Easy Summer Weaving - Fabric Strip Table Runner

When a friend stopped by my studio with a table runner she had woven from fabric strips, I was reminded of the rag rugs I had woven in the 90’s and was suddenly inspired to teach a summer class of weaving with fabric strips.

What better place to teach this class than at the Calico Cow Quilt Shop here in Roswell where there's plenty of room and we'd be surrounded by all the wonderful colors and patterns in fabric.

After Carolyn, the store owner, gave her approval, I first had to weave some samples. I purchased five different fabrics in my favorite New Mexico colors. At first I was a bit nervous as to how my fabric choices would work together when I started weaving.

Next, using my Olfa rotary cutter and board, I cut the fabric into strips.

 I set up my Schacht Flip Rigid Heddle Loom and began to weave. 

Here's how it turned out.

The next time I stopped by the Calico Cow, Carolyn showed me a pre-cut collection of fabrics (known as a jelly roll) already put together by a designer. It's a no-brainer! Just follow the color sequence already there. As soon as I saw it, I had to have this one by Moda Fabrics called “summer.”

 What an easy and fun project for summertime.

You can join us at Calico Cow Quilt Shop and learn how to weave your own fabric strip table runner on Saturday, July 19. Click HERE for more details on how to register.

To schedule a ZoZo FiberArts weaving class in your town, email us at lois@zozofiberarts.com

Happy New Year 2014

First of all, thank you to all of my friends, customers, and students who have supported ZoZo FiberArts this past year. My apologies for not being a consistent blogger. Life is full of many wonderful things I love to do. I guess blogging isn't on the top of my list. I promise to do better this coming year.

Here's a recap of my fall:

 

In addition to my green alpaca vest, I now offer blue, burgundy, turquoise, and purple as well as shades of natural alpaca (see above). They can be made in a flirty hip length as well as tunic length. Currently these are offered at Handwoven Originals in Santa Fe, NM or they can be special ordered through my studio.

 

I spent much of my fall helping our local guild, Roswell Fibercraft Guild to plan and present our first ever booth for the annual Potter's Guild Art Show in November. It was a great way to let our community see what we do. 

I've been learning to spin. So I bought the Schacht Ladybug and Sidekick to test drive. My favorite is the Ladybug. The Sidekick is for sale in my studio. Now, if I can just find a little spare time to practice.

Monday's Inspiration

With the last of my green alpaca and some odd novelty wool in my stash, I wove a piece of fabric and felted it. This morning the creative process did not disappoint.

 

 

 

And this is all that's left

 

Scarf In A Day Class in Ruidoso

Last week I taught my "Scarf In A Day" class at The Stitching Post in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Rita with her weft yarn perfectly angled
 

The owner, Kathie Bryant is a busy lady with her main store in Midland, Texas. She drives to the mountains of New Mexico each week where she has that store open Thursday through Sunday. As far as I can tell, as soon as she shows up on Thursday the yarn party begins. What an inspiring and fun place to hang out.

And what fun I had teaching this group!


Ava concentrating on an even beat

-- Ava was my youngest student yet. At age 12, she's a natural and I predict this won't be the last time she weaves.


Jane with her beautiful scarf



James with his "special" wool scarf

Squirrel Picnic and Croshades on Aliens

Once upon a time, I lived in Virginia. In my little weaving studio in the woods I had an apprentice named Jennifer. She was an art student whose creative brain never stopped. She constantly reminded me to not take life too seriously.  Fifteen plus years later and she's still making me laugh. Check out her blog, Squirrel Picnic, where she creates wild and wacky critters in crochet who have all sorts of adventures AND she gives away free patterns so you can make them too. 

This alien didn't have ears
so I had to hold them on
 

In a recent post from this summer she designed a pattern for crocheted sunglasses she calls "Croshades" to protect the eyes of poor objects d'art who never get a break from the sun. Read all about it here!

She challenged her readers to make their own croshades. I couldn't resist the challenge. I  crocheted a couple pair of my own and took them along on a recent visit to Roswell's Alien Museum.
 




                                                       
Like her Facebook Page too while you're at it!            

Knot for Knitters Only

Next month I'll be teaching Beginning Weaving at The Stitching Post Yarn Shop in Ruidoso New Mexico. While I was there working on our schedule, Kathie introduced me to a yarn she sells by Feza called Alp Premier. It's made up of a variety of novelty yarns all knotted together and knitters make wonderful yummy things with it. I couldn't resist buying a skein to weave on my Cricket loom.

 

And here's the final scarf. I love all the textures from the different novelty yarns and the patterns they created. This was a super quick and easy project. Love it!