be away from your looms! While I’ve no idea where you are, I have to say that I wove all my first pulled warp bowls (and the turtle) using a piece of stiff cardboard — mat board to be exact — sett at about 5 epi. Weaving with a needle on cardboard is not exactly throwing a shuttle, but it can be oddly satisfying, now and again — just in case. Take care.

Donna Hudson
4/9/2020 08:02:41 am

Your little coracle is so charming! Your creativity is just so inspiring. Thank you for sharing with us.

DeAnn Jochen
4/12/2020 02:09:14 pm

A coracle! Once saw a 'real' one in a museum in Wales.
Susan Barrett Merrill has done many full face masks in the pulled warp technique.
I'm laying a bet that you will end up with a protective mask that really works, Sarah!


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    ​Sarah C Swett 
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    with
    ​ and about

     hand spun yarn. 


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    my four selvedge
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