2014 - An Eventful Year for Me

[Truitt]

It is strange how one event creates a path to another. 2014 was certainly eventful and full of new paths.

After reading some posts about garter ties and Inkle looms, I decided to make an Inkle loom and try it out.

It worked out well.



But, I needed good weaving yarn and could only find one local source. So I made an appointment with a local weaving studio to browse through and buy some yarn. I showed up wearing the Arctic tartan kilt I made at Kilt Kamp. Pamela, the owner of the studio, loved the kilt and enjoyed hearing about Kilt Kamp. She asked me if I would make a presentation on kilt making to the Anchorage Weavers and Spinner Guild.

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo from my presentation. But, it was a lot of fun. About 80 people showed up, and they kept me there with questions for about 45 minutes after the presentation concluded.

Well, during all this I decided to take one of Pamela's classes on basic weaving. To my amazement she let me try my hand at a sample of tartan in 2/2 twill. Here is the sample I wove - Menzies black and red.





The selvedge isn't the prettiest in the world, but I think it turned out well for my first attempt. And I learned so much about weaving and about tartan. And I found out that I really enjoy weaving.

While taking the class I ran across this loom (which I bought at a rediculously low price):



It is an AVL folding dobby loom with 16 shafts. It has a mechanical dobby, which is a fascinating device. It was manufactured in 1984 and a few of the parts needed replacing. But it is up and running and it appears I have a new hobby.

So in 2014 I managed to study under two master kilt makers and a master weaver. I can't help but wonder where 2015 will lead.