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But just because I didn't post doesn't mean I have not been a busy fiber person! In fact, I just got back from a week at the John C Campbell Folk School where I took an advanced weaving class with Laura Fry. The class was not about new techniques in weaving, new weaving structures, or anything like that. Instead, it was about how to move and work more efficiently so that at the end of the day, you a) did not hurt, and b) produced more lovely fabric. In the past, I have generally maxed out at about 3 scarves a week, and often that much left me with back spasms and tension headaches like nobody's business. In the week of class with Laura, 5 days of class including 1 day of lecture, I managed to make 2 full length scarves and three good-sized handtowels in various twill patterns, with none of the damage I was doing to myself before. w00t, I say, w00t!
I finally learned how to warp my loom from back-to-front, which I'd been a little anxious about since it seemed to require more tools than my usual front-to-back (Laura's method doesn't require anything I don't already have in my studio). I learned how to use a weight and a loom valet to making beaming the warp easier. I learned how to lash on the warp and tension it that way rather than do the gazillion little knots, each individually tensioned. I learned a new way to hold the threads and threading hook for greater ease of movement and faster threading and sleying. I learned to make a smiley face with my body as I threw the shuttle, rather than twisting from side to side. I learned to use a reed at the bottom of my warping board to control the threads coming off the cones as I measured a warp. I learned all sorts of things about properly wet finishing fabric. My brain almost, but not quite, exploded. In a good way.
So, here's what I am thinking of doing. As I start up new weaving projects over the next few weeks, I'll take detailed photos of the process and try to go in to detail about each one. I am no Laura - she's been doing this since 1975 or thereabouts! - and you can always see her stuff on her youtube channel, but sometimes a different voice, a different perspective will help a new technique finally click. So, I'll add my voice in there and perhaps it will help some of you as you make your pretty things.
While I'm starting to put that together, if you'd like to see a bit more on the John C Campbell Folk School, I've got a small photo album put together from the trip. I focused more on the weaving than getting photos, so it's a bit sparse, but one of the other students also took pictures. Many pictures. So, go, enjoy the photos and stay tuned for more blog posts on cool techniques Real Soon Now!
