One of my favorite things about holidays is gathering with family and friends and sharing good food. I’ll admit I don’t get too fancy with house decorations, but since once of my weaving goals is to clothe my house in handwovens I have taken to dressing the dining table with festive runners. Over the years I have woven everything from simple to complex. There are the last minute runners woven in plain weave on my rigid heddle loom using sparkly sock yarns and some lacy ones with elaborate fringes.

Last year Barbara designed a set of runners in 4-shaft twill that are elegant and beautiful. The Holiday Runner Draft #90 is shown in both Christmas and Hanukkah colors. This year I decided to change up the colors in the draft to create a Thanksgiving runner. It was fun to play with color possibilities in an autumn palette to create the warp and then I tried out a few options for the weft. Each gives a distinct look, with textured areas where the weft and warp are the same color. I usually put on extra warp so I can experiment with weft colors and find the best look. If you try this, be sure to step away from the loom and view the weaving from a distance to see how the colors balance, this can be quite different from what you see close up.

I’m kind of taken with this idea and plan to weave for other seasons and occasions. Maybe one in red, white and blue for the Fourth of July family reunion? What special events will you use as inspiration for woven table dressings?

After a long winter it seems like spring is taking forever to arrive. I’m ready to shed the heavy coats and scarves and I’m starved for any pops of color or hints of cheer. It’s the perfect time for a quick project, something fun and colorful. Something like………..collapse scarves! We have a trio of these, all using the same draft, #32 Collapse Weave Scarf,  but each with different color combinations. They are a light addition to the wardrobe and a delightful weaving adventure.

Collapse weave creates a fabric with nooks and crannies and provides endless room for experimentation.  The pleating forms due to the weave structure and the combination of a weft that is much thinner than the warp. You can make it subtle or bold, spice it up with some glitz or play with stripes. It’s springy and sproingy and looks different from every angle.

We used 8/2 Tencel for the warp and 60/2 silk for the weft. The combination, in addition to making the great texture, is soft and slinky with lovely drape. We just changed to a smaller size cone for our 60/2 silk, which means you can get more bang (colors) for your weaving dollars. This draft is also a great way to dip your toe in the ‘weaving  fine threads pool’ by using the silk as weft. You’ll love how it feels and, I hope, encouraged to use it for warp down the road.

So have some fun weaving a little spring something to lighten your step and brighten your day. And don’t forget to share pictures – we love show and tell!