CaySwann Crafts – More String Better

“Viking Whip Cord” – One-person technique 4-strand braid

November 1, 2018

While this can be done with two people (tie the cord to a ceiling point, pass bobbins across the space to each other), Kolfinna taught me this one-person method. The key phrase is “Under Two, Around the Middle” and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin. I hope these photos help you learn this method.

[1] When I set this project down mid-braid, I secure the threads in a comb (or a "fake comb" made from paper). This helps me see the next moving bobbin and the three that just finished moving when I stopped.

[2] Setting aside the comb, I hold the threads so that the next moving bobbin is identified. A is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first.

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [2] Setting aside the comb, I hold the threads so that the next moving bobbin is identified. A is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first. (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[3] First, A goes under B and C...

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [3] First, A goes under B and C... (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[4] ...then A comes in front of (around) C.

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [4] ...then A comes in front of (around) C. (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[6] D is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move first.

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [6] D is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move first. (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[7] First, D goes under C and A...

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [7] First, D goes under C and A... (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[8] ...then D comes in front of (around) A.

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [8] ...then D comes in front of (around) A. (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[9] Tighten everything up. B is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first.

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [9] Tighten everything up. B is off by itself (left-most) and is going to move first. (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[10] First, B goes under A and D...

(The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.) — [10] First, B goes under A and D... (The key phrase is "Under Two, Around the Middle" and the moving bobbin will alternately be the left-most or right-most bobbin.)

[11] ...then B comes in front of (around) D. Tighten everything up. C is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move next. Repeat forever.

When it's time to pause, secure the threads in a comb, with the three finished recent working threads together and the one that moves next secured off to the side. Then you'll know if the right-most or left-most moves next. — [11] ...then B comes in front of (around) D. Tighten everything up. C is off by itself (right-most) and is going to move next. Repeat forever. When it's time to pause, secure the threads in a comb, with the three finished recent working threads together and the one that moves next secured off to the side. Then you'll know if the right-most or left-most moves next.

Tutorials

Video Recommendation: Processing Silk by Hand

October 19, 2018

When I’ve been spinning my green silk lately (the one people thought looked like a head of lettuce), I’ve talked about it being from “silk lap” which I pulled until I could spin thread. This video shows what it takes to make silk lap in the first place: See that mattress filling? That’s silk lap. Watch how it takes four people to stretch the already partially stretched silk cocoons until they can layer that large table. That’s silk lap.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/OrXiXDUQia8

Videos

Rainbow Birthday Yarn

October 19, 2018

A tiny sample of colorful wool and two spindles were gifted to me — here’s what I did with them over the span of a month. I split this wool into three approximately equal parts (over the length, end-to-end) and spun singles from each, then three-plied them together.

Some birthday joy gifted to me early from a spinning friend (thank you, ❤️ Ercil!) #treats

I split this wool into three approximately equal parts (over the length, end-to-end) and plan to spin singles from each, then three-ply them together. — Some birthday joy gifted to me early from a spinning friend (thank you, ❤️ Ercil!) #treats I split this wool into three approximately equal parts (over the length, end-to-end) and plan to spin singles from each, then three-ply them together.

Bday gift: Finn wool from (local) Lake View Terrace, CA (color is labeled "Crayolas") and lace-weight spindle -- gift from Ercil ❤️ #spinning #dropspindle #crafty #textiles #treats

Color shifts in the wool have advanced in this thread #crafty #spinning #SpinningInPublic #textiles

When I need a break from the spinning wheel but I still have to measure spinning for #Spinzilla then I take up the spindle in the living room and make a marker for later's measuring. #Spinzilla2018 #TeamGDW #TeamGriffinDyeworks

Found my retractable measuring tape and am starting to measure all the partial skeins on my drop spindles. First one will be the wool I spun when silk was killing me, plus spindle I could take into the restaurant last night. A respectable 15.5 yards starts my list. Next, there's two spindles in my work bag to unspool, measure, and rewind. Those "partial projects" are nice, but awkward to measure.

In my role as "the preacher's wife," am getting tons of spinning done since we had to be at the wedding venue 2.5 hours early (and we were here 1.5 hrs before that). Tasty sushi lunch first, then spinning and waiting. #CeremoniesByTrue

Still waiting for my car repairs, finished winding off spindle two, and getting ready to spin the final third. #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle

This is "how long it takes" to get a car engine diagnostic, an oil change, an oil filter, a new battery, and two tires. #CarFixed #WoolSpun #TimeMarked #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle

And after picking up my fixed car, the spinning is wrapped up and my three-ply yarn is happening now. ❤️❤️❤️ #crafty #textiles #spinning #dropspindle

Finished plying. About 5/6 three-ply and 1/6 tail end in just two-ply (when one strand ran out). Pretty fun spin project, total about 44 yards. Huge love to Ercil, for my birthday gift. #textiles #crafty #spinning #dropspindle

Handmade

Inkle- / Tabby-woven trim for two tunics

September 21, 2018

When Sweetie needs more outfits for a five-day storytelling event, it’s not enough that I just sew some tunics and pants. I had to weave some trim. I took elaborate notes on HOW LONG everything took so that I can collect “weaving math” for future commissions or projects.

Since these are intended to be narrow bands, I'm thinking one in "sunrise/false dawn" and one in "night/late twilight" colors. The brick red will be the weft and a narrow selvedge on both. And both have the same Dark/Light extreme values. #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

Making some design sketches based on some trim I wove several years ago. Made one change after first sketch. Since time is an issue, gonna go with these. #FastDesign #textiles #crafty #weaving #treats

Getting the weft set and checking my threading. (flash)

close-up -- I found one threading mistake (it went under and should have gone over and with a heddle). You can just see the knot in the top right where I clipped and fixed the offending thread. Ready to weave! (4.5 hours work so far) #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

At the very end of my weaving: You can see that the threads have gotten as close to the split as possible.

Done: 114" finished trim. 4.5 hours all setup tasks (design, warp, heddles, get ready), 4.5 hours weave time. (2 hrs yesterday, 7hrs over 9hrs today). #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

CLOSE UP: Second trim has been fully warped. 2hrs 15min -- 45 min faster this time. #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

Finished work: 16 hours total (design, warp, weave, 2nd warp, 2nd weave). Just over 3 yards for each finished band (~14.2 inches per hour, total effort). #crafty #weaving #textiles #inkleweaving #tabbyweave #handwoven #StringMath

First sleeve has hand woven trim hand sewn in place #handmade #handwoven #handsewn #costuming #textiles #crafty

Silly pose was to ensure both sleeves with trim would show in the photo. One tunic is DONE! #crafty #textiles #handwoven #handsewn #costuming

Tomorrow, this tunic will be finished and then this trim will be applied. #crafty #textiles #handsewn #handwoven #costuming

Next time, I'll use this site to check my pattern before weaving. I can see some of the things I would have changed, compared to my hand-drawn version.

http://www.raktres.net/seizenn/loom_weaving_editor.html — Next time, I'll use this site to check my pattern before weaving. I can see some of the things I would have changed, compared to my hand-drawn version. http://www.raktres.net/seizenn/loom_weaving_editor.html

Silly poses of the striped tunic and the purple linen pants

Handmade

Designing Plain Weave Trim

September 10, 2018

Taking this inspiration of color to determine what trim to design and weave for my Sweetie's outfits needed in two weeks (eep!) #treats #crafty #textiles

looking over the inspirational colors for the project

Double checking values in black and white before deciding my designs #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

adding the selvedge/weft to the orange set

Reminding myself how to tie on continuous heddles for my inkle weaving technique... Oddly very similar to tying illawa heddles for my Andean Backstrap Weaving, but a method I created at home alone, "just because I'd seen it done once" for another project. #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

warping on the first band is done - B/W version

It takes about two hours for me to warp 51 threads for this band. #textiles #crafty #weaving #treats

Getting the weft set and checking my threading. (no flash)

I found one threading mistake .... (no flash)

I found one threading mistake (it went under and should have gone over and with a heddle). You can just see the knot in the top right where I clipped and fixed the offending thread. Ready to weave! (4.5 hours work so far) #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

Current progress in weaving first trim for Sweetie's tunics #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

Second trim has been fully warped. 2hrs 15min -- 45 min faster this time. #crafty #textiles #weaving #treats

Handmade