Comfortcloth Weaving : On the Loom

Sometimes, life gets a little too busy. When this happens, I like to take a step back and look at what I have been working on. Often I am so focused on what is happening right in front of me that I forget all the work I have done.

So today I'm going to share some work I have been making, designing, and sending out to the world. If you follow my Instagram account @comfortcloth you can also see some other behind the scenes footage of my work on the loom.

Cotton llama blanket sample on the loom — A cotton and llama blanket sample on the loom.

Cotton llama blanket wash sample — The same sample after it has been washed.

In the spring I had been asked to create some samples out of a client's llama yarn and some cotton to help make the llama go farther. These samples were challenging because I was trying to balance the cotton and the llama only to discover that the llama fiber WOULD NOT SHRINK. The cotton created a wonderful basket weave, and the llama creates this wonderful "bubble" effect when it crosses itself. This project has been put on hold until a solution can be reached.

The next weaving project is creating a set of tea towels that are mix and match. These samples were created from UKI cotton- but since making these samples the company changed its minimum order policy so that I no longer have access to this material. After a lot of math, and searching the web, I decided on Bockens Cotto-lin yarn. It is going to be beautiful.

Towel color sneek peek — Towel color sneak-peak.

A little peak at what is to come when I have a little bit of time for some production runs.

Tegan weaving a chunky throw — Chunky throws!

Last week I talked about this amazing yarn. I have been weaving these chunky throws in a ton of colors. I still have a few colors left to weave with but my plate has filled up with other priorities.

Silver gradient blanket warp being tensioned while winding on

Silver gradient blanket warp on the loom

Silver gradient warp woven with sweedish pattern

After finding out that I couldn't easily get UKI cotton, I decided to start busting through my extensive cotton collection to make room for new product. I had a lovely grey gradient sitting on my shelves that I decided to create a couple of simple cotton throws with. I used the darkest grey in both the warp and weft in order to make the center of the throws just shimmer like silver.

Material testiing for overshot — Material testing for an old overshot pattern I designed.

Color material and finishing testing for overshot — Continued testing colors, materials, and finishing.

Final color and materials of overshot — Custom Overshot Pattern.

I also took the time to translate my cryptic college note taking in order to recreate this overshot pattern that I had designed at a workshop at Harrisville Designs. The cotton background is also a UKI cotton- so these samples allowed me to decide on the pattern weft for future coverlet projects. The brown is Jaggerspun Maine Line 2/8, and the burgundy is Jaggerspun Superwash Sock 4/14. I'm excited to make this happen but it is all about time management.

Light bathmat on the loom — Using up extra warp.

Finished bathmats — A couple of small throw rugs that I created with some extra warp.

I usually have extra warp at the end of my projects that I reserve for samples, small extra projects, or just to have some fun at the end of a long run of yardage. I wove this broken twill pattern with 12/9 Cotton warp and Harrisville Highland wool for the weft. These are just fun bright additions to a room. And it was a relief to just weave something quickly.

Overshot sample green — Green overshot sample.

Overshot sample blue — Blue overshot sample.

Overshot sample piles — Samples getting ready to be sent off for client review.

Custom finished overshot — The final decision on the sett, materials, and colors for my overshot pattern.

I recently have had an opportunity to work with an amazing company named Jamie and the Jones. Currently I am working on the final product, but these are images of the samples that I produced for them. I utilized my original star overshot pattern I created in college, and an overshot pattern I created using a name draft technique. In the future I will posting about the whole process and what I have learned from this experience.

This is what I have been up to since the Spring! There are so many other little things- but these have been bigger projects that have been in the forefront of my creative mind.

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