• Home
  • Shop
  • About
  • Exhibits
  • Contact me

jeanweaves

~ Jean Williams, Handweaver

jeanweaves

Tag Archives: Tradition

More on Opphämta

26 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by jeanweaves in Opphämta, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Color, creative inspiration, Projects, Textiles, Tradition, Weaving

Opphämta on the Loom

Opphämta on the Loom

Earlier this summer, I set out to explore opphämta and chose to put together some aprons using the patterning as borders along the sides and bodice. This has been a season-long project, but one in which I’ve learned a lot.

Because I wanted to make unique aprons, I wound only enough warp to make two aprons of each color. I also wanted to include some contrasting threads spaced randomly across the warp and weft. Since the borders and ties are woven on the same warp, this presented a bit of a challenge. Those contrasting threads interrupted the opphämpta pattern.

Royal Apron with White Opphämta Pattern

Royal Apron with White Opphämta Pattern

My first solution was to weave the body of the apron first with the contrasting threads. Then for the tie bands and patterns, I replaced those threads in the warp with the main color and weighted them off the back of the loom. This worked okay but caused a few tension issues.

White Apron with Star and Rose Pattern

White Apron with Star and Rose Pattern

I actually preferred the second solution—changing the contrasting threads on the warping board as I was measuring the warp. This did take some calculating, but the warp tension was more consistent.

My color choices were mainly pretty traditional—blue on white, white on blue. Then for the third warp, I used some seafoam green mercerized cotton that blends well with lavender. Those color studies from earlier this month came in handy.

White Apron with Star and Leaf Pattern

White Apron with Star and Leaf Pattern

Each apron uses a different opphämta design. There are so many different sources and motifs that I can spend hours playing with stars, roses, diamonds, and crosses. The scale of the pattern had to fit on the apron, so I kept my units to two threads each. With a sett of 24 epi, a five-unit float is almost ½”, so any float over five units had to be tied down.

Seafoam and Lavender Apron

Seafoam and Lavender Apron

As enjoyable as the aprons have been, I’m ready to move on. The nice thing about these opphämta patterns is that they can be used for other weave structures. Next up—damask. But what if these same units could be woven in overshot or lace or ….hmmm…

Advertisement
Shop!

Follow Us

  • Facebook

Galleries

  • Towels to Use and to Give
  • Runners
  • Scarves for Him and Her
  • For the Table
  • Note Cards
  • Animals
  • Throws
  • The Linen Press
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Archives

  • September 2020 (2)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • November 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • November 2017 (2)
  • October 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • May 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (2)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (3)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (2)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (2)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (2)
  • March 2015 (2)
  • February 2015 (2)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (1)
  • November 2014 (3)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • July 2014 (3)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • May 2014 (2)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • March 2014 (2)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (2)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (3)
  • August 2013 (1)

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • jeanweaves
    • Join 62 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • jeanweaves
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...