I am working on a series of circular tapestries that are contemplations on the nature of healing, imagination, dreams, stories and the power of community.
These two tapestries: ‘Each Flower Has a Memory’
and ‘Mermaid Circle of Imagination and Hope’
were woven on many different looms, including peg looms, weaving sticks and a variety of pin looms.
There’s also quite a lot of tatting included because of the soothing nature of lace making.
The tapestries are each 28 inches in diameter (70 cm).
Here’s a little video that shows the new tapestries:
People have been asking for links to the ‘3 Sisters’ Looms- The Thumbelina, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms that I designed and Gary and Donna McFarland of Dewberry Ridge Looms build so beautifully.
I adore these looms…. especially the Thumbelina!
Here’s the link to purchase the looms from Dewberry Ridge Looms : LINK
And, here’s where I first introduced the looms: LINK
Videos: URLS FOR TAPESTRY TECHNIQUES:
Tapestry on the Vasilisa Mollie Whuppie and Thumbelina looms:
Note: The techniques are all the same for all 3 looms:
Last year, I wove a series of tapestries that I call, ‘The Fabula Figures’.
Fabula means ‘story’ in Latin… and each of the Fabula Figures is about the power of story.
The one in the photo below is called ‘Fabula Figure: The Storyteller’ and is about 44 inches tall.
She’s one of the later figures in the series.
I had woven a few prototypes for the series before January of 2017, but I really committed to the series on January 1 of 2017, and I haven’t stopped weaving them.
10 of the Fabula Figure tapestries are part of the ‘Faconner’ show that I wrote about in the previous blog post.
Here’s a little video of the Fabula Figures that I wove from January 1 – September 30, 2017:
This Mermaid has been tapping me on the shoulder for months, asking to be woven, so I made a plan.
I carefully chose my colorways when I was making all the ‘how to’ videos on the hexagon loom, (see previous posts) so that I could use them to build a Mermaid tapestry.
And, here she is: Sophia is her name:
She’s about 44 inches tall.
She includes techniques for weaving tapestry technique, mandala (tapestry woven in the round), Teneriffe and floral motifs on hexagon looms as well as a little help from the Vasilisa and Mollie Whuppie looms.
The glittery narrow band that outlines her body was woven on my little narrow band rigid heddle loom, using Kreinik metallic threads.
This tapestry is a one of a kind piece, and there are no patterns for her.
My friend asked me to please photograph the process of how I was weaving the mermaid tapestry, so I have – although I was well into the project by the time I started the photographing.
Anyhow- here’s a video showing glimpses of the hundreds of hours I put into weaving Sophia, the Mermaid, tapestry:
I have posted a new video tutorial that is the second in a series of how to weave tapestry on the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms.
I designed the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms and Dewberry Ridge makes them. They’re wonderful!
This video shows how to
1- Start the weaving at the curved edge while weaving side to side.
2- How to fill the curved space that will form by using eccentric weaving (weaving that doesn’t go all the way from side to side).
3- How to weave dots of color.
4- How to use hatching to make a pattern- in this case, a circle shape in the middle of the weaving is made by alternating 2 colors of yarn.
5- How to finish the straight edge at the end of the weaving.
Here’s the video:
To see how to set up the Mollie Whuppie loom please go to my previous post, which will take you to the first video in this series: LINK
Video tutorial by Noreen Crone-Findlay showing some tapestry weaving techniques for the Vasilisa loom.
The following techniques are covered in this ‘how to’ video tute:
1- How to warp the Vasilisa (and Mollie Whuppie) loom
2- How to secure the lower edge
3- How to prepare for weaving by making a cartoon, and the protective layers of cardboard and plastic for the cartoon, then weaving in the shed stick
4- How to weave vertical lines using the ‘pick and pick’ technique
5- How to change colors to turn the vertical lines into checkerboard pattern
6- How to weave a circle motif in contrasting colors, showing how to weave up to the circle motif to create the supporting structure for it.
7- How to weave the circle in pick and pick technique
8- How to complete weaving the background
9- How to finish the upper edge
10- How to stitch the gaps closed
The Vasilisa loom is used in this video, but the techniques shown work just as well on the Mollie Whuppie and Thumbelina looms.
The Vasilisa, Mollie Whuppie and Thumbelina looms were designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay and are built by and available from Dewberry Ridge Looms. THREE SISTERS LI'L WEAVERS
This is the first in a series of videos showing techniques for weaving tapestry on the 3 Sisters (Thumbelina, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa) Looms.
Octopi are amazingly clever and rather charming creatures.
I’ve had so much fun designing a woven Octopus family to weave on the Three Sisters Looms that I designed and Gary and Donna McFarland of Dewberry Ridge looms is building and selling LINK.
The largest Octopus was woven on the Vasilisa loom: LINK
It’s about 13 1/2 inches tall.
The medium size Octopus was woven on the Mollie Whuppie Loom: LINK
And, the littlest Octopus was woven on the Thumbelina loom: LINK
All three are great for babies- as long as you don’t use beads or buttons, but embroider the eyes instead.
I just read a report that babies love holding onto the tentacles of toy cephalopods, because they find it comforting. Apparently, the tentacles feel like the umbilical cord, and most babies play with the umbilicus before they are born.
Fascinating!
The smallest octopus lives quite happily on a lapel or collar or pinned to a hat, scarf or bag when you stitch a pin to it’s back.
The loop on top of their heads is great for hanging them up on push pins or curtain rods for room decor.
The loop also is perfect to hang the octopus from the baby’s crib, cot or stroller.
The pattern, with step by step instructions is available in my etsy shop:LINK
What can you weave on Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa?
Well, everything that you can weave on Thumbelina, but on a larger scale.
I’ve written an instruction booklet that shows how to weave techinques so you can weave:
Tapestry pouches:
Tapestry dolls:
Freeform tapestry ‘Weavies’:
Baskets:
Statement necklaces:
Prayer Flags:
Banners and bunting:
And, the Mollie Whuppie loom has a secret power!
She can mend socks!
You can’t make socks on the Mollie Whuppie loom, but the patches that you weave are totally perfect for fixing the worn out heels of precious hand knit socks.
Here’s a little video that explains the origins of Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa’s names and shows the projects:
I love Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa, and hope that you will, too!
I’ll be showing you more with them, in upcoming posts.
