A lot of people ask me what pattern I used for a project and I have to tell them that I now prefer to mix and match patterns according to my whims. I simply make sure that the main points of any pattern match up with whatever I started out with.
There seems to be a progression of process in the craft of Swedish weaving where the novice starts out with a basic pattern to complete their project. This is the wisest way to begin. Even though everyone discovers that Swedish weaving is not nearly as difficult to do as we first thought, beginning with the basics is where we really learn how to do it. From learning the basics, we can very easily go on to "doing it our own way".
I like to think I'm pretty experienced but one thing I have not been able to master is how to weave letters, numbers, or pictures, and that is on my to-do list for the future. I tried once and failed miserably and have been unwilling to try again but that will change!
Novice Swedish weavers will already have discovered how expensive the pattern books are but you can get by with just a few of them if you do as I do and mix and match. Every project will be totally unique and never seen anywhere else. I like this!
We also learn from our mistakes. Last year I decided to make a large quantity of Christmas runners for a craft show I attend. I foolishly bought the cheapest red and green yarns I could find because I knew I probably wouldn't use them for anything but Christmas runners. Visually they looked fine but they weren't fun to work with. I enjoy working mainly with "Simply Soft" but there are other good ones, too. I guess my point is to use your time to your benefit and buy the yarns you enjoy working with.
I'm still working on the afghan for my grandson and his fiance. She was just the girlfriend when I started it a few months ago but they made the big commitment on New Years Eve. We are all thrilled with his excellent choice of a life partner!
Well, I hope we Swedish weavers make lots of beautiful creations in 2017 and I hope many more novices join us.
I would love to find blank weaving pattern paper to create my own design. Do you have any ideas on where I might find this?
ReplyDeleteI found a graph on the back of one of my pattern books and was able to make a lot of copies to do my own creating. I'm away from home until the end of March so I don't have my books here so I can't tell you which one it was. I'm not very computer smart but, if I remember when I get back home, I'll try to put one on the blog for you to copy.
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful! Thank you so much. I have fallen instantly in love with weaving after learning from a sweet lady who is wintering at our campground in Florida. I have so enjoyed browsing through the post and amazing blankets here.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I learned the craft, too. I stay at Kissimmee South (but this year I'm staying with my daughter in Tampa) and one of our residents taught us. I was hooked and temporarily gave up quilting and now concentrate on Swedish weaving. It really is a beautiful craft.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do different edgings. Do I still need to have sewed edges if I do an Italian Hem stitch? Or loop stitch?
ReplyDeleteLoop stitch is done for letters and designs - but embroidery can be done, too.
ReplyDeleteThe hem stitch can be used anywhere on the fabric, does not have to be only for the edge.
Hems are also not necessary, if you even out all around the cloth and continue the line/row out long enough to be fringe.
After all is done, use sewing machine around the edges to keep fringe from pulling out.