Cutting off a New Tapestry!

 

I've started 2026 with a big sigh of relief: I was able to begin and complete a tapestry within two months! Although I was nervous about the way the design was progressing as I wove (because once again I hadn't planned the image completely and so had to make modifications along the way), I'm pleased with the result.

 

 

The tapestry is 36" x 24.5" and woven at 8 epi with two-fold of wool. The warp is 12/9 cotton seine twine. 

 

I began weaving in late November after the Ruthie loom went to live in Minnesota with Emily. This is the first tapestry I've woven on the loom I purchased from a friend a few years ago. I liked using the loom quite a lot although the image can be seen less as I weave because of it being wound onto the cloth beam.

 

Completing the weaving of a tapestry isn't the final step. Next, I need to clip weft ends at the back and do a warp finishing and determine the hanging method. All of that usually takes awhile and I usually do it in stages over several days. I put the tapestry on a table and turn on podcasts or music and get to work. Somewhat boring task but it's part of the whole process. 

 

 

Here's the 2025 tapestry diary laid out on the table for finishing currently:

 

 I have a class coming in early March at the Folk School to which I now need to turn my attention. But I want to put a new warp on this loom before long. Maybe the next new tapestry will be a few months away!

 

A New Year—A New Warp

 Well, here's 2026 and the start of a new calendar. I like the first of the year because, to me, it is a way to mentally start again. Reboot and renew, I guess. Yesterday I completed my tapestry diary for 2025 and cut it off. It was a celebration of different oak species that are around Dahlonega for most of the images, plus one leaf I collected when teaching at Arrowmont. 

Fresh off the loom. It's 56" long x 11" wide and woven with natural dyed wool on linen warp, 8 epi.

 I have several more hours of finishing work to go on this so the year-long weaving turns into a year + of time. And that's OK with me.

After cutting off the 2025 weaving I tied onto the remaining warp ends with the new warp and got the loom ready for starting anew today, January 1. 

I tie on to the existing warp by holding the new one my left hand while I use my right hand and my left fingers to tie overhand knots with each thread, one by one in order. 

 

Looks like a mess once all the knots are tied but it's easy to straighten out with a little tugging.

 

 

I tension the warp by using orange juice jugs filled with water. I ease the knots through both the reed and the heddles before beginning to beam the warp.

 

 

And then hold up the tie-on rod that's attached to the cloth beam with bungee cords until I can get the warp tied to it evenly.

 

 

After tying on and spreading out the warp I'm ready to start! And I did so this morning although I didn't photograph the first day's weaving. For the month sections I'm thinking about following a year of transition for dogwoods for 2026. I'll decide about that soon and start the January image.

 

After preparing my tapestry diary warp for the new year here at home, I went to the studio to work on the current tapestry, the one of ginkgo leaves. I've woven consistently on it since November 29 when the Ruthie loom left. And now I'm about 9" from the top of the image. I'll need to weave beyond that for a few more inches of top border and the hem. I'm hoping to finish it in time for an exhibit of my work at the UNG Gainesville campus, Roy C. Moore Gallery, in the early part of 2026.

 

 

New year plans and hoping for the best. Happy year to come for everyone!