Those Pesky Heddles

For many, putting heddles on the loom (heddles connect your warp to your shedding device) is the most challenging part of warping simply because it's easy to make a mistake. Even after warping and heddling many, many looms, I still make my fair share of mistakes.

The key is: patience. You can't put your heddles on in a rush or while watching TV or while having a conversation with your friends. Trust me, I've tried, and usually when I do that I make a mistake. In the long run, it's a lot easier if you take your time and make sure every heddle is on the right warp thread because one crossed heddle or one missed heddle means you're going to have a lot of not-so-fun troubleshooting ahead of you.

Although you still should follow our warping instructions (the .pdf can be found here: http://www.mirrixlooms.com/warpinginstructions.html) I made a few small diagrams that might be helpful to see how the heddles should be put on your loom and what mistakes you might make.

Book Giveaway!

Chris Franchetti Michaels, (you may know her as beadwork.about.com's fabulous guide) recently released a new jewelry making book "Teach Yourself VISUALLY More Jewelry Making". Now, I know this blog is dedicated to weaving on a loom, but I'm sure many of you are multi-talented when it comes to your crafting skills and I wanted to offer one reader a FREE copy of Chris' book! 

Not that I need new crafts to take up, but this book has some seriously tempting projects. From learning wire jewelry making techniques to bending and shaping metals to making your own rivets to using chain, to working with leather (that tempts me the most... do you think my husband would mind if I turned our bedroom into storage for craft supplies?) and clay and resin and... lots more. Twelve chapters are filled with easy-to-follow instructions to teach techniques as well as projects. Amazon will give you a little sneak peak (click "Click to Look Inside"). This book is the follow-up to Chris' first book, which I haven't read but I'm sure is fantastic, "Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making and Beading".

How to Enter:

Comment on this post anytime before midnight (PDT) on May 7th, 2012, Like us (Mirrix Looms) on Facebook and be sure to check out beadwork.about.com!

Giveaway Rules:

Entries must be received by midnight on May 7th, 2012
Spam will not be entered.
You must live in the continental United States to win
You must be at least 18 years old to enter






Oh, and you should probably check out Chris's Affinity Bracelets she made on her Mirrix. 

Inkle Weaving on a Mirrix

I you already have a Mirrix Loom, you don't need to buy an inkle loom. Why? On a Mirrix you can make long (twice the length of your loom) inkle pieces and even wide pieces and the shedding device works for inkle weaving in the same way it does for tapestry.

Inkle weaving is kind of the opposite of tapestry. Tapestry is weft-faced, which means ONLY the weft can show for a tapestry to be tapestry. For Inkle weaving, only the warp shows. This means your design is based on how you've arranged your warp. Here I will be doing a very simple inkle weave to show you how it can be done on a Mirrix. There are more complex technique you may want to explore.

I warped my loom in the same way I would for tapestry (you can learn how here: http://www.mirrixlooms.com/images/warpinginstructions/tapestry.pdf) without a spring with 6 warps of pink, 6 of dark blue and then 6 more of pink. This warp pattern will be what you see when you're finished weaving. It is important when warping (and weaving) to keep the warp threads as close together as possible which is why I did not use a spring here.

I used size 8 perle cotton for my warp and my weft.

Beginning to warp my loom (note that I am not using a spring)

Starting my dark blue. To do this, simply tie off the first color you are weaving and then tie on with your next color and continue warping as if you were using the same warp thread. You can do this however many times you want. 

My loom all warped and ready for heddles.

The loom with heddles put on. Remember before you start weaving to keep your warps pushed together as close as they can. Using thinner heddles might be helpful to keep your warp from spreading where the heddles are put on the loom. 

The weaving part here is easy! Ideally, you'd use a shuttle to bring your warps through and to pack down your weft threads. You could also use any (thin and not sharp, a credit card might work well) edge to pack down your weft threads, but a tapestry beater or fork will not work because you don't want the tons separating the warp threads.

You can see how easy this is and how neat it looks when you can see the warp and not the weft. I love it! Try it out and let us know how you like it and any tricks and tips you have for inkle weaving on a Mirrix!

How has your mother (or a mother you love) inspired you artistically?

As I get older, I appreciate more the childhood that shaped who I am today. Part of that was growing up in a house full of creative energy, inspiration and lots of art supplies. I joke about how I thought it was normal to have a living room full of gigantic floor looms and how, by early elementary school, I was a certified yarn snob. Although I wasn't very interested in weaving as a kid, we were constantly creating and always allowed full artistic expression. I remember when was about five years old there was a bike parade in our town where kids would decorate their bikes with streamers and bows and ride through the town square. There were prizes for the best decorated bikes. I took my tricycle, strapped a tiny blue chair to the back and placed my giant stuffed lion in it. Then, I drew a person in market on a piece of paper and taped that to the front. I think there may have also been streamers. I won the prize for "funniest". That incident pretty well exemplifies my artistic senses from then on. I was always inventing, creating, trying to come up with something new. For me, art was about expression. My mother fostered my love for creating by always encouraging, helping and never quelling my wild side. She was also quite the creative force, at the time very serious about her tapestry weaving, and I am sure living in such an environment helped shaped who I am today.

In honor of Mother's Day this year, we've launched a little contest on Facebook. You can win a $25.00 Mirrix Loom Gift Certificate just by answering this question (Either on our Facebook Page or Facebook Group):

How has your mother (or a mother you love) inspired you artistically? 


We will choose one winner on Mother's Day.

Here are our entries so far: (Be prepared for some tears!)

Kathryn A Wyant Schulte My Mother Mary Margaret inspired me artistcally by being a cake-decorator. She also inspired me to be creative because at 8 I taught myself to sew and she bought my first sewing machine.It was a very good one,probably more than my dad and her could afford. I still use it and I have had it for 52 years .It is the best, better than all my new ones.


Therese Magnani My mother is a quilt artist. I tried quilting and found that while I could do it, it wasn't my thing. My mom has taken a lot of classes and workshops over the years that combine a variety of fiber art techniques, and when I go to visit her, she always has something new to share with me. We end up making projects together and teaching each other something in the process. In doing this, she opens up new ways for me to see things. Whether it is working with color combinations, materials, or techniques, she inspires me to always look for something new to try. I aspire to be as creative and productive as she is now when I reach her age.


Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten My mom was an amazing knitting, crochet and needlepoint artist, as well as a phenomenal wildlife photographer. When I was a kid growing up, she earned her income from selling her original patterns to yarn and craft magazines, and then later as an editor for those magazines. When I was pregnant with my son, she was my inspiration for venturing out as a full time artist so that I could stay home with my son for his first years. She never discouraged my sister and I when it came to our artistic endeavors, and we are both successful profession al artists today! I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the example of my mom! Mom passed away in 2008 when my son was just five months old, but she inspired me to follow my bliss!


McKinley Murry My Mother is my best friend. She has always put me first in her life. Mom has taught me to always try new things and never stop learning. For the past 3 years we have done fiber arts. I know more and do more than most people. We have changed the way people think of challenged people. Mom has guided me, but allows me to do my own thing. I love color because Mom made color important in my life. I can express myself through my weaving. And I am judged by my skill not by my looks. Weaving gives me a voice equal to others. My voice. My work. Mom is always close by to cheer my efforts. She provides me with tons of good books to use for ideas. Buys me the best supplies. The best music to listen to. And most of all her time and energy. She always ask my opinon of her work and listens to my ideas. We help each other reach for the moon in our weaving and if we fall? We land in the stars and start again. Life is Good.


McKinley Murry I have to speak of another improtant Mother in my life. Miss Betty Clarkson. She and Mr. Jim are parents of Miss Bailley their Cocker Spaniel. She is like a mother to me. She has taught me many fiber arts. While Mom was going nuts weaving bracelets, Miss Betty and I were learning tapestry together. She always has a smile on her face and a "Can do attitude". She is proud of my weaving and we laugh a lot together being "Goobies". Miss Betty supports my ideas and always tries to help me as little as possible so I learn. That is a very hard thing to do for someone you love. To watch me struggle and allow me to make my own mistakes. She inspires me to be the best I can be just like my Mom does. I needed to tell you how Important Miss Betty is to my work. We share ideas and our life together. I love her and her family. Miss Betty Clarkson my BFF!


Betty Clarkson My Mother always instilled in each of her 4 daughters the love of creating. At a very young agea we did clothes for our dolls, embroiedery, pot holder weaving, and many other fiber crafts. I remember one summer creating a picnic cloth. Mom took a new white bed sheet and we decorated it with fruit. Tracing the design unto the cloth and using crayons to fill in the color. Wax paper was placed on the design area and heat set with the iron. Her encouragement of the fiber arts were contagious. I began weaving on a simple loom and graduated to a floor loom. It did not stop there. Spinning and dyeing fibers was another adventure into the wonderful world of fiber. I started using the Mirrix Looms about a year ago and now am enjoying the journey of learning how to create tapestry and bead weaving. My mother always encouraged and instilled the love of creating with fiber. She passed 3 years ago - I miss her but know she is happy that I am continuing my journey. Thank-you Mom for everything. Hugs XOXOXO


Patty Stabile My Mom let me try things and had the patience of a saint when I failed, ie: knitting. Mom can do anything and I keep trying to catch up to her standards, especially my flower arranging. She made my bridal bouquets, beautiful.


Denise Prince My mother was an expert seamstress. The most amazing part of this is that she was entirely self-taught. In my youth, when I would want to try some new artistic endeavor, she was always supportive. She taught me to sew by showing me what I was suppose to do -- and then leaving the room! She was never far, in case I needed help. Whatever I tried, she was there to offer support (from the next room! lol). When I started making jewelry, she was my #1 client. When she would get a compliment on a piece I made, she would say, "My daughter made it. She only uses the good stuff." She inspired me with her "you can do anything" attitude and constant belief that everything I did was wonderful.

Susan Kirby When I was in high school and learning to sew, my Mom would always buy me the best fabric. She would encourage me by admiring everything I made. She was one of my best clients for my jewelry not only wearing it herself, but buying it often for gifts. She always said she was proud of me.

Sherie McManaman My mother is a true artist, she worked in oils and pastels for a great deal of her life. She always supported me in anything I tried - from painting to sewing to knitting. She is to this day, ever patient and happy to share her talent and steer me in the right direction.

Cindy Moore My mother is a wonderful seamstress. She made almost all my clothes until I learned to sew myself. I always had the up-to-date fashions in school thanks to her. Because of that, I know I can have anything I want if I make it myself.


Mothers Day Contest Entry
My mom is my biggest inspiration, she is a great seamstress, avid knitter and crocheter and owns her own LYS. At a young age all five of us were crafters, even the boys. Mom always said "Don't quit" You can do it. My eight year old brother taught me to sew oven mitts for christmas on the old treadle. Sewing was my first passion, then knitting, but now I found beading I cant stop. When we would go to bed at night and mom was knitting by the fire, in the am we would have new mitts or socks to go to school. She is precious and still teaching today. My sisters are both great painters and seamstress , I dont paint or draw.

Weave-Along 6: Crystal and Two-Cut Bead Affinity Bracelet

Necessary materials: 

Warp:  Hand painted silk is nice but anything strong and beautiful will do

Beads:  We are using lovely two cut size 11/0 iris beads (www.caravanbeads.net)

Crystals:  any size 4mm round crystals will do

Warp your loom with the hand painted silk warp (or something beautiful).  You will essentially have six warps, but we suggest you double the end warps so that you have more silk to create the rope or braid at the ends.  You will also be leaving a space twice as wide as the other spaces between the two middle warps.  This is to accommodate the crystal, which is twice as wide as the beads.

String up six of the two cut beads and put behind and between the warp threads.  Sew through the front of the warp making sure to capture all the beads

 For row two, you will string up two beads, one crystal, two beads.

I have skipped a row, but what I am doing here is what you need to do with your first crystal.  Pick up two beads.  Bring thread in front of piece after warp three.  Sew through crystal.  Bring thread behind warp before warp four.  String two beads.  Then sew back through the two beads, the crystal and the remaining two beads.

 Weave two rows of just beads.  Repeat two rows with one crystal.

  Weave until you've woven fifteen crystals  Remove from loom.

Trim loops on end of warp.

Tie overhand knots in the pairs of warps.  For fun, we slipped on two glazed clay beads.  You must have something fun around your house you can slip on before creating the rope.

We made just one rope by dividing the warps in half, twisting in the direction of twist already in the warp and then back twisting on itself to create one rope on each end.  Recently, we've figured out that C-clamps come in handy for this operation.  Just clamp the body of your piece to a table to keep it stable while making the ropes.

For the cl asp, make a small rope with the warp material and then wrap it twice around the over-lapped warp ends and pulling it tightly.  Tie a knot.

Your bracelet is now ready to wear or to gift!

The Friendship Bracelet All Grown Up

Like many of us these days I live across the country from some of my closest friends. Skype, Facebook, IM and email have made keeping in touch much easier, but it's still hard to be far from all those people who I have known the longest. My best friend, 3,000 miles away in New Hampshire (I'm in Seattle these days), had a fantastic idea recently: to take a notebook and send it back and forth across the country filled with whatever we want: poems, pictures, journal entries and anything else we can think of. It was such a wonderful surprise to get the notebook in the mail a few weeks ago and I am excited to send mine back. In addition to a whole bunch of writing I decided to include an Affinity Bracelet in the notebook. I won't show the bracelet in case she reads this blog, but it was a pretty basic all-bead Affinity with lines of crystals added periodically making the edges not straight.

The great thing about these Affinity Bracelets, but also about creating art in general, is that it gives you a piece of yourself to share. My husband and I got married recently and I must say some of the most touching gifts were handmade. I mean, we adore our new vacuum cleaner (seriously, I love that vacuum cleaner) but the painting that was painted just for us? That's a special kind of gift. 

Create. Share.

Craftsy

It was a year ago next month that we posted our first project to the then brand-new website Craftsy. We watched as they grew from a simple place to post projects to a great resource for patterns, instructional videos and inspiration. We connected with them fairly early on and eventually planned an online instructional course that we've been shooting this week!

Claudia, filming!

The course will be sold on Craftsy and is more detailed than anything we've done before. It covers aspects of tapestry, bead weaving and combining the two and will presented on the fantastic Craftsy platform, allowing students to ask questions and share their work online! 

We had a lot of fun shooting. The people at Craftsy are so incredibly nice and fun and funny too.  

Claudia's hair and makeup was done by the fabulous Danica. Check out her website: http://danicajardien.com/

Expect this course to be available in the next month or so. Thanks to everyone at Craftsy and remember to check out their website at www.craftsy.com.