enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Giantweaving

It's been a LONG time since I've made something just for fun for the house. This jade ampersand was the last official project. (PS, thanks to my new archive pages that post was SO easy to find).

Weaving7

The podcast and MAKE29 have me in a bit more of a "business" mindset mode than craft project mode. The garden is filling me up creatively. And, obviously, the active baby who moved in down the hall isn't the greatest supporter of "free-time."

But I have had this in my head for a few months and I have to say, IT WAS SO FUN TO MAKE THIS WEAVING.

Weaving2

Part of why I was hesitant to get started is I didn't want to have to build a giant loom. AND THEN I HAD A LIGHTBULB MOMENT and decided to use the backside of a giant canvas (it's 3×4 feet and the front side is a painting that hangs in our bedroom).

Weaving1

I strung white yarn back and forth and staple-gunned it into place. (Instead of having to fuss with nails.)

Weaving3

And then I wove and I wove and I wove. I used a few strips of cotton fabric to create more interesting texture and shapes (those were added first) and then three types of white yarn (all purchased at Jo-ann's).

Weaving4

The thing about weaving is that it's totally about texture and totally not about perfection. As long as you pay attention to not pulling too tightly, you can't mess this up. It's mindless and so enjoyable.

Weaving6

When I was done, I cut the bottom side and tied each end off and then carefully pulled up the staples on the top side.

Weaving5

I strung the whole thing on a stained wooden dowel from Lowe's. (The unharmed canvas went back on the wall.)

It's huge, 26×48 inches and it's hanging in our entryway. I love it.

ps : here are more reasons why I love weaving.

Dottedline

This week on ELISE GETS CRAFTY, I'm chatting with Tiffany Han about saying NO to say YES. Subscribe on iTunes or stream the episode here.

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23 responses to “a giant white weaving.”

  1. Leah Avatar

    So rad!!
    I’d love to see this, like, over a table or with a plant or something to get a sense of how big it is.
    Also — I’m so excited to listen to this podcast! Tiffany Han is one of my super all-time faves and the topic of “saying NO” is one that I am sooooo interested in (and need so much).

    Like

  2. Kelsey Avatar

    I really want to try this, seems like the perfect type of project that you don’t have to be perfectionist about which is perfect for my life right now! I have a question, I don’t quite understand how you start and stop different yarn types. Are you tying them on somehow? Thanks for the inspiration!

    Like

  3. Carissa Halbmaier Avatar

    I love the look of this + I SO want to make a joke about it being a nice day for a white weaving (I’m 94% sure that if Billy Idol were to remake White Wedding, this is what he would sing about)
    Oh! And the archives look great!

    Like

  4. JillT Avatar
    JillT

    You. Are. Amazing.

    Like

  5. Kerrie Avatar

    So awesome! I love the one color and all that texture. Stunning! And your archives make it SO easy to find old posts. In fact, I mentioned your Jake Ampersand and how easy it was find on my blog last week. 🙂
    http://wildmae.com/blog/2014/6/26/succulent-ampersand-wall-art-diy

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  6. alicia Avatar

    This is amazing!!!!

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  7. Kelsey Avatar

    How perfect, ABM has a tutorial on weaving today, I think this will answer my questions, great minds think alike 🙂

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  8. Sue May Avatar

    It came out beautiful Elise. Looks like something you’d find in an upscale art gallery. You are very talented!

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  9. elise blaha cripe Avatar

    I was just going to link you there!! Very simple, just get the tail to the backside and leave it there, no need to tie it off. 🙂

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  10. Mandi Avatar

    It looks so beautiful, Elise! I think today the internet is telling me to make a weaving. 🙂

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  11. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    Elise, the new archives are awesome. Isn’t it amazing to see all the posts you have done in visual form like that. Not only is it a lot of fun to browse through for your readers but just a really cool graphic as well. Well done! The new white weaving is very striking-how clever to use the back of a canvas for the loom. Was it hard to maneuveur in the tight space?

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  12. Debra Avatar

    I imagine this is incredibly therapeutic.

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  13. Debra Avatar

    I’ve seen weaving everywhere on the net today too, and I’ve just caught up with the last episode of Vikings and they were doing it in that.

    Like

  14. Kate Ware Avatar
    Kate Ware

    So, the “chunky” parts are fabric strips that are woven into the warp first, and then you just weave around them with your different yarns? I love this – would love to try to recreate something similiar.

    Like

  15. Dare Maurik Avatar

    haha, this made me laugh! Now that song will be in my head all afternoon

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  16. Sarah Milligan Avatar

    Looks awesome and the archives look so great!

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  17. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    What an awesome project! The white looks great, and with a size like this, I bet it makes a huge impact! 🙂

    Like

  18. Mary Sane Avatar

    That texture is simply amazing.

    Like

  19. Welcome Home Taylor Avatar

    so gorgeous! I love it! Also, digging the new archives. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do something similar myself.
    xoxo
    Taylor

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  20. pam Avatar

    This project just plain makes me happy! It speaks to me on so many levels. Your brilliant loom solution for one! All white! The mix of fibers and textures and weaving methods. It’s size! The fact that you made it Saori style. I am just crazy in love with it! Oh and…. it is finished and on the wall!
    I started a grand plan white weave several years ago, managed about 24″ and finally after letting it sit on the loom for two years, removed it and use it as a table topper! I think I was trying to force it too much instead of simply letting my Muse play. Obviously, YOUR Muse was allowed to play!!!
    Beautiful! Brilliant! Thank you for sharing.

    Like

  21. danielle Avatar

    hi there. love this project. how did you attach the dowel to the wall though? thx!

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  22. Heather Burris Avatar
    Heather Burris

    Okay, so I’ve been hunting the Internet for a simple weaving tutorial and then thought, wait, Elise will have one! Sure enough, you have the simplest and most approachable tutorial out there and now I am SO much less afraid to start my first weaving tonight! Thank you!!

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