FingerWeaving on yahoo groups

(picture:chevron band, fingerweaving)

New group: Fingerweaving on yahoogroups

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FingerWeaving/

This group is primarily for discussion of finger weaving, an old string craft that is used to make sashes, belts, bands, bags, and other items. Also known as Indian braiding.

People are invited to share information about finger weaving both modern and historical. There are other groups where discussion includes finger weaving, but finger weaving will be the primary focus of this group. Discussion of finger knitting and finger looping is also allowed.

Advertising is limited to finger weaving related items and is allowed on any day.

Anyone can read the archive but has to join the group to post messages.

Come visit today!

Have a good day!
Franco Rios
Listowner, Fingerweaving on yahoogroups
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FingerWeaving/

The Techniques of Sprang

It came in the mail today! The Techniques of Sprang by Peter Collingwood!

It was offered to me by email and I bought it for $15. It's in great condition.

I can see why everybody says I need this. This book is a textbook on sprang. There is 300 pages and most every other page has a chart or diagram on it explaining this or that aspect of sprang.

I'm going to be reading on the bus for a while.

Have a good day!

Clipboard Loom - First band finished

(click pics for larger image)
Here is the first finished band, 18 inch long, about 5/8 to 3/4 inch wide, using 17 wpi cotton thread. The upper part of the band in the picture shows where I began, just fooling around and the lower part is when I figured out the warp floats. To finish off the band I kind of did a loop back through the band.



Here I put the weft through, then put a crosstitch needle in the shed, then closed it and put the next pick through.


I cut the thread, put through the needle eye.


Then I pulled the weft through the band. I'll trim the thread at the band edge and may use some "fray-check" type of glue to hold the ends when I start making bookmarks with this loom.

Have a good day!

Clipboard Loom update

The clipboard loom passed its public transit test. I've been weaving on the bus/train to and from work.

(click on picture for larger image)

Here is my loom. I've stuck a copy of the pickup technique instructions between the front and back warp to help keep things separate. I use a large re-closable plastic bag to contain the loom before I stuff it into my book bag. There's enough room for a pair of scissors too.

Here is the back of the loom with the paper removed. As weaving progresses I can slide the warp down and around the loom. As you can see, the patterns are two sided on the band with colors reversed on each side. You can see where I first started not doing too well, then the little light in my brain turns on and the pattern starts getting organized.

You can also see what happens when you choose a weft color that is not the same as the border color, all the outer weft turns are easily seen. Using a matching color would be less noticeable.

One more note. I made the loom 13 inch long which is the longest size for my book bag. I will make the next loom 12 inch to make it a little easier to stuff in the bag.

Have a good day!

A Clipboard Loom - Toba Sash Inspired

NOTE: Dr. Carol Ventura, Professor of Art, has created a wonderful website http://www.carolventura.com/ with dozens of articles and hundreds of pictures.

When I saw the article "Sashes of the TOBAS of ARGENTINA" http://www.carolventura.com/pickup.html showing how to weave with warp floats on a small frame loom, I knew that would be part of the fiber adventure.



(click pictures for larger image)

Seeing the loom diagrammed by Carol V., I thought of a clipboard. I found a hefty legal size one for 99 cents at a thrift store. About 9 inch by 15 inch.



I cut it down to 13 inch so it would fit in my book bag. Using a fret saw is easy and I can cut curves.


With a drill larger than the rivets, I drilled out the rivets holding the spring clip so it can be removed.



I marked a two inch border, drilled holes in the corners, put the saw blade through the holes, and cut along the lines to open the center of the board.


Board is cut, extra holes are to tie on the dowels. All cut edges were sanded smooth.


As I weave the band will get tight on the loom. The plan is to remove a dowel to create some slack so I can manipulate the band. I read that somewhere on the internet.



Here is the band warped up on the loom.


So far, so good. The simple frame loom is working with a string heddle and shed stick. I'm using a plastic debit card with notches cut as a shuttle and beater.

Have a good day!

Sprang - first bag

Here's the finished bag. I used string to sew up the sides. I think I'll leave the sticks in before sewing next time because I couldn't keep track of the outside cords. The drawstring cord is braided from red & white string. I did not chain loop the bottom, instead I put a string through it.



The real test of a bag is to put something into it. The bag failed. The mesh was too loose to hold and oranges fell through.

So next time I think I'll use pencils again, but I'll tighten up the twist. If that doesn't get it, I'll try chopsticks again but make it more loose.

Have a good day!

Sprang - chopsticks and pencils

I've been using chopsticks to keep my spacing in the sprang and it is just not working for me. The web is so tight that I can't stretch the 3 inch wide band more than 4-1/2 inch wide as shown above.



So on the recommendations of the people on the yahoo Sprang_List I tried using pencils and leaving them in to keep the spacing. This looks better.


See how the web is now spreading out almost 11 inches wide!


A couple of tips: Top of the frame I used a doubled up string to tie up the upper dowel. I wrapped it twice around and tied with a shoe lace knot. Wrapping it twice around makes it easier to cinch up and tie up since the double wraps makes a mechanical advantage similar to a pulley. I can quickly tighten or loosen as needed.


The other tip is to look at the back of the sprang. Here we can easily see the two blue strings I missed on my last row. In weaving these are called "floats", but I did not want this to happen. More later.

Have a good day!