So many art projects in mind right now. I think of the mind as having areas-- do you do that?--where at the moment, in the art area, the current figure, not far from completion, is at the front of my thinking, then the pants I'm going to sew, the pockets for the skirt, and other sewing, are in the middle, and a partly woven, partly knitted skirt is in the background.
The last one is the reason the cotton warping thread is out, with ideas for the rigid heddle loom.
The idea, Sarah Swett's, is to weave two straight panels, a front and a back, then knit side panels for good hang and fit.
So that project also has its own front, middle and back! I'm thinking brioche, a kind of super rib, would be good for the knitted sides. So first I need to get or make yarn. Then learn the stitch. Then execute the side panels.
The woven pieces also need yarn. And right up front it's possible I may need to spin a ton of it.
The spinning can be done between other projects, a bit at a time. I think I'll learn the stitch on any old yarn so as to be ready. Then I can spin and ply bulky yarn ready to knit and weave. Or I may use the warp yarn as weft for a sturdy fabric.
So that's the current state of the back of the art part of the mind.
Here's the doings for getting on with the figure, front part of the mind.
I'm thinking of wiring the parts together. Then setting it on a stand yet to be made, then the final fabric on.
The clothes sewing, the middle part, only needs time, I know pretty well what I'm doing there.
Meanwhile, I need sustenance, and thought a batch of oatmeal cookies would do it. I used the official Quaker Oats recipe.
A friend who knows this stuff told me that the recipes on the packages of any food have typically been tested and sampled and studied far more than your typical cookbook recipe.
They can't afford a recipe that might not work, since their name's on it. No experiments or tricky steps She concluded that you'll have a safe, reliable outcome, not wonderful, just predictable.
So I was in the mood for predictable, aren't we all; it's a big recipe, so I thought I'd halve it. Then I read it. One egg. Oh.
Maybe I'll make the whole recipe and freeze half the dough.. Then I thought nah, I'll bake it in three batches, allowing for my pans only one of which can go on the right rack at a time. Then I'll freeze half the baked cookies.
So it came to pass.
These are breakfast, afternoon tea, and
Late night with a mug of golden milk.
Handsome Son has been working a lot of evenings lately so I haven't seen him. But there's a buildup in the freezer of his share of various muffins and cookies, shared with children next door, and neighbors on the other side. And me. I do get a look in. But there's a Handsome Son setaside each time.
Here's a YouTube documentary about tapestry weaving, with a brilliant weaver working an art tapestry along with a rapid history of the form.
He designed the subject, then drew it on the warp threads, then executed it. He improvises, too, as the work calls for it. The voiceover explains that tapestry weaving involves the hands as tools as much as the shuttle, adjusting in the process.
I think this is why I love it. You're in there with your hands, working in partnership. I can only dream of his level of expertise, though.
There are other weaving projects on the doc
Anyway, take a look. It's worth it.
