In our SAORI Study Group, our most recent prompt was “Reedless Weaving” – weaving without a reed.
In this type of weaving, the warp is still threaded through the heddles, but there is no reed. Because the reed is missing, there is nothing to keep the warp threads straight and in line. This means that the warp can be moved around while you are weaving. This allows you to change the sett of the warp – putting areas closer together and further apart and changing it as you go. So much fun!
This warp was made as a demo warp during a warping retreat, random colours were selected as we were winding it. A demo of making stripes gave us a purple stripe and a yellow stripe too. Wow – a bright warp for me.
So, without the reed, the heddles are clipped (I use quilting clips) on both sides of the opening to keep the space open. With no reed, hence no beater, you need to use either the shuttle or a comb to beat the weaving.
Opening and closing different areas.
You’ll notice that the edges end up very loopy, almost like a ruffle. This is because there is no reed to hold them in. If you ever want to get over worrying about edges/selvedges – just try reedless weaving!
I used variegated yarn and wound it with a solid colour yarn – changing the solid colour each bobbin to give some variation.
I’m pretty happy with the result. These photos before washing…
During the time of COVID, in person classes, exhibits, festivals, etc. have been shut down.
One day when I was out for a walk, an idea came to me to hold a Virtual Exhibit. So, “Words to Weave” became the theme. I wondered how many people might be interested in this topic and who would submit items for this exhibit. When I put out the call, I was so happy to receive a positive response. In all, 14 artists contributed to this show.
Once I started receiving the entries, I had wished that it was in person. It is so different to see an image instead of actually seeing and touching the cloth. However, the words and the weavings that were submitted were so inspiring, moving and touching. As is the SAORI way, each entry was so unique.
Here was the idea:
Are the words to a poem, quote, story or song inspiring to you? Or perhaps the words of a child or some words from Misao Jo’s writings?
These are the SAORI weavings of 14 artists who have used words as inspiration. View all the details on each artist’s page on the website Words to Weave.
I hope you enjoy viewing these explorations! The exhibit remains posted for now – even beyond the original dates.
A new Artist’s Call will be coming this Fall. Stay tuned for details.
Happy Weaving,
Terri
https://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Words-to-Weave.jpg16501650Terrihttps://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SAORI-Salt-Spring-logo-1-1030x158.jpgTerri2021-09-02 15:49:332021-09-02 15:49:33Words to Weave – A Virtual Exhibit
The fabric for this vest is quite thick and heavy. The weft is 3-4 strands of wool wound together on a bobbin and I used lots of colour blending.
The warp was 10 thin threads of wool per dent and heddle (yes all put together to be like one thicker thread) and then 2 individual thin grey threads in the next two dents and heddles (more or less) so there are ridges in the warp.
I had this fabric for a while before I decided on it’s final form. I put two panels together sewn at the back and left the front open. Then I sewed the sides, but not at the edges as in the Y vest in the Beginners book. With these seams it makes the vest more form fitting, but loose at the same time if that makes sense.
https://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ytop.jpg200200Terrihttps://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SAORI-Salt-Spring-logo-1-1030x158.jpgTerri2020-01-23 21:18:212020-01-24 10:26:42Y-shaped vest
When I first looked at this cloth, I thought I would make it into a simple top or vest with the white bands down the front. I cut the cloth in half and pinned it, and didn’t like it after all. Now what?
I browsed through the pattern books to get a new idea and saw the Triangle Blouse and so just turned the pieces on an angle – and I liked it so much better. So, I made the triangle blouse (SAORI Beginners Clothing design book – pattern 4).
My cloth was not the dimensions given in the book, but I just worked around that. The front is a little longer, the back a little shorter, but in truth it can be worn either way. Easy to make – just 4 seams – shoulders and sides, but a whole different look with the cloth at an angle.
I had a bit of cloth still from this warp and I made it into a simple vest with straps.
As of November this year, my teaching studio will be moved into Honeysuckle Cottage! This means there will be more space for weaving, a sewing room, a bathroom and full kitchen. We will still be in the woods, with a beautiful deck to enjoy.
Honeysuckle Cottage – soon to be the SAORI Salt Spring Studio space
The current studio space on the property will be converted into a SAORI “store” where you will find an array of warps, yarns, books, equipment and woven items for sale on display. You’ll also be able to try out the “specialty” looms in the store including the WX90 (a 36” SAORI loom), a 4-harness loom and the Piccolo loom.
For those coming on retreat (which of course I will still be hosting) there is a B&B next door to us at Bloom Organic (at the Blue Horse Gallery) with 2 different suites available. The neighbour on the other side is Bird’s Hill Cottage and their B&B will accommodate up to 5 people. Both are a short walk from the studio, so you’ll still be able to wander over to the studio anytime. As with all my retreats the studio will be open early and late (8 am to 8 pm) for extra weaving time.
https://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/hsc_with_arbour.jpg327500Terrihttps://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SAORI-Salt-Spring-logo-1-1030x158.jpgTerri2018-10-12 11:32:102018-10-12 11:32:10Changes coming to the SAORI Salt Spring Studio!
Lynn Jones – reflections on her Artist in Residency at SAORI Salt Spring – Fall 2016
I was delighted to be the Artist in Residence at SAORI Salt Spring for 3 1/2 days this month. The deciding factor for me was ‘weaving on Salt Spring Island without distraction’! I have a very full life at home. Both of my sons are living with me right now, my hubby, Bob and my (getting very old and grumpy) dog, Wilma. Though I have a ‘studio space’, it is shared. With musical instruments and a family computer and lately, some silver smithing / jewelry making tools. I love the busyness of it all, but it does impede the creative process for me. One thing that I took away from my time on SSI is that I’m best really early in the morning. Always knew that, but never really put it to creative use. So, from this time forward and forever more, I will use the time from waking til 9:00 am to be creative, alone, with my cloth and my babe (draping, shaping, cutting and sewing). I can weave with everyone around, but I can’t improvise with my cloth unless I have some peace and quiet. So, I had time to create…2 pieces I’d woven earlier. A jacket in blues with blue jean sleeves and a tunic woven with fabric from some thrift store finds.
The other amazing experience I had with Terri was the time to collaborate on a weaving. I had ‘scored’ some thrift store silk. 75% off beautiful blue, green, pale yellow, mustard and white silk threads! This was our inspiration.
Though I had a plan for the weaving, it became something completely other! SAORI philosophy tells us to listen to the cloth, not to plan ahead of time, to weave ourselves. So, the plan I had will materialize on some other visit. What Terri and I created was a kelp bed, unintentionally of course . The whole weaving was shared…every piece that went into it, every idea, all the threads. As Terri so beautifully put it, there were no egos. We threw ideas back and forth. We have so many more ideas to put into our future weavings!
It was just as much fun weaving as it was photographing the experience. We had to keep reminding each other to take pictures….. And sometimes we just got silly!
I had time to create in the cottage.
To cook for Terri and Alan. To sip wine and listen to music. Carole King’s Tapestry was my go to cd. How appropriate!!!
I am so very grateful for the experience of being the AiR. Looking forward to annual WOWWWs (weeks of weaving, wondering and wandering) and whatever else comes from my journey into SAORI weaving and it’s never ending possibilities.
I read this quote from Misao one morning: “I am often asked, “What did you do before you started weaving? You must not have been just an ordinary housewife.” Well, when I was twenty five years old, I had a profound experience that opened my eyes. Some would call it a revelation sent by a Supreme Being. Anyway, it turned out to be my work for the rest of my life. In my pursuit of this, I have always been aware that some great, invisible power is within me. Looking back, I see that each small incident I experienced as an ordinary house-wife (mother, sister, banker for me) led me to this path. All the experiences in the past were preparation for what I am now doing. Simply put, everything was leading me to comprehend that kansei (the significance of an intuitive sense of beauty existing inside of us.) is inherent in everyone.”
How appropriate for me to read this while being the AiR.
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I had a great time with Lynn. It was fabulous to collaborate and explore together – so many ideas!
Happy Weaving,
Terri
Next Artist-in-Residence: February 2017 application info tba
My website: www.saorisaltspring.com
Or you can find me more often on Facebook or Instagram.
https://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AiR9-450x523.jpg523450Terrihttps://saltspringweaving.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SAORI-Salt-Spring-logo-1-1030x158.jpgTerri2017-01-07 08:06:182020-03-06 17:17:41Artist in Residence (AiR) – Fall 2016
Well, it has been a while since I’ve written. Many things have been happening over this summer and there are pictures on my Facebook page and also on Instagram if you haven’t been following along.
We recently finished 10 full and fantastic days with Loom Dancer Weaving Odysseys (watch the great video at this link for a view of the trip) here on Salt Spring Island…
A great group of enthusiastic women. I always come away from these events with ideas popping! So, after getting much of my studio set up again it was time to try one of them out. I chose bobbins that were left from the retreat – so there is a feeling of that gathering in this piece.
At the retreat, some people were exploring the cool cross and weaving a circle, and I had an idea to try a loop weaving and so I started my exploration into this 3D method that I was imagining…
Front…
Back…
Looks kind of crazy, but it worked as I had hoped and imagined it would. Two panels of weaving joined with loops.
It has become a no-sew top! Some of the loops go over the shoulder as straps and others are the sides. The weaving itself is the front and the back of the top. So fun!
Always something new to try when there is so much inspiration.
Earlier this month I was so happy to host Stacey Piwinski as the Artist-in-Residence at SAORI Salt Spring. When we were setting up the residency, Stacey requested that we go to Pacifica Paddle at the beginning rather than at the end of the residency. She wanted to meet others in this SAORI community and see how that may influence her work during the week at the studio. “We learn from each other”
So, we set up weekend workshops and a SAORI Kai. I had a lot of feedback from people after about how much they were inspired by her presentation of her work and her process. One piece that she shared with us was something she had worked on over the period of two years. She wove a piece each month that reflected her life over that month. The following year in the same month she did more work on that same piece.
We shared with her some of our weavings and clothing design, wall hangings and pieces of cloth. It was all a wonderful start to the residency.
As Stacey was here, she wrote a blog post for every day – documenting the weaving, meetings with people, conversations, places we visited on the island. If you haven’t already seen them, these posts are well worth a read. Lots of photos too!
Stacey worked on different pieces while she was here including one she called “Little Terri” – this piece incorporated a collection of items that I had given her at the beginning of the week. It was jewelry of mine, collected over years, that I didn’t wear anymore.
…a mobius (note that there is no fringe!)
… and a squid vest
She brought me one of her works – that incorporates painting and weaving and it now hangs next to my SAORI Calendar in the studio.
We enjoyed the days, the visitors to the studio and the island…the days went by way too quickly!
SAORI Salt Spring
