I took this photo 18nov2001, or just under five years ago. (And then lost it. Thanks be to the screensaver program that puts up random images, with file names. Even so, it took me awhile to find, as it's so old I wasn't recording file names back when I indexed my images; in fact, this is the first batch of images I filed by date, even. Before then, I tried sorting stuff into various categories, which didn't work so well.)
Anyway. I've been fascinated by ombre fibers for years. —I'm not certain what the modern term is; when they're made in small batches, by hand, they're called hand-painted; and then there's these new self-patterning sock yarns, which are designated ‘variegated’ —that strikes me a good overall term. But back when I was buying the cotton crochet string (for doileys and the like) ‘ombre’ was the preferred term. I particularly loved the rainbow pattern, which in yarn is stilled called ‘Mexicana’, I believe.
But I started making simple braids and collecting yarn in grade school; and by high school/college I amused myself arranging the repeats in specified ways, usually two strands matching, and one ‘opposed’. I couldn't figure out how to braid with more than three strands, but even so, enjoyed it a good deal:
an assortment of 3 strand braids made with ombre crochet-cotton. Probably made during late 70s and early 80s. Look at the cream colored braid at the bottom to see early evidence of interest in making the color contrast/pattern ‘disappear’.
The cut length of the starting strands was usually some multiple of the pattern repeat, and no longer, I'm thinking than perhaps 3 yards or so (I didn't have a clue how to manage long warps, either.) These are among my favorites; I also made braids using standard weight yarns, usually acrylics.
I remember one set of acrylic braids, of a silvery, shiny yarn that went from cream to light brown to green, that I made after seeing slides of terraced fields in Israel or some place like that my biblical studies prof had brought back: I planned to couch them in a wall hanging to represent the beautiful patterns of terraced farms. I never got around to using the those braids, nor indeed very many of the others (one got incorporated into a stocking). I made them because they were “pretty”.
Perhaps if I'd been exposed to more textilish crafty folk when I was young, I would've channeled the interest into crochet or knitting (both of which I tried, though with more success for the former.) My mother sewed a little, and did some smocking, but the musical, rather than visual arts, have proven to be her passion. So I've pretty much taught myself embroidery, and beading, and braiding, though I was to take classes on the former two later on.
And you can imagine my delicious sense of discovery when books on kumihimo came out. I wonder, though, what would've happened had I learnt it as a child, instead of adulthood...?
image taken 18nov01; file created 25oct06
Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.
