Summer & Winter

Working on my reconstructed jacket today, the colors reminded me of a sample I wove not too long ago.   The weave structure is Summer and Winter, 4 shaft, 4 blocks.

Oh, boy, do I love those colors!  I think I need to revisit the idea for that project.  Hmmm.

Reconstructed Jacket

After attending a meeting of the Wearable Art Connection of Southern California last Saturday where I saw an inspiring fashion show, I started looking through my collection of sweaters and tee shirts for reconstructed clothing.   I have a lot of oranges, purples, and reds that just seemed to really want to be made into something.  I chose the colors I wanted to use and started by cutting various lengths of fabric.

Then I laid out the pieces, trying to get an overall balance between the different colors.

  
I'm  trying to use some of the existing elements of the clothing.  Here you can see a section where I left a button closing intact and am using part of a sweatshirt style pocket.

 Finally, I started sewing them together, wrong sides facing, using a regular zigzag stitch which causes the fabric to ripple and curl in an interesting way.

I love the way this is working!  The back is completely sewn together, and I hope to finish the front tomorrow. 

Swedish Lace Weave

I've been weaving a lot, just not being consistent about posting here to let you know what I'm up to!


Below is a scarf that I wove using a Swedish Lace weave as the border:

 Underneath is the fabric I wove next in creamy, off-white & natural.

I liked this so much that I decided to tie on another warp and weave it in another color which is shown here:

  The tying on was more than a little problematic.  Even though I tied the two warps together using a weaver's knot which is quite flat, the knots were still tight going through the reed, and I had to tug on about every two threads to pop them through.  Then, of course, they had to be wiggled and jiggled to get them through the heddles.  Aaagh!  I'm sure I could have threaded and rethreaded my loom several times in the time I spent tying on the second warp.  So tell me... Why does anyone think tying on is a good idea?

Reconstructed Clothing

In addition to weaving, I've been designing reconstructed clothing.  It's rather addictive!  A trip to the thrift store usually results in finding several things that inspire an idea.  In January I taught a workshop for a group of women from the weaving guild I belong to.  Some were finished with their garment by the end of the workshop, but most had some finishing up to do.  Monday, February 14, is the general guild meeting, and everyone has agreed to wear their creations to the meeting so I can take their pictures.  In the meantime, here are some things I've been working on.

This is one of the first pieces I did; monochromatic, various textures.

And my first attempt using a variety of prints.  This was really fun!

Continuing with the prints in a brown palette.

Neutral palette.  This is very soft and comfortable.  I was with a friend at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach last month, and two women stopped me to ask about it.  "Did I sell them?"  I gave them my business card; waiting to hear from them.  Next time I'll get their numbers!

I partially completed this one prior to the workshop, so I could use it for demonstration of several techniques.  I learn something new every time.

And the most recent.  Just finished this one yesterday.  I love the combination of green and brown!

Back on Monday.  Hope to have lots to show you after the guild meeting!

Knitting Daily Weaves in the New Year!

Knitting Daily, an online community for knitters and other fiber lovers,  invited Pattie Graver, managing editor of Handwoven magazine, to discuss the new issue of Handwoven, and she mentioned my vest.  

"For example, inspired by a Hindu toran (a toran is a decorative door hanging), Sarah Jackson wove a stunning vest."  

Thanks, Pattie!  

You can read the article by pasting the following address into your browser: 

http://e1.interweave.com/dm?id=47D7867A97C4C166C7E1CD895612BDD6AD0B43E0AE847CC5

Toran Inspired Handwoven Vest

When I looked at the date of my last post, I was surprised how long it's been!  The most exciting  news I have to share is the publication in Handwoven magazine of a vest I designed.   Each issue of Handwoven typically revolves around a central theme, and this issue (Jan/Feb 2011) focuses on weaving inspired by other cultures.  The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe houses an incredible textile collection, and that's where I found my inspiration for this vest.  A toran, a Hindu door decoration, sparked the idea for the shaped tabs and beads at the hemline.  I don't have permission to print the photo of the toran here, but it may be seen by pasting this link into your browser:

http://books.google.com/books?id=F9FYlRfSMj0C&pg=PA52&lpg=PA52&dq=collection+museum+international+folk+art+door+decoration+India&source=bl&ots=5slXCmWTyp&sig=ZrsfMXDRV5-aNH7itLV66rD8uVQ&hl=en&ei=RempTPDrIY-2sAOEv_HvDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

                This page from Handwoven is published with permission from Handwoven magazine. 

If you are interested in a copy, it is available here:  http://www.interweavestore.com/Weaving/Handwoven-Magazine/Handwoven-January-February-2011.html

This is the intro I wrote for my article:

The idea for this vest began to take shape when I read about Handwoven's theme issue featuring weaving based on other cultures, and a trip to New Mexico revealed the elements that eventually came together for the final design.  A Taos weaving friend gave me a partial cone of space dyed rayon chenille, and when I saw Bonnie Tarses' "Almost Ikat" technique at Convergence in Albuquerque I knew the yarn and technique were a good match.  I wanted fringe on one edge of the vest but because chenille is unsuitable for fringe I wondered how it could be finished in a unique way.   I found the answer in the textile collection of the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe; a door decoration from India that suggested woven tabs with twisted fringe in between.  Later, during a visit to a bead shop near Taos I discovered the Bali style cone beads whose shape mimics the tasseled ends of the door decoration fringe and sparked the idea for adding beads to the vest.   Serendipity in New Mexico?  I think so.  

  

Indigo Dyeing, Finishing Up

The yarn I dyed Tuesday is not quite dry, but I thought you might like to see a few things that are finished.

Silk Camisole

The lower edge was tied with sewing thread over black beans.  The upper area was pleated and clipped with clothespins. 

 Woven shibori scarf.  Cotton warp, rayon chenille weft.  

Arashi (pole-wrapped) Shibori, silk crepe de chine scarf.

Silk charmeuse scarf, dyed first, pleated and folded, then clamped between two canning jar lid inserts. 

 

The indigo dyeing process involved a full day of prep work and another day to complete the dyeing, rinsing, and removal of resist threads, etc.  Lots of work, but well worth the effort!