Weaving with Plastic

 So... I'm supposed to start my residency at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub in October. Even though vaccinations are progressing, our 'road map' doesn't seem to provide for enough opening for me to be able to do that. It's still not confirmed in any way and I don't expect it to for a little while. However, I need to do a little weaving 'just in case'. It also means that I get the current warp off my loom and I can think of a new project for October.

So I've started weaving my little plastic rugs. These are to form an installation that, basically, echoes the rugs used in a yurt and I hoped to figure out a way to hang them in a circle. I was to do two off the current nylon warp and then collect materials from the shops in Ivanhoe for the remaining completed during my residency.

So I started on the first one, which is a simple tabby weave with whatever plastic I have to hand.

And, I've finished...

Plastic is difficult to handle and the finished piece was cut-off before starting the next. This was mostly because of the bulk, but I wanted to reset the warp so that it wove easily.

The second 'rug' is using rya knots to create a rug with more texture. It's slower, but is interesting to weave. You certainly work out why, down the centuries, young small fingers have been exploited to weave these type of rugs.

Each one is only a metre long, so hopefully I can finish this, this week. 

Plastic spinning

As I look forward to Experimental Spinning on Saturday, I realise I haven't even said anything about last month, and, we had such alot of FUN!

It was a plastic month. I've spun with plastic before and got some great results.

This time I had an ulterior motive as I wanted to have a go at combining some stashed acrylic yarn. Yes, I'm the person who everyone gives it to, and, I just can't say no.....

Even to pink!....

What I wanted to do was spin plastic around the acrylic and see if the colour would show through but be a bit more subdued. The result is not too bad...

Now, I hear you all ask, what are you going to do with it? Well may you ask...but I want to make some more nests....

Anyway, there were some amazing yarns created, combining yarns and plastic. We did discuss what you might do with these yarns and thought that things like little bags, you know, for phones and other young stuff! might be fun. I am looking forward to seeing what the others come up with.