Once in a while it’s good to revisit an old pattern, re-examine an old way of doing things–it shows you how far you’ve come, but also, there’s almost always more to learn. I’ve done this week’s WAL pattern before–a number of times–but not recently. If I dare say so, I’ve come a long way, baby. I’ve been experiencing this pattern over again as if for the first time: seeing it presented from someone else’s perspective.
“Diagonal Stripes,” versions 1-4
This all-over pattern is the result of asking, “What if . . .?”
Or, more specifically, “Can I . . .?” Can I make a square that looks like lines of alternating chains?
The columns of alternating Os reminded me of a beaded curtain from the 1960s. But a slightly different warping configuration gives it an entirely different appearance.
Now it’s your turn to ask yourself, “What if . . .?” What happens if you try different colors in different warping configurations? Will the same pattern stitches always look like the same square?
“Alternating Beads” in three warping configurations.
***(20 March 2019 UPDATE: see Loomette Sunken Square)***
I didn’t host this week’s Weave-Along, but I wanted to post the pattern in my notation style. Everyone’s mind seems to work a little differently and my mind likes to know when there are repeats in a pattern–that way, my brain doesn’t have to reset itself for repeated rows. I’m one up if I’ve already performed the steps successfully.
Thanks to LK Stimeling for making the job so much easier for me! Pin Loom Weaving Support Group, WAL, Week 4
“Sunken Square”
Soooooooooo
I wasn’t supposed to host the WAL this week because, as LK put it, “Our much-esteemed host will be using her well-deserved time to catch up on her excellent blog”. I don’t say it is an excellent blog myself, but “my friends tell me . . . .” (Ha ha! Name that movie and/or character . . . *ANSWER is at the ultimate bottom of this post).
Here I am, catching up on my blog and killing four birds with one stone–LA’s request, LK’s two requests, and her-and-my idea to create a template, or checklist, for future WAL hosts/hostesses. When I say “request” I mean they made a comment and I barged in with, “I was planning to do a blog post on that . . .” And I should also mention TW, who asked me how to do this in the first place—there’s no substitute for a live student, though we do pretty well on the Support Group.
TEMPLATE (which will be summarized at the penultimate bottom of this post. Template instructions are centered in this post.)
You might want to begin with a photo of the finished square or some other relevant photo.
Include the name of the pattern. You can say something about why you chose the pattern and/or its title. You can also add other introductory comments before digging into the nitty gritty.
Pattern #24: “Lines and Os”
This square has both a number and a name because it comes from the pile of numbered squares (it’s #24 in the stack) I have in my Catalog of Squares. (That gives me an idea for another blog post or page: A Catalog of Squares.) Originally #24 didn’t have a name and, after I batted several about, it ended up with the above colorless rendition.
Left is the sample pattern. Right is the original #24.