One of the striking features of the iron age Finnish Mantle is its heavily ornamentated borders. They are a composite of two different textiles techniques; integrated tablet weaving and fingerloop braiding. Throw in some bling in the form of bronze wire coils and you have a rich, complex work of art. In order to recreate this effect, it was necessary to teach myself fingerloop braiding. The internet to the rescue! I taught myself fingerloop braiding…
How would you like to know what’s on my loom right now? August was an insanely busy month for me both professionally and personally. My focus was simply surviving and trying not to drop too many balls. Sadly, the big floor loom was naked for all of that month. An air of reproachfulness emanated from the loom room as she doesn’t like being undressed. Good thing that room has a door that can be closed. But,…
Last summer I wove a pair of leg wraps in a color combination that particularly appeals to me, blue and orange, and, recently, I took the time to wet-finish the cloth and hand finish the ends. This is the result.
The Iron Age Finnish Mantle project, completed in July 2013, was a wonderful opportunity to learn a variety of new-to-me textile techniques. One of those new experiences was creating table woven bands integrated with the body of the mantle. These bands served a dual purpose in that they were both decorative and functional, keeping the cloth from raveling.
