Floor Loom Weaving at Home: First Project

After taking a weeklong weaving class at Sievers School of Fiber Arts last summer, I decided it was time to get brave!  I started this project in July of 2021, one month after the weaving class.  This project was done on a Wolf Pup LT loom, purchased used, in 2020.  I did not yet know how to weave on a floor loom at the time I bought my loom!  The Wolf Pup, made by the Schacht Spindle Company, has an 18" weaving width.  I had researched small floor looms before purchasing a loom.  I bought the loom via the facebook group "The Weaver's Marketplace".  My husband and I drove to Iowa to pick it up.

 

The following photos tell the story of my first project.  Enjoy!

The warping board was one of many accessories that came with my loom.  Winding the warp is the first step in weaving! 

 

The wool yarn that I decided to use for the warp is hand dyed.  The color is “Great Grey Owl”.

I relied on notes and photos from my June 2021 weaving class to jar my memory on how to dress a loom.  I warped the loom from front to back.



A peg, attached to the side of the loom, is inserted in the frame of the beater to hold it upright while warping the loom.  The peg is pulled out before weaving is started.





Sleying the reed involves pulling thread ends through the reed.  One thread goes through each slot.







Lucky for me, the back beam can be removed on my loom.  This makes threading the heddles easier.






Getting the warp ready for weaving.

I used two treadles for this "plain weave" project.  Remaining treadles have been dropped to the ground (so they don’t get in the way).

Weaving has commenced!  The weft is composed of assorted art yarns, along with some of the same yarn I used for the warp.  I was not using any pattern for this scarf.  It is a spontaneous, organic creation! 

Finishing and mostly finished!  I like the undulating edges.

Seasons's Greetings!

 Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

The merry month of May!

New posts coming soon!  Stay tuned!
Photo: a hen turkey strolling by my house recently.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Quilt Expo 2018, Madison WI

Another Quilt Expo has wrapped up. Started in 2005, the expo continues to

draw large crowds!  I have been a presenter at Quilt Expo thirteen times.

Photo below shows yours truly posing in front of the official 

Quilt Expo photo board. Photo taken Saturday, Sept. 8th, the final 

Day of the three day event.  I made my colorful outfit in 2014. Not 

having shoes to match, I found some sandals at a thrift store. I painted 

the sandals, using Jacquard textile paints.

I visited my Bake Off challenge quilt, “In the Shade of the Old Cupcake

Tree”, on display at Quilt Expo. I was hopeful I’d get a ribbon . . .that 

was not to be.  The quilt is now on a two year tour.  Perhaps you'll see
it at a show in your area.

These recently completed vests were part of the “Vibrant Vests” trunk 

show I presented at Quilt Expo. I was lucky to have pleasant and 

good-humored attendees!

Vest trunk show set up in my basement . . . ready to go to Quilt Expo!

UW Health is a sponsor of Quilt Expo. They were giving out bags and

other items. The bags were popular and there were none left by

Saturday.

Nancy’s Notions has, in recent years, given out clever shopping bags with

a minimum purchase of $50.



Another purchase, another bag from Nancy’s Notions!

This purple shirt was available for purchase.

I had the great pleasure of knowing Nancy Zieman  for sixteen years.  She was 
one of the most kind people I've ever met. A new book by Rich Zieman, Nancy’s
husband, has just been published.  The book is very touching.

Quilt Expo 2018 Bake Off Challenge

I spent a good chunk of time this month working on my entry for

the Quilt Expo “Bake Off” challenge.  Entries are to feature a baking

or baked goods theme. Completed quilt must be 30” wide x 40” high.

I started hunting for fabric in early spring this year. I found an attractive
cupcake print at Joann Fabrics. I  purchased both the turquoise/white fabric, and the
yellow (cooking terms) fabric, at Blue Bar Quilts. I didn't know at the time how
I'd use those two fabrics. In the end, I used one for the background, and the
other for the "cabin"and for the quilt backing! Fabrics from my stash were used
for the tree and grass.  I came up with my design while watching a P. Allen Smith
garden/home show on Wisconsin Public Television.

I used raw edge applique and free motion quilting techniques to create my
quilt!  The cupcakes were cut from the print I found at Joann Fabrics. I used
the same fabric to bind the quilt. My quilt was enhanced by the use of brightly
colored rick rack, vintage tatting, and heat set crystals. The end result was an
only-in-my dreams cupcake tree!

My finished challenge entry, “In the Shade of the Old Cupcake Tree”, is
pictured below.  I submitted my entry about ten days ahead of the June
30th deadline!

Artist’s Garden

What artist doesn’t love flowers and gardening?!  Flowers, in their infinite variety,

provide all of us with so much inspiration! Colors, sizes, and shapes are but a few 

of the qualities that launch design ideas. Many of my creations feature floral and 

gardening motifs. 

The photo below shows me wrapped in a quilt top of sunflowers. My husband,

Jim, took this photo in July, 2016 at the Pope Farm Conservancy, 2.5 miles west

of my home.

I'm currently working on a sunflower-themed blouse! I'm adding a black and white

print and a green tonal print to the floral fabric. I enjoy combining prints. I feel that

tone-on-tone prints add more visual interest to a project than solid colored fabrics.

I

Strawberries galore!  These three pieced strips will show up in a quilted vest!

This pretty geranium is gracing my front porch.  I love this vibrant "cotton candy" 

pink. I enjoy container gardening. The first plant I buy every spring is a pink

geranium. Geraniums do well on my east-facing front porch.

These fabrics, designed by Nancy Zieman, will be sewn into an outfit.