Bee Sack and Summer Pillow

After the weaving is finished, and cut off the loom, then the cloth is hand washed and dried, first on the line, and then finished on a cool tumble cycle in the drier. Then it's measured, sewn and cut.

The first thing is a new sack with a drawstring top inspired by a design of an antique Japanese rice sack I saw in the SRI Threads collection of vintage bags. The bottom of this sack is tanned deer hide, from deer that were hunted here on our farm. I put the suede side out, and sewed in a soft ragweave pocket. This bag is soft to the touch, top bottom, inside. The only stinger is the applique bee image from a Laura Foster Nicholson cotton jacquard woven ribbon. I love her designs. This bee is all about honey.

The summer pillow is an envelope, 7 " x 14", with a handsewn blue & white stripe ticking pillow, stuffed firmly with polyfil. I like to see handwoven textiles in a 3-d shape. The summer in this pillow is the linen, cotton and rag, in the colors of small green tomatoes and new red potatoes. A pillow invites handling, and looking at.

Now, back to work on a new warp: unbleached linen, maybe something rosepath?