From my zoo to...

Yuzu is a layered gradation that combines natural Egyptian Cotton with a range of yellows and oranges. The wraps 80% Egyptian Cotton - I used a couple cotton yarns and an organic cotton yarn to expand my color palette. In the design of the warp, I experimented with layering on each of the six colored yarns in successive sections, leading to a mix of all the colors in the final section. This gives a bit of a pinstriped effect - with a lot of interesting detail that can be seen up close - while appearing as a smooth gradation of color from a distance. The structure is my standard two-block pointed twill. It is woven with a sett of 30 EPI. 

The warp from a distance - all 960 threads

All the colors of the warp mix together in the final section.

Tied on to the warp beam.

The wefts

I chose to work with natural yarn for about half the wraps and dyed for the other half. Using natural gave me an opportunity to incorporate some new yarns, including an amazing 10/2 organic Pima cotton yarn. The silk/cotton yarn that appeared in Darwaza dyed Persimmon is also used here in it's natural state. As is my favorite superwash wool. 

For the colored wefts, I tried to stick with the soft melon/apricot range of tones but brought in a vivid coral for one and dahlia for another for a darker, more saturated look. One of the yarns I hand-dyed - the hemp/cotton yarn. It is a soft melon color that has is slightly variegated.

hand-dyed hemp/cotton blend yarn

The Wraps

Dahlia Tussah Silk weft, approximately 305 grams/m^2, 2.4 meter remnant  $352

10/2 Organic Pima Cotton weft, approximately 325 grams/m^2, 4.75 meters  $513

Coral Egyptian Cotton weft 

Coral Egyptian Cotton weft 4.75 meters - SOLD

Melon Cottolin weft

Melon Cottolin weft, approximately 360 grams/m^2 SOLD

Apricot Merino/Silk weft

Apricot Merino/Silk weft, approximately 300 grams/m^2, 4.6 meters  $575

Silk/Cotton weft

Silk/Cotton weft,  approximately 255 grams/m^2, 4.75 meters $548.75 

Melon Hemp/Cotton weft

Melon Hemp/Cotton weft, approximately 360 grams/m^2,  4.2 meters  $504

Superwash wool weft, approximately 305 grams/m^2, 4.2 meter $483

Gateway to a Wonder

In the Spring 2015 Competition of Babywearing Weavers we were asked to find inspiration in one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I chose to work with the Taj Mahal. I found it fitting both as a symbol of love and as a source of wondrous geometric motifs that could inspire a weave structure. Specifically, I found my inspiration in the Darwaza-i Rauza, or Great Gate, of the Taj Mahal.

The Darwaza-i Rauza stands at the north of the entrance forecourt to the Taj Mahal and provides a transition between the worldly realm of the bazaars outside and the spiritual realm of the gardens within. The structure is made of red sandstone and features a central pointed arch that forms a vaulted space. Within this space the color of the sandstone is a rich gradient of color - bright orange along the edge of the arch and deep purple within the depths of the vault. Superimposed upon this gradient of color is a tracery of incised painting with elaborate geometric forms. My primary inspiration for this project was this combination of gradated color and the contrast of a light, lacy geometric pattern.

DW (formerly Darwaza) is an exploration of subtle shifts in color and geometric weave structures. The warp is approximately 50% Egyptian cotton/50% cotton and combines shades of peach with red, burgundy, purple and plum. Working with a straight-draw eight shaft threading, I experimented with a range of weaving drafts, changing the tie-up and treadlings to produce many different  weave structures. 

One of the weave samplers I created when testing weave structures

After sampling a variety of weave structures, I chose 4 to work with based on the material characteristics of the cloth they produced and their geometric patterns. For the most part, I used peach/apricot toned yarns for the weft to create the most contrast with the warp. This collection introduces  a new fiber - a lovely silk/cotton blend. It also includes two hand-dyed yarns - the hemp/cotton blend was tub-dyed by me.

The Wefts

wefts in waiting

wefts, from left: light peach cotton, apricot organic cottolin, apricot merino/silk, melon cottolin, hand-dyed melon hemp/cotton, mauve egyptian cotton, hand-dyed persimmon silk/cotton

The Weaves

Serrure 1 weave from top: light peach cotton weft, mauve Egyptian cotton weft, apricot organic cottolin weft

Serrure 1 The weave structure for this wrap provides a subtle geometric interest. A fractured diamond interlacement can be discerned along with the shadow of an extended zig-zag pattern that runs lengthwise. This zig-zag was a lovely surprise - a characteristic that was not evident in the draft but was a delight to discover when weaving. It is a dense, thick weave that feels lush and cushy. I am calling it Serrure 1 in reference to the source (the draft can be found in Atlas de 4000 Armures by Louis Serrure). The wraps woven in this structure feature hemmed rails.  

Posselt 1 weave from top: light peach cotton weft, melon cottolin weft

Posselt 1 This wrap has a light and airy weave that is textured and cuddly. It has a distinct right and wrong side, with the wrong side being more weft dominant and the right side allowing the full range of color of the warp to read clearly. I am calling the structure Posselt 1 in reference to the source (the draft can be found in Dictionary of Weaves Part 1 by E.A. Posselt). The draft was one of two I used the required all 16 treadles on my loom!

Plaited twill from top: light peach cotton weft, hand-dyed melon hemp/cotton weft, apricot merino/silk weft, hand-dyed persimmon silk/cotton weft

Plaited Twill The weave structure for this wrap is a tiny plaited twill. Simple and elegant, it feels a bit lighter in hand and is moldable with a lovely drape. The two sides of the wrap differ in texture and appearance - one side being smooth and the other a bit more grippy. I particularly love the feel of the hemp version of this wrap! The weaving draft comes from A Handbook of Weaves by G.H. Oelsner. 

Posselt 2 weave light peach cotton weft

Posselt 2 This wrap has a dense, supportive weave. It has a distinct right and wrong side, with the wrong side being more weft dominant and the right side allowing the full range of color of the warp to read clearly. I am calling the structure Posselt 2 in reference to the source (the draft can be found in Dictionary of Weaves Part 1 by E.A. Posselt). 

One thing to note about this weave: the draft was a complicated and inconsistent 16-treadle pattern that pushed my abilities of concentration. In the process of weaving, there were some missteps that result in a break in the pattern. These are noted in the listings for these wraps, are purely cosmetic and do not compromise the integrity of the wrap.

The Wraps

All the wraps available are shown below. Each features a custom middle marker printed specifically for this project. दरवाजा is "Darwaza" in Urdu and translates to "gate". 

DW Light Peach Cotton Weft (the competition piece)

Approximately 265 grams/meter^2

4.1 meters $465 

DW Mauve Egyptian Cotton Weft

Approximately 275 grams/meter^2

4.8 meters $552

DW Apricot Organic Cottolin Weft

Approximately 275 grams/meter^2

4.8 meters $552

DW Light Peach Cotton Weft

Approximately 275 grams/meter^2

4.45 meters $489.50

DW Melon Cottolin

Approximately 290 grams/meter^2

4.35 meters $500

DW Light Peach Cotton Weft

Approximately 275 grams/meter^2

4.85 meters $509.25

DW Melon Hand-dyed Hemp/Cotton Weft

Approximately 285 grams/meter^2

4.5 meters $513

DW Apricot Merino Wool/Tussah Silk Weft

Approximately 250 grams/meter^2

5.1 meters $612

DW Persimmon Hand-dyed silk/cotton Weft

Approximately 225 grams/meter^2

3.8 meters $456

DW Light Peach Cotton Weft

Approximately 300 grams/meter^2

2 meter remnant $199.50, second quality 3.6 meter $321

Anyone holding a stalk-free pass is welcome to get in touch with me to reserve the wrap of their choice for purchase prior to the listing. All remaining wraps will be listed on my website at a designated time - to be announced shortly on my Facebook business page. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me through Facebook. Please be aware that we are currently out of town for a wedding so communication might be slowed. Thanks!

Sugarplum

Get ready for something sweet! I am nearing completion on Sugarplum. There is still a bit of finishing and sewing to be done, but I have some pics to share and info on when/how these wraps will be for sale. 

The light wefts 

The dark wefts

Sugarplum is a gradation from silver blue through shades of purple to plum. The structure is a variation of pointed twill. It is woven with my favorite fluffy cottolin warp (40% linen/60% cotton) with a sett of 24 EPI. There are three wraps made with a light weft (silver cotton and iris organic cotton) and three wraps made with a dark weft (plum merino/silk). This weave structure took some tweaking along the way to get the selvedges to look nice. For this reason, the light weft wraps feature hemmed rails. As a cottolin warp, the wrap keeps it's width nicely after washing so even with hemmed rails they measure approximately 27-1/2" wide. When I moved on to the dark weft, I made some changes that helped the selvedges to be more aesthetically pleasing. I'm leaving these unhemmed as that is what I tend to prefer. The dark weft wraps measure approximately 29-1/2" wide. Please note that the lengths of the merino/silk weft wraps are approximate as they are currently enjoying a second bath. Any shrinkage should be minimal and will be reflected in the final length/price in the listing. It is also important to know that the merino/silk weft wraps must be hand washed and line-dried. A low-heat iron setting is recommended.

I have the following wraps available:

Sugarplum silver cotton weft 2 meter remnant $210 approximately 285 grams/m^2

Sugarplum iris organic cotton weft 3 meters $315 and 3.7 meters $388.50 approximately 275 grams/m^2

Sugarplum Plum merino/silk weft 4.1 meters $492, and (2) 4.5 meters $540 approximately 250 grams/m^2

The stocking will be a little different this time around. Typically, I'll do a draw for one or two wraps and list the remaining for sale in my shop at a designated time. I like to offer some by draw as it gives everyone an equal chance  to purchase one but it can also mean a lot more work for me. Listing to my shop is simplest and most convenient but I understand that it can be frustrating and time consuming for those on the other end. I thought I would try something of a hybrid approach for this one and see how it goes.

Each wrap will be available to purchase by draw. You may enter the draw by completing the form below. A comment on the Facebook page or in the wonder woven love chatter group is not obligatory but it will help me track you down should your entry be chosen. Please enter the draw only one time and only for the specific length and weft that you would most like to buy. The draw will close at 6:00 PM Pacific on Sunday. Shortly after, I will randomly select one entry for each wrap and email the winner a password to access the Sugarplum listing page where they may purchase the wrap. This page will be closed to the general public for 24 hours to allow each person enough time to do so. However, after 24 hours, the password will expire and any wraps that were not purchased will become available to anyone who happens to come along. I'll probably give a heads-up in the chatter group to let you know whether any wraps are remaining. Please be aware that payment through my website is by credit card only - it is not set up to accept payment through Paypal. Thank you and good luck!

This draw is now closed.

Sublime

A long time coming - both in production and concept,  Sublime combines my favorite cushiony cottolin warp with a new weft of fine merino wool and Chinese tussah silk. The weft adds a gorgeous lightness and sheen. It is moldable and supportive with an inviting squishiness. I would recommend it for both newborns and toddlers. 

Sublime is a pointed twill gradation from lime green through green/blue to turquoise. The colors blend smoothly, with subtle variations to be discovered upon close inspection. It was woven with a sett of 24 EPI and weighs approximately 275 grams/meter^2.

Recommended care: Hand wash with a mild detergent, preferably one designed for use with wool and silk. Hang to dry. Iron on low heat without steam.

These will be listed in my shop on Thursday, January 29 at 2:00 PM Pacific.

This is Thistle

A wrap designed exclusively for a local group, the warp is 85% Egyptian Cotton/15% Cotton. Across the width of the wrap is a layered gradation from dark purple and plum into teals and light greens. It has been woven in a pointed twill weave structure (densely sett at 30 EPI) with two wefts: fine superwash merino lambswool in Mallard and plum Egyptian Cotton. These will not be for sale but I am sharing pictures so you can see what we have been up to!

Weft: Fine Superwash Merino Lambswool - Mallard

Weft: Egyptian Cotton - Plum