Handweaving by Nikki

Silk Wedding Shawl

handweavingbynikki — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:31:40 +0000

We recently had a special wedding in our family and I wanted to make a special shawl for the bride. I had some sumptuous off-white 16/2 spun silk yarn that I knew would provide a lovely sheen and luxurious drape.

: Beautiful Lisa in her wedding shawl

I used a mixture of 5/2 perle cotton, and 2 textured cotton/rayon blends as the warp. I wanted it to be sheer so I wove it in plain weave. Plain weave, however, does not let the beautiful sheen of the silk show to its best advantage. So, I randomly wove sections of twill which allowed that silk to float over the warp threads allowing them to shine.

The end result was a lovely bride in a shawl that prepared her for any chill the evening might bring.

Tagged: Cotton, Handwoven, Plain Weave, Silk, Twill

A Good Day to Dye

handweavingbynikki — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 06:11:45 +0000

Dyeing warp chains in the garage requires several days, preferably with nice weather. Trusting what the weather man was telling me, I recently began the process by mixing the dyes. I buy my fiber reactive dyes in a powder form from Dharma Trading Company. The dye powder is mixed with water, urea and table salt. Here I’m adding the urea pellets.

When I add the dye powder, I wear a mask because the dye powder particles are extremely fine and I don’t want to breathe them into my lungs.

Because most colors are a combination of red, yellow & blue, I like to know what the underlying color is when deciding which dye to use. I find that paper coffee filters are a good way to let the color separate out into its different components. This way I know if a green has a stronger underlying blue or yellow hue. This works for many different color combinations.

Early in the morning on a bright sunny day, I began by setting out the dye bottles.

The cotton warp is soaked in a solution of water and soda ash to get the fiber ready to accept the dye. Then the warp threads are carefully laid out on a strip of plastic wrap on the table. Next comes the fun part: squirting the dye colors wherever the mood strikes me. After each warp is dyed, it is rolled up in the plastic wrap and allowed to sit over night.

The next day proved the weather man wrong. The day dawned cold and overcast. I decided to do the rinsing in the (unfinished) kitchen. On the counter in the dish pan are the rolled up chains wrapped in plastic. I’m removing the plastic from one of the chains. After being rinsed several times, the warp goes into the bucket on the floor to the right which holds a solution of Synthopol and water. After a few more rinses, the warp chain goes into the bucket to my left.

In the garage is another sink and a portable wringer. After a few more rinses, followed by several runs through the wringer, the last step is to put the warps gently into the washing machine on spin cycle. By now,very little dye will come out of the fiber. This is a warp of 8/2 unmercerized cotton for towels. Weaving these towels one after the other is so much fun! These colored warp threads will be set up in a stripe pattern along with white threads in a Fibonacci sequence. I use different solid color weft yarns and each towel is unique. The fun part is watching what happens when the solid color crosses the hand dyed portion which changes as the warp progresses. Where the weft crosses the warp, a new color appears.

My favorite part is usually seeing the newly dyed warps drying in the sun. This day was too cold and overcast for that so the warps were hung in the new kitchen on a makeshift clothesline. Still a pretty sight. In addition to the 8/2 unmercerized cotton for towels, this batch contains 5/2 perle for shawls and rayon chenille for scarves. I can’t wait to start weaving!

14,056 Mug Rugs And Counting!

handweavingbynikki — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:35:44 +0000

I’m preparing for 1st Saturday again. My supply of Mug Rugs is always low at the end of the year. I just finished another batch. This picture shows some that are long gone. I’ve kept track since I first started making these in 1991 as just a little item to sell for Christmas. They have been so popular that I have continued to make them and have kept track of how many since I started. As of 1/1/11, the total number of sets of 4 is 3,514. That makes a total of 14,056 individual Mug Rugs! And I can’t keep them in stock. Every time I think I have saturated the market, I realize my basket is almost empty. Thank you to all who have purchased these silly little coasters and come back for more.

On Feb 5, I’ll be with Shirley Keller in her Spirit Hill Studio, 43641 Skyline Dr., Three Rivers. We’ll be open from 11:00 to 5:00. Come and see us.

Happy New Year!

handweavingbynikki — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 02:22:23 +0000

If you’re not watching football on Jan 1, come to Three Rivers and make the rounds of those participating in 1st Saturday. In honor of 1/1/11, many of us are offering 11% off of all purchases. My studio will be open and so will several others as well as Colors and the Art Co-op. Pick up a map at Anne Lang’s Emporium. I have new soy candles, towels and scarves. Click on www.1stSaturdayTR.com to see who’s participating. I’m also a participating merchant for Heros’ Month.

Stocking Stuffer Boutique

handweavingbynikki — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 06:54:32 +0000

December 4 is the last show of the year for me! I have new soy candles, handwoven table runners, scarves and more. There will be 6 artists at the Stocking Stuffer Boutique. Refreshments! Come and do your Christmas shopping. 11 to 5 www.1stsaturdaytr.com

Preparations for November

handweavingbynikki — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:54:11 +0000

Harvest of Handwovens was a great success! Now I have to replenish my stash for 3 events in November. I’m weaving more towels & Mug Rugs, setting up another shawl, some scarves and holiday table runners. Tonight I’ll be making more soy candles. This Saturday is 1st Saturday in 3 Rivers. Our theme is “Leaves” and that’s great because the leaves on the South Fork are gorgeous! I also have my “Oak Leaves & Acorns” note cards. I hope you will visit me. Check out my “Events” page to see what else is happening this month.

Organic Natural Color Cotton Towels

handweavingbynikki — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:34:53 +0000

Yesterday was spent weaving these organic cotton towels that are all naturally colored–no dye. I’m preparing for the Green Faire that will take place on Saturday, Oct 2 at the Art Center in Three Rivers. It’s all part of the 1st Saturday event for October. The fun thing about this natural color cotton is that when it is washed, it changes from tan to green. Successive washes deepen the color. I’ve also been decorating some new Soy Candles for fall and Christmas. Today, I’ll weave a few more Blue Jean Placemats. Come on out and enjoy the fun.

“Harvest” is September’s 1st Saturday

handweavingbynikki — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:32:34 +0000

September 4 is the date for September’s 1st Saturday art celebration. “Harvest” is the theme for the day. These hand dyed towels are the latest harvest from my loom–love those Fibonacci stripes. Come and visit me in my studio where I will be weaving another batch of hand dyed towels–earth tones this time in answer to your requests. I will also be weaving holiday table runners. A new shawl as well as new scarves, Mug Rugs and soy candles will also be available. I’ve been busy! Click on the link to 1st Saturday in my blog to see what else is going on during 1st Saturday. My studio will be open from 11:00 to 5:00. I hope to see you here.

First Saturday Celebrates Golden Hills

handweavingbynikki — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:43:36 +0000

Anne's bowl & Nikki's towels

1st Saturday in Three Rivers, August 7, will be a celebration of the Golden Hills around our town. Artists will be out and about in various locations. Discounts are offered by restaurants and lodges. Several of us, including myself, will have our studios open from 11:00 to 5:00. I will be weaving towels and will have towels, mug rugs, baby blankets, shawls and scarves available. I will also be offering my hand-poured soy candles. Also in my studio, you will find the beautiful hand turned wooden bowls of Anne Birkholz and delightful clay sculptures of Carole Clum. We hope you will take the time to come up the south fork and visit us. Click on the link to the right for more details regarding 1st Saturday. You can pick up a flyer at Anne Lang’s Emporium in downtown Three Rivers. See you Saturday!

Some of my weaving and candles

1st Saturday in Three Rivers

handweavingbynikki — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:10:28 +0000

Look for the purple flag

The Artists of Three Rivers, California have joined together to create a day of food, fun and fabulous art. It is held on the 1st Saturday of every month and specials are promoted throughout the town – by artists, restaurants, gift shops, galleries and more. Look for the purple flags.