Today, I thought… I should use that pattern to make a shuttle!

Then I remembered that I had a piece of an old ruler from my husband’s Dad in the studio.

I don’t know what he used the other half for, but I am pleased as can be to have this half!

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I traced the pattern onto the ruler.

Because I promised my friend, William, that I wouldn’t use power tools until my eye is completely healed, I used simple hand tools.

My eye is really not there yet, so power tools are definitely off limits for me still.

But, I can’t stay out of the workshop, because it is such a pleasure, even when I feel wonky/wobbly.

Luckily, we have hand tools.

I have a fret saw that I just love- it’s great for fine cuts like the ones needed for this shuttle.

• I bought mine at Lee Valley tools. Fret saws are surprisingly cheap, and do a fab job. Great value for money!

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I clamped the ruler to the bench to make sawing easier.  So, add a spring clamp or two to your ‘must have’ list of tools.

And, I drilled a couple of holes so I could put the blade into the area that I needed to cut out.  A small hand drill is also a ‘must have’.

AND…. A set of small files in a selection of shapes, are essential!  I use them all the time for shaping in my woodworking.

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

After the shaping is done with files, I need to polish with sandpaper. Sandpaper is good, but I like sanding sponges more.

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

As I was working on this weaving shuttle, I thought… Duh! Why didn’t I do this ages ago?

I was struck by how similar the netting style weaving shuttle is to the tatting shuttles that I make (even though the inspiration for the tatting shuttles came from a totally different direction- amazing how things converge, isn’t it?)

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I just love this shuttle!

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I load the shuttle so that there is thread on both sides of the shuttle.  (By the way, the rainbow band behind the shuttle is an inkle band that I wove years ago. )

Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Mmmm… it weaves like a dream.

I asked my daughter-in-law and daughter if they would like me to make them one each (they are both weavers), and they both said, YES!

Luckily, I have exactly enough of Dad’s ruler left to make them each a shuttle…. how perfect is that?

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She has written about what it has been like for her to do the sewing of the memorial textiles (called antependia) that we have co-created in memory of her Nana, my precious mother in law….. we both found it to be very stirring to put huge effort into creating a loving memorial to a marvelous woman who was central in our lives.

Here’s her entry: Chloë  and the memorial textiles

Here’s what I wrote about this process:

1] Starting the weaving 

2] a not so stellar moment…. 

3] weaving…. 

4] weaving a metaphor

5] my part finished…. 

Sunday morning, we’ll be participating in the dedication of the altar cloth,  pulpit banner and  table runners.  Jim’s trio is going to play, and a friend of ours, a fabulous singer, is going to be singing. It’s going to be wonderful….

I’ll take some pics and post them……

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I’ve written about it before – memorial textiles 

For the last few days, I have been deeply immersed in finishing up the bands so my daughter can take them and stitch them to the ‘antependia’ (sacred textiles).

There’s nothing like knowing that if you don’t get your part of the project done, then the project doesn’t get done! eep

So, weave weave weave…. I’ve woven miles of bands…. and now, I get to pass them to my daughter, for her to make her magic with.

She’s good.

She’s REALLY good!

She’s her grandmother’s granddaughter for sure )

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Chloë wrote today about her part of the Memorial textiles that we are working on in celebration of the life of her grandmother/my beloved mother-in-law.

Chloë’s doing a fabulous job on them, and it’s a HUGE project, all driven by love.

Jim took some pics of me working on my part…. the weaving of the narrow bands that are trimming the banners and altar cloth and side table runners:

When I was first approached about weaving this memorial for my precious mum-in-law, I envisioned something much bigger.

I got WILDLY inspired and came up with a really exciting concept.  It’s a huge and exuberant idea for a wonderful weaving project!

So, the seed is planted for a project that I KNOW is going to see the light of day- sometime…..  it’s gestating – and I know it’s going to be fun!

BUT… there was a VERY firm nudging that kept coming up for me. It was a prompting that  I believe was coming from Mum, saying: Keep this simple!

And judging by the ‘deer in the headlights’ look in the eyes of the memorial committee  when I proposed the very high energy (lotsa people involved) project, that inner prompting was right.   THIS  memorial project does need to be elegant, minimalist and simple.

Simple ain’t easy, though… Chloë  and I are working our butts off on it.

And, it is just SO RIGHT!  It seems to me that women have found ways of remembering each other and making connections in and through their threads since the beginning of time.

We are all weaving a tapestry of life that carries our memories and love in every one of the precious threads we spin each day.

Here’s to the tapestry!

What are you weaving into the threads of your life?

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I have woven countless vests, bags, dolls, rugs,  and components of other garments and accessories on the inkle loom.

This is my two sided inkle loom that my husband built for me.  The two sided inkle looms are slower to warp, but are sturdier than some open sided inkle looms.

If you are going to buy  an inkle loom, make sure it is VERY sturdy. You’ll be putting a lot of pressure on the pegs of the loom, and if they give way, it can be infuriating.

Also, make sure that the mechanism that allows you to advance the warp is very sturdy, too, as there is a lot of stress on it.

If you are going to be working with inkle looms, you definitely will want to buy Helene Bress’s book: Inkle Weaving 

I’ve uploaded tons of pics of various inkle woven projects. Just scan down the categories to the right and click on the inkle weaving  and narrow band weaving category. It’ll pull up lots of pics…..

Happy Weaving!

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