Weaving Baby Blankets - Follow the Process Part 3

 Here is the final part of my "follow the process" to show you a little of how my hand woven blankets are created. The above photo shows me winding a bobbin ready to go in the boat shuttle, this is what I use to weave the weft - the thread that travels across the warp to form the fabric.

 As I weave there is a rhythm to my work.
I press the right treadle/ pedal to open the shed - the path for the shuttle, pass the shuttle through and gentle beat the weft in place. I press the left treadle/pedal, pass the shuttle back through the shed and gently beat. The above photo shows the cloth roller which is turned as I weave to store the new cloth.

I work the colours in as blocks and stripes, enjoying the different effects and blends it creates.

When each blanket is woven the cloth is then ready to be removed from the loom and the exciting reveal is at last on view! 

I then twist the ends into colourful tassels and wash the blanket to set the fabric, this "fulling" completes the process and gives a wonderful soft finish.

Two sweet baby blankets, unique and special just like their new owners.

Autumn Harvest For Colour

Wayside Herbs revisited

http://www.waysideherbs.co.uk/index.html

How the garden has grown!

Back in April I told you about this place and was looking forward to returning in the year to harvest plants for natural dyeing. Last Saturday the weather was perfect for our day of  "Dyeing from the Garden"  

 Pots bubbled, colours thrilled, a harvest of  Autumn's natural colours.

I dyed small skeins of wool with the following plant materials.

1 onion skins-  yellow  2 madder- deep orange  3 yew shavings- fawn 4 weld- yellow/green  5 walnut- rich brown  6 woad -duck egg blue 7 ragwort-  yellow 8 alkaret- apricot 9 black hollyhock- olive green. Then I over dyed some of the skeins using some indigo, I also experimented with wood ash and vinegar dips washes to enhance the colours.

I'm particularly pleased with my woad of duck egg blue as I have been growing some little plants in my own garden this year so I look forward to a harvest next year with those. I'm also chuffed with the madder dye this time as I was able to achieve a pumpkin orange, perfect for the season!

 

Here are my skeins of  colour produced on the day. As in the garden nature's colour palette always seems to get it right. Sometimes a colour looks uninviting on its own, it feels that something is lacking, but always trust in nature, she knows what she is doing - all the colours compliment one another. I have a soft, warm muted small batch of Autumn wooliness to enjoy.