Project 9 Stage 2 - Basic tapestry weaving techniques

Weaving has been the most challenging and for me I found it wasted a lot of hours and went for my eyes after a certain amount of time. This section has not been my favourite! but I didn't give up.

First Sample

 Weaving is something I had never done before, so I did some research first on the Internet (you tube had some good examples) also I went to the library they had "Tapestry Weaving" by Kirsten Glasbrook this was very useful. On the weaving above I had a go at plain weave,cuved wefts, soumak & ghiordes knots.I'm not sure if my tension was correct, I did manage to keep it fairly tidy and the warp didn't show on the example. I think my favourite effect was the soumak technique, it came out like a carpet effect.

WOW - Wonder Of Wool

February half tern arrived which gave me a opportunity to go to the Rheged Centre to have a look at the WOW exhibition (WOW stands for Wonder Of Wool) this event is on until Sunday 15th April 2012 and well worth a visit if you are in the Penrith area.
It was very different, for example you don't expect to see a bench or table covered in knitted Herdwick wool (which must have taken hours to do!)
Websites to have a look at:

Max Alexander

Pod Projects

Jan Hicks

Part Four - Stage 2 Experimenting with structures (Exercise 4)

Amended 23rd June after talking to tutor

Exercise 4 - I made my grid from a coat hanger and solder wire, then sprayed it black.
I then weaved ribbon, rope twisted wool and cotton fabric

REVIEW on Project Four so far!

• Did you enjoy inventing constructed surfaces? Were you surprised at the result? Can you see a connection between your choice of materials and the type of structures you made - regular, irregular, small or large scale? Which samples worked best - and why?

I really enjoyed inventing constructed surfaces, I was out of my comfort zone but the biggest surprise was the triangle I made. I used plastic which I would have never dreamt about using, but I think it worked really well with the structure. The grid came out better than I was expecting, it was more weave than what was in the triangle, wasn't sure on the "cross" maybe I should have kept it all going horizontally.

• How accurate were you in matching all colours in your image:
• with paints?
• with yarns/other material?

I think I was accurate, I was pleased how the results came out, working with paints is a joy, the colours are so lovely. The yarns I had seemed to do the trick, I think they were fairly close if not perfect on matching.

Part Four - Stage 2 Experimenting with structures (Exercise 3)

Exercise 3 - I used two coat hangers to make the triangle, then I platted cut up bin bags and wrapped it around the wire. Securing a round the boxes of paper at work was a type of thin plastic (I raided the boxes, colleagues thought I was mad! ) then made plaits and in entwined them around the triangle. To finish off I twisted wool and interlaced this with the plaits.

Part Four - Stage 2 Experimenting with structures (Exercise 2)

 

Various hand-twisted Ropes & Plaits

Part Four - Stage 2 Experimenting with structures (Exercise 1)

Paper & Card used to Weave

Ribbon used to Weave

Magazine used to Weave

Decorative Ribbons with gaps used to Weave

Part Four - Analysing Colour,texture and proportion

My trip to the Seychelles

Wonderful Arizona

Our Garden

I used some pictures of my favourite places , I sketched the pictures then painted them with acrylic paints. I  then concentrated on matching the colours accurately with my yarns.