Refining rods

Sep 26, 2023 | Diary, Making

refining rods Collaborating with goldsmiths to craft velvet rods. The 0,5mm bit I ordered didn’t give me the precision and control I was looking for in the velvet rods, so I turned to colleagues at the Goldschmiede department of the Deutsches Technikmuseum. The...

Historic velvet

Sep 19, 2023 | Diary, Textile

historic velvet Gathering clues from 15th century velvet. When in London for the 2023 Textile Intersections conference, I had the chance to visit Cosprop, the historic costumier, to have an up-close look at their remarkable collection of historic hand-woven velvets....

Rough rods

Aug 23, 2023 | Diary

rough rods First forays into recreating velvet weaving rods. Rods are one of the most important elements to weaving consistent, high-density velvet, but they are also one of the more elusive and complex tools to recreate. There has been enough conversation in the...

Preliminary pompom

Aug 10, 2023 | Diary, Textile

preliminary pompom Testing the velvet-suitability of a mystery silk. As I reach my first goal of having enough bobbins to weave a small test of velvet, it’s time to look up from the lathe and consider the other elements still needed to weave velvet, starting...

Grain store

Jul 26, 2023 | Diary, Wood

grain store Stockpiling carving experience for future use. The piles of wood shavings have continued growing, and the hour(less)glass has made me further consider how they can serve as a log of the time, process and materiality involved in the bobbin production....