Sticky Wicket

Port Renfrew series 2015
This is the Sticky Wicket warp!

Wicket
noun
1. a small door or gate....
2, an opening like a window....

I am renowned in the studio for putting on sticky warps - I can't help myself as I love mohair especially and fuzzy yarns in general, but I am not afraid of them and for the most part never have much trouble with them.  However, of late I was trying to use up some of the stash and they all happened to be the same colour - gray and fuzzy. So I made a warp for Ann to weave on the 12 harness (she has long arms and long legs) as we felt we needed some more ponchos. Lots of complaining went on beaming it as well as weaving it but we are both patient and zone out. Ann was busy so I finished the warp off and yes it was sticky....however I will cover a few tips that I have learned over the years. But first I think I may have had some 'other realm' assistance. I looked at my shuttle and Lilly Bolin's name was on it! And I wove happily with a few adjustments - so here I go with some suggestions....the `wicket` behaves when you use some of these tips.

Mohair goes a long way - you don't need a lot to make a statement. I am not a fan of the mohair blanket - warp and weft - I think it a waste of such a lovely fibre. Blending with wool makes it go farther as well.

Sticky warps are not just mohair of course - boucles can give you a problem or two as well.

Check the reed. In this case I was lazy, I sleyed a 10 dent reed to 8 epi because I couldn't find an 8 - that would have helped in the sticky department.

I have also used spray starch on my warp whilst it is still on the warping board - this helps a lot. Let it dry if you think it will rust your reed. Also make sure the room is warm - damp days make the fibre more sticky.

Beam with your harnesses open - I beam through the front, so I often open the tabby sheds to split the warp - I have no problems with tension if you are wondering about that - my warps go on smoothly and at a good tension.

Weave with a flat Swedish style shuttle - works a charm. Ann uses this ugly taped up rag shuttle that for some reason she loves - I changed shuttles right away and had better success. Also I advanced frequently so the fibres couldn't have a confab and embrace each other (my theory) and beat with the shed open.

On 4 harness looms a direct tie-up is recommended, then you can wiggle your stickies apart if need be. On a 12, it just isn't possible unless you have really big feet.

I leave you now as I am readying for a show.

Music of the day included:
Blaze Foley
Chet Faker
Amelia Curran
Bedouin Soundclash
Anika Moa
Feist

............days later - I have finished the last show and will blog a little about that next time - thought I should get this one out.

Studio work and other textile joy

I have been trying so hard to get to this blog, but I have been busy getting ready for the Baby Fair with Oma Gosh! Designs, so soon that will be finished with for a few months before the next one. And then we have the Market @ Whippletree Junction starting on the 13th, with the day before being the World Wide Knit Public Day all in the courtyard outside my studio! Lucky me - I am very excited. This photo is of a little poncho I am making today using Mochi Plus - a favourite yarn that has lovely repeats to it. Just imagine a little one with a colourful poncho on. I have made a few in the cream and pastel colours, but felt that colour was in order!

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of taking a spinning workshop with Anne Field from New Zealand - what great fun that was. It was all about exotic fibres and although I was nervous, I was able to manage very nicely and everyone was lovely and welcoming. Lucky me. I took a picture of my spinning wheel (a Schacht) - isn't she pretty and riding on a ferry!!!!


So now I am dyeing and spinning and picking and carding, and fleeces keep coming my way - so much wool and so little time to enjoy it. I was trying to spin at least 2 hours a day, but somehow I am doing about 2 hours a week. Expectations can be so high. Anyway, I am loving what I am doing and just wish I could do more.

Inspiration - Colour

"Art is neither a profession nor a hobby. Art is a Way of Being." - Frederick Franck

Off to Providence this morning to help Betty put a warp on - we threaded the loom really quickly and rolled most of it on before I headed back to the studio. I have about 5 warps on the go, but felt I needed to finish with my alpaca phase. I spun some alpaca that Jennifer of Pacific Sun Alpacas gave me and then I busied myself with her beautifully dyed alpaca. I felt that I needed to use it immediately and so I did - everything was orange today and so began the Pacific Sun-set warp.......I even planted onions in my garden today which in my mind were very big orange skinned beauties already, instead of these spindly Walla Walla seedlings.

So I realized as I was making this Pacific Sunset warp that it was really like cooking - the stock or foundation which is the alpaca and then the spices or embellishments to support the foundation........I loved the colour although challenging in some ways, but the skein was full of colour - orange, yellow, coral, pink, gold, magenta etc............lots to work with - and so there is Cascade Merino and Paton's Classic Merino, Crystal Palace Party, one of those ladder yarns, Sublime (cashmere, silk & merino) - a great support system for the Alpaca. And so I am happy as the warp is happy. Now what to use for weft? Probably a beautifully dyed mohair from Creston - Riverstone Yarns and my all time favourite these days - Merino Stripes...........

Welcome to Leola's Studio

Leola's Studio has just opened and is located at Whippletree Junction south of Duncan, BC. It is a studio for working in the Textile Arts: weaving, knitting, spinning, dyeing, thread painting, crocheting, sewing etc. and also a teaching space where I teach the above.