Designing a New Tapestry

Since I am just in the beginning stages of planning a new tapestry, I thought I would try to journal and describe the process that I use in designing and weaving a tapestry over the course of the next couple of months. I have been weaving tapestries that were about 6" square for the last few months and I use these on the fronts of my bags. I enjoy weaving these small, quicker tapestries and have learned a lot doing them but I would like to work on something a little larger although at this point I'm not sure of the size. Probably something around 12"x18".

When we were in Utah visiting the kids last week, I took several photos when we were hiking in the mountains at Brighton and there are a few of them that I want to draw and use for inspiration. I love drawing either directly outside from nature or from my photos. When I draw from my photos, I might incorporate parts of different ones. Often at home, I will draw the sky or a sunset directly but sometimes when traveling, it is nice to take photos to use later.





To get started,I will do some pencil drawings of these and also some drawings using water soluble oil pastels. At this point, I am just playing around with the images. I don't do any design work on the computer, simply because I'm most comfortable doing it this way. When I have several drawings, I will choose one that I like the best and work with it some more to get it just how I want it. I like to end up with a color drawing but it doesn't have to be full size.

Hopefully, by the end of the week, I'll have a drawing I like which I will work from and then I make a rough outline to use as a cartoon for the weaving. I like to have a minimal cartoon that keeps me on track but also allows for spontaneity while weaving. If everything is planned down to the last thread, it is boring to weave and that shows in the finished piece, too.

This week I am also starting to work on an appliqued curtain for an interior glass paned door in my daughter's house. The side I'm starting on is pieced squares in various blues with yellow aspen leaves appliqued on. I am hoping to have the background squares sewn together this week.