Christine's Blog

Blog # 1 2015

 

Blog  Feb/ March 2015

 

Wow it's the start of a new year. January passed so fast and now we are in February almost March!  Hope you all are keeping warm and weaving up a storm this snowy cold winter.

 

Well 2015 is going to be a busy year for me and the business.  With shows and classes being planned and a few new patterns in the works, I will have a full schedule for sure.  My first new pattern for 2015 will be out in a few days. Please visit my Facebook page to see what else I am creating.  www.facebook.com/funandfastpatterns

 CA # 111 Paper Dolls  Table runner will be on my Facebook page as well. 

 

I feel so good about getting back into the designing and creating part of my Swedish Weaving.  With that in mind I will talk more about how I get my inspiration in future blog posts so stay tuned for a great year!

 

In case you have not heard, I am working on a book 3 which should come out later this year.  It will be as the other books 11 patterns ranging form  Easy to Advanced designs and from runners to afghans.

 

This year I will also be focusing on building up the wholesale side of my business.   If you know of any shops in your area that would be interested please let me know or have them contact me.  It would be a win win situation as you would be able to buy locally and save on the shipping and the shop owners would have more clients coming in to shop.  I will also add them to my website.

 

I still have my shop with all the supplies and notions to get you going with your Swedish Weaving. That will not change but booking an appointment would be a good idea as I am not always home.  I am still available to help with your Swedish Weaving questions, just email me at [email protected] 

 

So again I wish you a great 2015 year with may wonderful weaving / crafting hours.

 

Take care,

 

Christine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog #6 2014

 

Hi, Welcome back!

 

Thank you for your questions and interest in Swedish Weaving.  Please feel free to email me any questions you have regarding Swedish Weaving and I will do my best to answer them for you.

 

Today I will be answering another one of your questions. I was asked how I started charting my designs before I created my program?

 

Today I still start by designing on Monk's Cloth, then transferring the designs onto the charts.  But when I first started I had to create my master chart on paper.

 

Here is how I created a master sheet; by using the = sign and 2 small ll's (Arial font).  I typed them in a row and copied the row for the full page. ll=ll=ll=ll=ll=ll=ll=ll= etc.

 

Once my master sheet was done and photocopied many times, I was able to transfer my designs to them. You can copy my sheets at the back of my books for PERSONAL use only.  It's a lot easier than creating your own to start.  But feel free to create your own as your signature style.

 

With the master done I was able to start coping my designs to paper.  What I did was had sew a basting line through the center of my woven design as not to go off of the center when charting it all out.

 

I would start at the top right hand side (for right handed weavers) of the sheet matching the center of the design. Making sure to start either on a vertical or horizontal float (4 threads).  They have to match the staring point of the design.  With a pencil I would chart the design as if I was weaving it. Once I was pleased with the charting and erased all the mistakes, I was ready to go over it with coloured pencil crayons. That way I was able to see the rows much better.

 

I did buy a program "Swedish Weave Pro" and it worked for me, but I eventually grew out of it and created my own.

 

I hope this answered your question on my first charting process.

 

Now to let you know about my SALE!

 

Starting Dec 1st to the 15th

All my patterns will be on SALE!!

While quantities last!

$6.30 per pattern

In the new year my prices for my patterns will be going up as my printing costs have gone up over the years.  I am proud to say that I have not raised my prices since I started the business in 2009, but have no choice at this time.

 

Please let your friends and weaving buddies know about the sale!  I will be increasing them in January 2015.

 

So on that note I will wish you all many happy weaving hours with your new patterns!

 

Take care,

 

Christine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog #5 November , 2014

 

Hi, Welcome back!

 

Thank you for visiting my blog page.  Please feel free to email me any comments you might have on Swedish Weaving or on my posts.  I would love to hear from you. I will do my best to answer all your questions.  This site is for you and I hope you are enjoying it.

 

Well in this post I have decided to change things up a bit and introduce you to the pre Christmas Sale!!

 

PRE CHRISTMAS

SALE

CA300, CA305, CA310

MY PATTERN BOOKS AND COMBO PACK

 

Just pop over to the books section and see my specials. The sale is on from the 10th of November, 2014 to the 25th of November, 2014.  All books will be mailed out in time for Christmas. 

 

As a special bonus for the early bird shopper I am adding a surprise gift to the first 50 SALE orders.  And they will be different items so shop early!

 

Just my way to say THANK YOU! for reading my blog and shopping on my website.

 

The next post will be on how I started to chart my designs.  Will do my best to explain how I started.

 

Happy Weaving,

 

Christine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog #4 October, 2014

 

Hi, and welcome back.

 

Before I begin, I should start by letting you know again that there are a variety of ways to prepare and start your weaving projects.  There are no wrong ways to prepare your fabric for weaving, just different ways.

 

I will teach you how I prepare my fabric and in future posts I will explain other methods.  Then over time you can try the other methods and decide for yourself what works best for you.  Thanks for asking the question "How do I prepare my Monk's Cloth for weaving? 

 

NEW!!

Some blog posts will have sales posted, starting with this blog post.

October 20th, 2014  to October 31st 2014

BN 300 1-hole bodkin needles (pkg 3's) $2.50 per package

BN 305 2-hole bodkin needles (pkg 3's) $2.50 per package

NEW   BN 303 1-hole BENT bodkin needles (pkg 3's) $3.00 per package

 

 

So lets continue with the preparation of the Monk's Cloth.

 

Once the fabric is washed and dried, fold the 2 selvages (finished edges that run the length of the fabric) together and find the center of the piece being woven.  Then with sewing thread and a blunt needle or bodkin needle, baste (by hand) that center line.  I usually stitch every second vertical float (4 threads) so I do not jump a row. You can see a photo of the basting line in the introduction section of my books.

 

Then fold the basted line in half, to find the center of the line. Mark the center of the basted line with the needle as not to loose your spot.  You might have to move the center starting point up or down a row depending on where the starting point is on the charted pattern. They will have to match.

 

Look at your pattern (chart) to see where you will start (my patterns have a * where the center starting point is) and match that vertical or horizontal mark in the center of the basted line.  Again the starting point of the pattern (chart) has to match the center of the basted line. 

 

Now you are ready to start weaving.  The basted line will be the center of your chart and weaving project.  My patterns are marked for right and left handed weavers.  

 

Hope this has helped you with getting started.  Thank you for asking how I prepare my Monk's Cloth.

 

The next blog post will answer your question "How to chart a design?"

 

Happy weaving,

Christine

 

 

Blog #3 September, 2014

 

Hi, Welcome back,

 

Thank you for being here and reading my post.

 

Please email me any Swedish Weaving questions you have and I will do my best to answer them for you.

 

Some of you know how to buy and wash the Monk's Cloth fabric...   So I will go through it quickly, just incase some aren't quite sure how to buy and wash the Monk's Cloth fabrics.

 

Buying and washing your Monk's Cloth Fabric:

 

Monk's Cloth fabrics usually shrink about 15%, so if you want a specific finished measurement, make sure to add at least 15% to the finished measurement, before having the Monk's Cloth cut. 

 

Buying the Monk's Cloth fabric:

 

When you are buying your Monk's Cloth, please, make sure that the salesperson pulls a thread (a group of 4) and then cuts on that line.  If the salesperson does NOT do it, I would not buy the Monk's Cloth fabric, as you will loose any uneven parts at each end,  It's best to ask before they cut the Monk's Cloth.

 

Washing the Monk's Cloth fabric:

 

I should start by letting you know that there are a variety of ways to prepare and start your weaving projects.  There are no wrong ways to prepare your fabric, just different ways.  This is how I prepare my Monk's Cloth for washing.

 

 

The Monk's Cloth has to be washed and shrunk BEFORE you start to weave.  To do this machine sew a wide zig-zag with a medium stitch length along the raw edges of the fabric in the same colour thread as the fabric and a straight stitch along the outter edge of the selvage (finished edges that run the length of the fabric), as the fabric can really fray in the washing.  Wash with like colours and dry in a med/high dryer cycle.  You want it to shrink the Monk's Cloth to maximum brefore you start to weave Make sure to empty the lint tray often as it will fill quickly due to the cotton fibers.

 

There you have it.  Now you are ready to baste and weave your project.

 

Thank you and happy weaving,

 

Christine

 

 

 

 

Blog #2 August, 2014

 

Hi, and welcome back.

 

Teaching has become a big part of my Swedish Weaving business, so I think this is a good time to let you know where I learnt to teach.

 

As you know I graduated from LaSalle College with a degree in Fashion Design.  My best subjects were pattern drafting and fibers & textiles. It helped that I had great teachers. Remember, I went back to school as a mature student in my mid/late 20's and was closer in age with the teachers than my fellow students.

 

After graduating and working in the industry for a few years, I met up with Gabrielle, my former textile teacher, who convinced me to apply for the textile teaching position being offered at the college. Well, with no teaching experience and not sure if I could do it, or even qualify for the teaching position, I decided that I had nothing to loose and went in for the interview. Well guess who got the job!

 

I had the summer to put together my lessons for the next school year. All I had was the course outline to work with. Boy did I ever have a lot to get done in a short time. I was greatful that Gabrielle was there to help when I was stuck.

 

I went into the new school in late August to find my way around and to set up in the teacher's room. Scared was not the word I would have used when I arrived to my first class. I was shaking and thought, what am I doing here?

 

By the end of the session I was fine and the students enjoyed the class. We went off topic more times than I would have wanted but they needed it at times. I was greatful that my first class was a small one with about 10 students. I still think of them and wonder where they are and what they are doing? Have pictures of them tucked away.

 

By the end of the first session I loved teaching and I knew I would continue. My student evaluation proved that I loved what I was doing as I got one of the best evaluations as high as 97%. I still have the result sheets filed away somewhere.

 

There you go! My introduction to teaching and I have never looked back.

 

All this is to introduce you to my teaching section of my blog posts. In my next post I will discuss how to get started with your weaving projects. Buying and washing your Monk's Cloth.

 

So, stay tuned for more.

 

Happy weaving

Christine

 

 

 

 

Blog #1 July 2014

 

Welcome to my first blog.

Not sure how to begin so I will get right to it. I was introduced to Swedish Weaving by a dear friend Bernice in 2007 and launched Christine's Swedish Weaving in January 2009. Since opening the business,  I have gotten to know many new and experienced weavers. I really enjoy chatting and helping you all with your weaving, so, having an interactive blog should be the way to go. That said, please feel free to ask as many questions as you want and I will do my best to help you. I would love to see your creations as well.

I will be using the blog to post sales and anything new in the wonderful world  of Swedish Weaving. Should you have something new to share please do, as I  might not know about it and bring it into the store. Guess I should let you know a bit about myself. Well, for the ones who do not know me yet.

Here goes in a nut shell. I have always done crafts of some sort growing up, from painting, pottery, loom weaving, even some jewelry designing to sewing  and quilting as well as fashion designing. Have a degree in Fashion Design and taught at LaSalle College in Montreal, Quebec for a few years before moving into the country in Ontario and opening my Dressmaking business. I switched gears and chose to close the Dressmaking business after 10 years to focus on my new Swedish Weaving business. I am hooked on Swedish Weaving and the rest is history...

Well I think that is enough for a first post. I feel this blog will be an ongoing learning experience for me, so your patience would be appreciated as I learn how it all works.

Please come back often to see what I am up to and what we are chatting about.

Happy weaving!

Christine