So I had an idea a few days ago --
--one of those un-ignorable
"must try this RIGHT NOW"
kind of ideas.
"must try this RIGHT NOW"
kind of ideas.
Can you guess what I was after?
It was not,
I have to say,
the coracle it apparently turned out to be.
I have to say,
the coracle it apparently turned out to be.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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).
or be a substitute for the 'real thing'
(whatever that is;
opinions, you've probably noticed,
vary widely--if perhaps not this widely).
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
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
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?
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?
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.
(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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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,
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,
let this lovely creature
use my experiment for her boat
(because a gal really does need a coracle),
use my experiment for her boat
(because a gal really does need a coracle),
then return my attention
to the ever increasing light
in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the making of
the perfectly useless
and entrancing
objects.
to the ever increasing light
in the Northern Hemisphere,
and the making of
the perfectly useless
and entrancing
objects.
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
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
