Twisp of Fate

I’ve been weaving away on rugs and thought I would put up a few pictures.  All of these are woven with materials I got at the Pendleton mill outlet stores.  For the most part they are by-products from weaving wool blankets (the fringed selvages, and also the smooth wool selvages they call “worms”).   I also have some lighter weight fringed selvages that I think were by-products of weaving wool shirting fabrics.

Pendleton smooth wool selvages ("worms")

wool shirting selvages alternated with smooth wool strips

I’ve been experimenting with alternating shots of the fringed selvages with the smooth wool selvages, for a number of reasons – to make the fringed material go farther, to make the rug less heavy, and for color effects.  I am pretty pleased with this approach and will probably use it more.

very heavy fringed selvages alternated with black "worms"

And this:

turned into this:

I was a little surprised when I got into this next bag and realized the material was COTTON – almost everything I get from the mill stores is wool!

Pendleton cotton fringed material

Another one using alternating shots of fringed and smooth material:

And this last one was done all with “worms”:

One of these was a special order; the others are out in the Confluence Gallery in Twisp and the Winthrop Gallery in Winthrop, on consignment.  And there are more underway!

I’m happy to report that is is finally SNOWING here today, with more forecast for the week.  It has been really cold and dry, icy and treacherous walking… this seems more like “normal”!