What is Wet Finishing?

There were questions when I mentioned "wet finishing my hand woven fabric."  So, this post is dedicated to answering that question.  I should say that these instructions are for cotton and other cellulose (plant) fibers.

Once the threads/yarns have been woven,  they are still not considered cloth.  At this point we call it a "web" or "webbing."   In common everyday talk with non-weavers, I still call it fabric or cloth, even though technically it isn't yet. Wet finishing is the process that changes it from "web" to "cloth."

On the loom- it is still webbing.

 Wet finishing is a process of washing the newly made fabric so that the threads relax into one another becoming cloth.  It is the first time the woven threads have been exposed to water.  I personally just put the web into the washing machine with some laundry - the shirts and/or pants.  As I wash on warm, it works well.  A warm wash is what is suggested.  I leave it for the full cycle and retrieve the cloth when I am moving the other laundry to the dryer.  This cloth does NOT go into the dryer yet.

Next up is the ironing stage.  Ironing the wet cloth helps to somewhat align the selvedges. When I do it, I am pulling the selvedge edge straight as the edge gets ironed. My method is "both selvedges of a section first."  Then I press out the middle. And then I repeat pressing the selvedges, pulling them straight again. 

The next stage is  hanging the fabric to dry undisturbed. 

One length of fabric drying after being wet finished.

Once the cotton fabric has been made into a garment - or whatever- it can be washed and dried by machine like any other cotton article.

After doing all of that then the fabric is more cohesive and ready to use. It still requires special techniques for cutting so that it doesn't start to come apart.
 One technique for cutting handwoven fabric is to sew a line where you wish to cut and then sew another line approximately 1/8 of an inch outside that line. You then can cut between the two sewn lines without the fabric coming apart. 

For the armholes on my vest, I  used a different method.  I marked the armholes with masking tape and cut them. Then I took the pieces to the machine and sewed the line to stabilize it. I find that works far better for curved lines.

That was probably more than you really wanted to know.  But maybe someone will find this very helpful.  It is always good to share knowledge, don't you think?

 Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

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The Handwoven Vest

About a week ago, in my "Side Stepping" post,  I showed you the fabric that was on my loom.  That fabric was taken off the loom and wet finished.  Then I lived with it a few days.  I was looking at something else I had made when it said "make me into something like that."  So I did.

Until Next Time,  

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Progress - The Night Sky

Today there was a nice bit of progress as I worked on The Night Sky quilt for my nephew.  I started with about eight large pieces.  I sewed some long and short seams to get the pieces joined.  Then once it was in three pieces, I took this photo to show you.

It is so large that I couldn't get it all in the photo.  It hangs nicely off the edges of my queen sized bed.

Here is the basic layout from EQ. 

You may notice that I changed the center block completely. I think that change gives it a little more "Pow!"  Don't you?    I also changed up the fabric in one of the blocks.  It added a bit more white to the design

The next step is to layer each section and quilt each of them. Then I will join them together into one big quilt.  I am excited with this progress. But I know that the next part will be time consuming. So if I don't post, don't worry.  I am probably working on it. But, I hope to post some of the quilting progress photos as I go.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

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Side Stepping

The Night Sky quilt is coming along, but I needed/wanted a break to do a couple of other projects.

I have gifted each member of our Spanish class with a quilted notebook cover and notebook.  But we recently got a new member who actually taught Spanish in public school.  She is helping us greatly.  So, of course, I needed to make a notebook for her also.

This will be her notebook.

I found a pre-pieced cover for it in my "chunk" bin. 

That piece was layered with batting and quilted.

Then it was cut to size. 

The interior lining and the end covers were added and sewn-

along with a pen pocket and a label.

Here is the entire outside of the cover.

I had a lot of fun quilting this piece.

And here is the inside front cover showing 

the pen pocket and the label.

I could not resist using the apple fabric.

I hope you get the symbolism 

but if not:

An apple for the teacher! 

I also pulled a warp that I had premade from the shelf and put it on my loom.

I could not resist starting to weave on it.

The weft thread (the one that goes side to side) is a thread that I space dyed 

some time in the past.  This warp seemed to be the perfect place to use it. 

This picture is probably more accurate in color

The weft thread is only red, blue, and purple, with spots of white where the skein was tied.  However, there is orange in the warp. Where the red sections cross the orange in the warp, the orange seems to intensify.

I am loving this fabric so far.  Of course, there will not be enough of the space-dyed yarn to do the entire length of the warp (it is six meters.)  I will try to use other weft yarns that  stay in the color family of the warp - but I make no promises. Ha ha.  Sometimes my muse has other ideas.

Until Next Time,  

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The Blocks are Sewn - Night Sky

The Night Sky quilt is coming along nicely.  This morning I finished sewing the last blocks.

I really like this block.  It comes together so nicely.  There are 32 pieces in it.

There are eight blocks - so that means that there are 

256 pieces in the eight blocks! 

Yes I did the math. 

This one has the most pieces of all the blocks in this quilt. 

The block shown in this printout is only 29 pieces.  And there are 

eight of those also. So that is 232 pieces.

There are four of another star block 

This one has 25 pieces -

so that makes 100 for the four blocks.

And the center star has 25 pieces - there is only one.

So there are 613 pieces - so far.  

I am really glad I was able to die cut these pieces! 

Of course, I have to add the background squares that are 12 1/2" each. 

And there are 28 of those yet to be cut. 

Plus, since I am doing this quilt in sections, there are two front joining strips to cut also.

The grand total of pieces for the front of this quilt is 643 pieces.  

That doesn't include the binding or the backing.  

Here is the big pile of blocks so far. 

As I think about it, I may cut some of the background in "chunks" rather than squares.

That will lower the number of pieces in the quilt and save a bit of fabric also. 

** New Follower Sue Keida :  You are a no reply blogger so I was unable to reply to your comment. You can fix that by enabling your email address in your blogger profile.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Progress - Cut, Sew, Press - Repeat

The Night Sky quilt is coming along nicely - although a bit slower than expected.  There are so many things that I must do daily. But progress is good. And progress is happening anyway.

First I cut lots and lots of pieces.  I learned not to add them all up - because doing the math can make it seem like "way too much work." After all, I do this for fun and because I enjoy it.

This isn't all the pieces for this block - I didn't cut enough of some of them - but the purple at top center are for a different block.

I laid out a block to be sure I was going to be happy with the colors.  I was pretty sure already.

Yes I like it.  The contrast between the background and the lighter purple is not perfect but it is okay.

Then I sewed and pressed and sewed some more.

The units on the far right still need the side pieces sewn on one side.

I may get to that today, or maybe not. 

Do you see that pink washi tape on my machine bed?  That really helps with keeping seams straighter.  I used a ruler under the needle to get an accurate quarter inch then placed the tape.

There is separate piece on the bobbin cover at the same 1/4" mark. 

I also used the washi tape to put this note on the control panel.

The single hole plate helps keep the fabric from being pushed down into the machine.

But if you use it and then switch to zigzag - WhAcK!  Broken needle.

So a visual reminder helps a lot. 

Until Next Time,  

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Starting a New Project - Night Sky Quilt

Over Christmas, I discovered that my oldest nephew has never been given one of my quilts.  Oops!  I asked him what colors and he said "Blue."  Rather than spend a lot of time explaining that I needed more than one color, I just said "Okay."  (heee heee- that gives me creative freedom.)

Gathering more fabrics than I could use into a big bag was my first step in the actual sewing part.  Electric Quilt 8 was actually the first step - creating the design.  I opted to use some of the same blocks I had used in one of my Island Batik Ambassador projects.  That inspired me to also use some Island Batik fabrics in this quilt - although there will be at least one that isn't.

Doesn't creativity always start by making a big mess?  After choosing the fabrics from the bag, I walked away leaving this big mess on the floor.

I may still use some of these fabrics. 

 I cut lots of pieces....these are just leftovers because I cut too many. (seeds for another project!)

I didn't think to take photos before I started sewing away like a mad man. 

These are sets of units ready to be sewn together to make 

This Block:

I made four of them. There are a lot of places where seams converge. 

If I didn't like this block, I would never make it again. 

Ha ha....but there are only four of these 

in this design. Whew! They are completed.

I think that I have seventeen more blocks to make. Nine of one and 8 of another 

But this quilt will be somewhat modern, 

so there is going to be a lot of open area for fun quilting. 

Now I need to get back to cutting and sewing. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

New Fabric -on the loom

Sometimes, I need a diversion from one form of creation. At these times, I simply switch to another form and work in a different format.   I am still doing fiber art, but this time I am creating the fabric from string.

A while back I put a warp on the loom as a challenge for myself.  I was going to weave a somewhat neutral fabric.  I wove almost two yards before I was longing to do bright colors.  I wanted fabric that was more interesting.   I cut that fabric from the loom, preserving the remainder of the warp so that I could continue to weave on it.

And I did weave and weave - and I am still weaving on it.  

A long stretch of cloth

Close up at the current location where I am weaving now.  

I hope you see those pieces of fabric trimmings that I added in as the weaving progressed.

I save my quilt block trimmings and thin scraps to use for this.

Batiks work best. 

Color changes are always fun.

Purple, aqua and red on this yellow/tan/ grayed purple warp

I will certainly be back to quilting soon. In fact, there is fabric arriving today for my next project. And the bargello is ready to layer, baste and then be quilted. Not to mention the 3 or more tops that are languishing on my shelves.....

Oh, perhaps you are wondering what I will do with this cloth I am weaving.  The simple answer is that I don't know yet.  When it is done, I will wait for inspiration. I hope the cloth will tell me what it wants to be. 

Hmmm.....so you want to see the neutral fabric?   Fair enough. 

It has a decided yellow cast but that was expected since I chose a couple of yellows to use in the warp.  Perhaps it will be a nice vest for someone.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

How I Decided - Bargello

The bargello is now  a completed top.  Although after it is quilted I will add side borders on it,  That will add a drop on the sides of the bed.

So how did I decide?   Honestly the W2, classic type bargello got the most votes - and I liked it best because it was classic.  But, in the early morning, just awakened moments,  I had a realization.  The seams are pressed to nest for ease of construction.   Would the nest in that configuration?

That was the big question. After breakfast, I laid it out on the bed.  In the W2 configuration,  the seams would be laying on top of each other. That would make for a lumpy seam line in the center of the quilt AND be difficult to match up.

Thus,  option 3, Kissin' Cousins won the game toss.

You will not be surprised that when I took it outside to hang and photograph,  the wind kicked up.  But I managed to get a fairly decent photo. I am very happy with how well I matched up the seams.
There are a couple of tiny  places where it doesn't quite match.  This is not a show quilt because I don't do show quilting.  So, it is just fine.  FYI,  I have never given a quilt to anyone who mentioned a seam not matching. And If I do, that person will never get another quilt from me. (ha ha.)

Now this will sit a few days (or more) until I have the opportunity to get it layered and basted. Then I will quilt this section.

Until Next Time,  

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Bargello - Decision Time!

The Bargello quilt is now in two BIG pieces.    I have been thinking for some time about how I will join them together. Does that sound crazy?  There is the option of joining them together like in the pattern. (although I did not remove the piece from the end of each strip.) 

So that would look like this

 Not bad at all....but a bit to much like everyone else's. Right? 

I mean how many of these kits did they sell?

Then there is what I call "The W2" or the "Two Blue W's"

And then there is this one that I call "Kissin' Cousins"

It moves the motion to the center of the quilt. 

The big question is "Which one do I want to do???"   

I can't decide.  So I am asking you to weigh in. 

Tell me which one and why you would use that one.

I also have a local consultant that will give me an opinion also.  

Then I will decide. 

And as they say "The Judge's decisions are final." ha ha

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.