Tag: log cabin

Fine Craft Shows, Weaving - general

Summer Show Season 2018

by Kate KilgusLeave a Comment on Summer Show Season 2018

Hello, friends. In addition to readying our currently over-sized home to move to a more reasonably-sized home, I am weaving in anticipation of the summer and early fall fine craft show season. There are no shows on my calendar for June or July (the business of moving can really mix up your schedule), so my first big event will be the League of NH Craftsmen Summer Fair, Newbury, NH, August 4-12. I will be in Tent 1, Booth 105, same as last year.

Here are a few pictures of some of the pieces I have been working on recently for the Fair:

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Alpaca silk scarf with log cabin borders

 

I’ve done a few variations of this log cabin scarf, a design I drafted last year and wove in bamboo. By reworking the thread count, sett, and beat for the finer alpaca and silk yarn, I believe I’ve crafted a lightweight, insulating piece for those of us who reside in colder climates.

 

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“Orange Peel” overshot with my bubbly treadling variation

My centerpiece-sized tabletop textiles found many homes last year so I’ve added a few more of those. I did the circle-y treadling in royal blue, garnet, and black. (I’m waiting to work on hemming while my loom is out of commission during the move).

 

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Summer and Winter placemats!

I love weaving these summer and winter placemats! I put on a pretty long warp for these, which seemed like a fine idea at the time, but now that I’m half-way through the weaving of my intended project, I have found that I might be running low on 5/2 mercerized cotton. In my semi-state of panic in trying to get everything packed before the movers arrive to load our lives into a truck, I have already stuffed my yarn inventory into boxes.

(Maybe I will just order two cones of 5/2 white cotton and make my life easier. Don’t tell.)

One last picture…

 

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Harrisville, New Hampshire

Here is just one lovely view of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, our soon-to-be new home. Weavers and other fiber enthusiasts will most likely recognize “Harrisville” as a most familiar locale. Yes, we are moving to Harrisville, THE Harrisville, of Harrisville Designs. The historic mill complex and lovely shop are a mere one mile walk from our new home.

 

How did I get so lucky?

Signing off for now. Be well, friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wearables

Bamboo, I love you…

by Kate KilgusLeave a Comment on Bamboo, I love you…
Bamboo, I love you…

Yes, I love weaving with bamboo! I first started working with it this past summer almost by accident. I was working with my sales rep from one of my suppliers discussing a couple of items that were on long-term backorder and on a whim I switched my yarn selections from the backordered 3/2 mercerized cotton to the in-stock bamboo. A cone of natural and black 5/2 bamboo showed up at my door later in the week and I had to figure out what to do with the yarn. I decided to start with the basics, plain weave, so that I could learn how the yarn and resulting fabric behaved.  I drafted a scarf pattern that ended up being a best-seller at the League of NH Craftsmen Summer Fair in August:

Log Cabin Bamboo Scarf Black Ivory
Bamboo scarf with log cabin borders

This item was the first design to sell out at my booth this year, which was a delightful surprise. The silky-smooth feel of the bamboo is what really appealed to my customers. It is lightweight and has a subtle sheen. I don’t know about you, but I really dislike having a heavy garment around my neck. I guess that is why I generally prefer lightweight yarns for my wearables (fine alpaca/silk, 8/2 lyocell, and bamboo being my favorites).

I started weaving a few more of these this log cabin bamboo scarves this week in ecru and black and also have a warp ready to go in lavender and black bamboo. To see these works in progress, please check out my Instagram page.

New in the shop this week are some diamond twill towels in a colorway that I’m calling “Flower Garden”:

 

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“Flower Garden” Diamond Twill Kitchen Towels

I’m reserving six of these for my online shop and six will be heading to the Sarah Orne Jewett Museum Shop for their seasonal holiday sale, South Berwick, Maine, which beings in November.

Signing off for now. The bamboo is calling for me.

Be well,

kate k.

 

Handwovens for the table, Uncategorized

Log cabin placemats

by Kate KilgusLeave a Comment on Log cabin placemats

Hello, friends. I’m continuing to weave custom order requests that I received at the League of NH Craftsmen Summer Fair in August. These log cabin bordered placemats were a new design for me so I was especially pleased that they found homes at the fair. I’m weaving a set of eight mats for a client in brick red and ivory cottons. Here is how they’re shaping up:

 

 

 

log cabin mats on loom
Weaving placemats

I designed these so that there is a machine-stitched hem on each end. Placemats that live in my house tend to need machine laundering, especially after pizza night, so I like to make items such as these washing-machine-sturdy. I hang mine up on a drying rack and, if I’m feeling snazzy, run a hot iron over them to give them a bit of polish at the table.

Next up after the placemats will be another custom request for an overshot runner. My client requested a black runner in this well-loved pattern draft:

Snowballs off the loom
Overshot runners

I’m really looking forward to working with black as a pattern weft. Pictures to follow! You may have ascertained that a lot of my work is the result of custom order requests. I welcome custom work! If you have a special request or would like to inquire about one, please drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Be well,

kate k.