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I started weaving on a new rigid heddle loom I got for the holidays. My first project was a scarf, as recommended by everyone.

This is the resulting scarf:

And here is the background of the project:

( Read more... )

Now I am attempting to form the 8" by 48" strip of woolly fabric into a bag. I have seen the Doni's Deli bag, bags from placemats, and come up with a theoretical diagram myself. But I am having a lot of trouble envisioning how it would work. There is not a really good way to just keep it as a scarf because the corriedale yarn is extremely harsh after weaving (not like corriedale is especially nice anyway. I have no idea why it got popular since it is the same price as something better. My opinion, obviously.) I wrote a whole post talking about this, but I have interfacing, lining fabric, a sewing machine, and someone with sewing skills who can help me. (The sewing machine scares me.)

So, since no one else has posted anything here yet, let me say that I will gratefully accept any and all praise. I realize this is not the polished work of a professional weaver. I realize it's effing pink. But I think it came out completely awesome and it would be great to hear from people who agree with that.

However, if you have practical suggestions on either the weaving, the process of the weaving (which was horrid and so unenjoyable that I am considering selling my loom), or on how to actually build a bag from a tiny piece of fabric.

I noticed that there were not a lot of active groups for crafty hobbies here on Dreamwidth. Then I realized I couldn't tell where I should post about my hand-dyed, hand-spun, hand-knitted scarf, because all three of those things are different groups.

There needed to be a place where people could discuss what ideas for projects they have and get support or praise or even critique (though if you're wanting an honest evaluation, that should be specified).

Then I noticed that many of the yarn and fabric groups kept assuming only certain kinds of people were crafters. Maybe we should think of ourselves as "artisans" because the expectations are more varied? When I think of crafting, I think of making useful and practical things. Or perhaps only theoretically practical, like making macrame plant hangers! But what about the people who re-cane or reupholster chairs? What about the blacksmiths who make those wrought iron gates? What about the woodworker?

Have you built a dollhouse or a model ship? Could you make finger puppets? Do your friends and family get tired of looking at your quilt pictures because they don't sew and can't see the differences between projects? If you could make a crochet hook or use one, show us what you've done. If you've beaded a knitted shawl, we'd love to see that. Or the beads you made or the shawl you knit.

I come from the yarn side of creativity, but I don't believe everyone needs to love doing what I do in order to appreciate the creativity therein.