Hello, friends. The loom has received a very special new addition! My husband crafted me a custom handle for my front beater for Christmas. I knew that Don had been spending extra time in his basement workshop around the holidays but really didn't know what he was planning. The new beam handle is wonderful! It [...]
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Minuet in B(lack)
Hello, friends. I've finished weaving the eight shaft overshot table runners (see my earlier post about this cloth here) and am quite satisfied with the results. I made three runners, one each in black, garnet, and mineral blue. Here is the black one: After some consideration and research, I decided to call this [...]
Black and White Encore Exhibit; new work
Happy New Year, friends. I hope that today finds you in good health and spirits. May your days be merry and bright in 2018. I'm preparing to take up new work for a League of NH Craftsmen gallery exhibit that will open on January 12, "Black & White Encore." Although it is scarf-wearing season here, [...]
Self-drafted 8 shaft overshot cloth
Hello, friends. The summer and winter placemats are finished and some have headed out to my family for Christmas. I liked the "heft" of the cloth, which is important for well-behaved placemats. So, we're moving right along in the weaving queue! I hope to submit at least one piece to the "Living with Craft" exhibition [...]
Summer and Winter Placemats
This week's work at the loom involves another two shuttle weave, summer and winter! Like overshot, two weft shuttles are used alternately throughout the body of the cloth; one shuttle is used for the plain weave (to give the cloth stability and structure) and the other shuttle is designated for the pattern design. The really [...]
Orange Peel Overshot Draft
Hello, friends. I have really enjoyed watching the "orange peel" overshot design take shape on the loom this week. A four shaft design, this pattern entails a lengthy pattern repeat and threading sequence. However, I've found that taking the pattern in increments and limiting distractions at the loom will allow you to generate a very [...]
Overshot orange peels
I'm weaving overshot (yes, again) this week and I am smitten with this draft: The center motif is taken from Josephine Estes' esteemed publication, "Original Miniature Patterns for Hand Weaving." I'm using 10/2 mercerized cotton for the warp and ground/tabby yarns and 3/2 mercerized cotton for the pattern weft. I sett the warp at 20 [...]
A week of waffles
The loom has been dressed with one of my favorite weaving structures this week, waffleweave! Waffleweave, which is really just a variation on a point twill, creates cloth that is right at home in the kitchen. The little cells shrink up to make a highly textured and absorbent cloth. It does, however, present some challenges [...]
My handwovens take a trip to Maine
Today I made a short driving trip to South Berwick, Maine to drop off some of my work at the Sarah Orne Jewett House Museum. The Mistletoe & Holly Artisan Sale begins next weekend and I am happy to include this historic venue among my current list of retailers. Here is a photo of the [...]
FAQ: my handwoven kitchen towels
"Do people really use these in the kitchen?" and other FAQ about my household textiles.
Kate Kilgus 