Silk inlay pictures

I was taught an inlay technique by Riitta Sinkkonen Davies who specialises in weaving linen. I was particularly impressed by her scenes of the Pembrokeshire coast using inlaid handspun linen. I weave them on a four shaft loom. I use a fine linen warp set at 12 threads per inch. A row of the fine linen is also woven between each row of coloured handspun silk. The rows are further apart than they are with weft faced weaving so the weaving part of the process is quicker.  However, Putting the fine warp on the loom takes much longer.

I owe a lot to Sue Lewington's  lovely watercolours of the Isles of Scilly which provide inspiration. I am also very grateful for her encouragement and to both her and her successors Nic and Sue Murray for stocking them at North Farm Gallery.

 

25/1 Silk inlay

Based on a painting by Sue Lewington of Tean and St Helens

£90

11 in wide

7 in high

 

25/2 Silk Inlay

Tresco from St Martins

£90

11 in wide

8 in high

 

 

25/3 Silk Inlay

Looking west on the way to the Daymark

£90

11 in wide

8 in high

 

 

24/5 Silk inlay

St Mary's from St Martins 

£80

11 in wide

8 in high

 

25/10 Silk Inlay

Scilly Sunset. Based on a picture from the Scilly Appreciation Facebook Page

£40

7 in wide

3 in high

 

25/9

Silk Inlay

Tresco from St Martins

£50

7 in wide

4 in high

 

 

25/7 Silk Inlay

Tresco from St Martins

£60

5 in wide

6 in high

 

24/2 Silk Inlay

      Based on a photo from Scilly Webcam of August 23 Storm

7 in wide

4 in high

£40

 

 

24/1 

Silk inlay

Based on a page from Sue Lewington's Scilly Notes 

7 in wide

5 in high

 

24/4

Silk inlay

Sunset from St Martins 

£70

11 in wide

6 in high

25/4 Silk Inlay

Derwent Water

£70

12 in wide

6 in high

How I started weaving pictures. 

The traditional method of weaving pictures is called tapestry weaving. The warp threads are set far enough apart for the weft to completely cover the warp. it is a good way to start weaving as all that is needed is a picture frame, some strong cotton thread for the warp and coloured yarns for the weft- see "simple looms" for more information . I wove several pictures on a frame when I started weaving. I wove some more recently to practice the skills before teaching on line.

I returned to weaving pictures when I was taught the inlay technique. I also started weaving bigger pictures on my loom using the weft faced technique which is used for tapestry. I think of this as “lazy tapestry weaving”! Landscapes and seascapes which do not have steep slopes are best.  A significant amount of the picture is woven with one shuttle for each row. I often use several strands of wool of varying hues to produce colour variations. I also use wool which has been dip dyed. I use meet and separate, a traditional tapestry technique using two or more shuttles, when slopes are needed.

This picture is based on a sunset from ScillyWebcam. I have used a mixture of yarns.  The sky is woven from yarn I had dyed with indigo.

I use this method when teaching teaching my Weave a Scene Course with rigid heddle looms