If you remember my blog ‘Weaving an Oldie but a Goodie’ from a full month ago. I was weaving a replacement scarf for one that wasn’t really successful, but still much worn! I loved the overall pattern of the scarf and I loved the seed beaded fringe. I truly loved the bead sequence and overall look, so I wanted to re-use them on the replacement scarf.
I finished weaving new the scarf in pretty good time and then I cut the Japanese glass beads from the old scarf ready to add to the new one.
The first thing I did was carefully cut each of the bead groupings from the old scarf and slide them onto these long thin quilting pins.
I made sure that both sets of beads were identical because after dropping a few, they were a little bit out. I tried to keep them in sequence at all times.
Every time I picked up one of the pins I lost a couple of beads, especially off of the really long groupings. I got this strip of ‘Fun Tac’ and jabbed them in, and that kept them corralled! As an aside I use a strip of ‘Fun Tac’ to affix my treadling sequence to my loom; it keeps it right at eye level and doesn’t mark the loom; this stuff is useful!
Before I actually started to sew the beads in place I did a dry run to make sure I had the spacing perfect. I really didn't want to get it wrong and have to re-do them.
I thought I’d show you the needle that I used. This is an ‘Easy Eye’ needle from Germany, and as well as being very thin, it is sharp at both ends and the needle eye runs the complete length of the needle, seriously it’s the biggest eye I've ever seen in a needle!
I sew the beads on the scarf starting from right to left and I make sure I lock the thread very securely several times between each group. The thread itself is hidden within the hemstitching.
You can check out more on beading on the Tips and Tutorial page at the top of the post.
Here is the final fringe, it’s at this point that I’ll admit to adding two extra beads to each of the strands for added length....so pretty!
The final beauty shot of my lovely new scarf; this really is a lovely addition to my wardrobe, with just the perfect amount of bling for me!
When I was smoosh dyeing the scarf I didn’t even think about matching the halves of the scarf and so I was delighted (read giddy with relief!) when I saw that it does mirror image. In the picture it looks like there is a white outline to the colours but it is just hue variations, paler tones. 
The scarf definitely has two sides. The warp dominate side is on the left hand side and shows all the lovely colours. The weft dominate side really shows the pattern. The pattern is a 12 shaft dropped tabby that looks like an undulating twill. The pattern repeat is quite small and it really allows the painted warp to show through.
The process I used when dyeing the scarf also added interest to the scarf because the dye was applied with a lighter hand at the beginning. So the colours get darker along the length of the scarf.
One thing that I would change about this scarf is that I would have painted the warp on more of an acute angle to make the colour patches more jagged. I could have pulled some of the individual warp threads to make it more jagged, and I would do that next time. But the scarf is still very beautiful and I’m really happy with it and looking forward to weaving smooshed silk scarf number two!
Here is the final selection for the two orange and red scarves. I’ll not be using all the beads but it is always good to have a choice.
I really like to use quilters pins with extra long shanks to test drive the bead arrangements and it is also a good way to make sure that there is enough beads for both sides, because there is nothing worse then running out and having to pull out all that hard work out!
All the scarves have a similar beading arrangement to reinforce that they are part of a design line. I really love the silver bees and bronze stars! 
There was one scarf from the beginning of the year that Mum never got beaded so since I was already beading four scarves; what’s one more?! 
Beading is time consuming but the finished product always looks worth it.
For added interest, as the body of the scarf is only plain weave, we designed a three colour succession. We pulled out all the Tencel and started trying out different colour combinations; some were safe like a blue gradation and others like the one that I chose were a little out there; Lemon to Gold to Lime. The colours are wonderful together and are really exciting.
I did have some trouble picking a weft colour, the original idea was to use black but against the lemon it looked too spotty. I tried dark grey, light grey, even burgundy and the one that worked was taupe! It made all the colours look fantastic and yet unified them.
The Huck circles are placed so they are only in one colour, but the stripes are not equal so the circles are interestingly spaced. The scarf is all about the Huck circles and the more attention that they get for being unexpected the better. Here is a close up of the Huck circle on the loom.
Here is the same circle after is has been washed and only lightly pressed, it will get its final pressing with McSteamy when there is some other stuff to be pressed. Also there wasn’t enough time before the guild meeting and I really wanted to bring it for Show and Tell!
I think that this scarf was meant to be because when I went to the bead bin there were all three colours in just the right sized beads, so I was able to echo the stripes with the beading! I even added little seed beads in the cup of the twisted fringe.
All and all this scarf was a pleasure, seeing the colours mix and blend together was just magical. Add the always mind blowing experience of having circles appear out of straight lines! I would totally do this pattern again and I may, it is going to be presented at the guild Sheep to Shawl planning meeting and I have been asked to be the weaver again this year! So I could be revisiting this pattern in a couple of months and turning it into a shawl.
This is the second scarf in my Network series. This scarf was woven on the same green/blue/grey Tencel warp as the last one. This time I changed the weft to navy blue Tencel and the look of the circles is much more defined. So now it’s time to bead the fringe.
These are the tools I use to bead with the most important item being the very fine Japanese beading needles and the “Thread Heaven” which is a thread conditioner to help keep the thread from static curl. This product works like a dream and I can’t thank my gal pal 
It takes me a bit of time to work out my beading sequence and I find putting it on these quilters pins really help me try out the different combos’ possible. 
This is the finished fringe, just a wee bit of bling!
After pulling a three yard warp and securing the cross, I put the lease sticks through the cross and tied it to my front beam. 
Because the existing warp on the back beam was so short and the rods are heavy there was pronounced droop, so I also secured the back rod to the castle.
This allowed me to have the slack in front of the reed where I needed it. 
Then matching one thread from the reed and the next thread through the lease off you go. 
I have tried various knots over the years and have found that a basic overhand knot is the fastest and the most secure. 
After all the knots have been tied, I move the lease sticks to hang loosly in front of the reed. Here are all the knots just ready to be pulled gently through the reed and again gently tugged through the heddles. I have found that working in small groups at this stage works best.
Once all the knots are through the heddles you just wind the warp as usual and voilá you’re done! 
This is the work in progress, my warp is hand dyed and hand spun very fine silk and I have crossed it with navy Tencel. This scarf really shows the dark/light/midtone gradients in the weave.
My first blossoms. 
Almost open. 
Wow, amazing and the fragrance is almost overpowering. This wee bush has more than 30 blossoms on it right now and I am diligently pollinating by hand. Hopefully I’ll get a lemon or two next year!
The Canvas Weave Lace blocks are alternating with Basket Weave blocks and although this is a weft dominant weave, it should still have plenty of movement and drape due to the lacey nature of the weave. There are some very evident reed marks showing at this stage, but I believe the wool shrinkage will minimize them – well, that’s the plan anyway! Fingers crossed! I’m hoping for some interesting shrinkage too.
Ngaire and I are getting ready for the Ponderosa Guild Christmas Sale on Nov 13-15 in the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna and today while out shopping Ngaire spotted this nifty display stand for my smallest items for sale.
This tiny purse is gold seed beads knitted on gold cotton thread and is still under construction; you can see they are little more than 2 inches by 2 inches. So sweet!
My friend 
This one is black cotton and clear dark pink seed beads.
Black cotton again, but this time with clear seed beads with bronze centres.
Here is grey cotton with blue/green clear seed beads.
And finally grey cotton with clear dark pink seed beads. I have been using Japanese seed beads as they are very uniform in size and very sparkly!
Now the stand looks dressed! I'm still not sure about the base though. To fill or not to fill the slight cup in the bottom? A strand of silver beads to mirror the cut glass ball on top or clear flat glass marbles? Still working on that part - after all presentation is everything!