Laurelhurst Fiber Art Studio & Urban Farm
Tablet Weaving * Ply-Splitting * Mindfulness * Permaculture
Fiber Art by Andrew Louie
My student Andrew Louie makes tablet-woven friendship bracelets, ankle bracelets, and choker necklaces and bookmarks, ply-split braids on keyrings (for your keys, or to attach to a backpack or luggage), and ply-split hotpads. When you order something, he will make it in the color and design you choose.
Andrew has been taking private lessons in my studio on Monday and Wednesday afternoons since July 2003. He has also been a student at Art from the Heart, an organization that provides art instruction to developmentally-disabled adults.
The items shown below are examples of what Andrew makes. Please keep in mind that he is in the studio just four hours a week, so it may take a few weeks for him to finish your order. We will be in touch with you by e-mail to let you know how the work is progressing. We welcome your suggestions for new designs that Andrew can make. Please contact me for details.
Andrew has learned the skills to make a continuous warp, and can arrange the tablets for different designs and weave warp-twined bookmarks and friendship bracelets. He has mastered using the Bradshaw cordmaker to make his own 2-ply cords from 5/2 perle cotton for ply-split braids. He is also making cords from torn fabric strips, and using them to make ply-split hotpads. The photo above shows Andrew with his tablet-weaving set up for making bookmarks. He is wearing his first tablet-woven belt, made in August 2006 (shown in the photo on the left). In making this belt, he practiced turning the tablets different ways to make a variety of chevrons and diamonds. Andrew has a lot of patience for learning new things, and a great sense of humor. I've learned a lot from working with him!
Andrew helps with preparing his fiber art for mailing. He receives 100% of the money paid for his work ordered through my website.
Color Chart
Please use this chart to select your favorite color combinations for Andrew's:
Friendship bracelets
Braids on keyrings
Bookmarks
Tablet-Woven Friendship Bracelets, Ankle Bracelets, and Choker Necklaces
Friendship Bracelets, woven length 5" to 7", $4.50 including shipping
Ankle Bracelets, woven length over 7" up to 10", $6.50 including shipping
Choker Necklaces, woven length over 10" up to 14", $8.50 including shipping
Andrew can weave bracelets and choker necklaces with any design shown below and your choice of up to four colors from the color chart.
Design: Wavy Lines
Black, Red, Kelly Green, Gold
Design: Chevrons
Yale Blue, Purple, White, Turquoise
Design: Chevrons and Three Diamonds
Black, Purple, Kelly Green, Turquoise
Design: Offset Chevrons with One Diamond
Turquoise, Pink, White, Light Yellow
Design: Big Diamonds
Black, Garnet, Avocado, Calif. Gold
Design: Checkerboards
Purple, Garnet, Kelly Green, Gold
Design: Small Checkerboards
Purple, Pink, Red, Tangerine
Design: Knitted-Look Stripes
Red (in 2 holes), White, Blue
Design: American Flag
Red, White, and Blue
(tablets all threaded in the same direction)
Design: American Flag
Red, White, and Blue
(tablets alternately-threaded)
Andrew weaves each item individually with 10/2 perle cotton and 8 tablets. He uses four spools of yarn to make a continuous warp, and then arranges the tablets to weave the pattern. I have created a pattern chart with diagrams showing how each tablet should be arranged, and Andrew compares the tablets in his warp to the diagrams. He flips and turns individual tablets until each one matches the corresponding diagram on a pattern chart. Then he weaves by either turning the tablets continuously forward, or a combination of forward and backward turns, as required for the pattern.
After completing the weaving, Andrew cuts the warp, twists the warp threads on each end into a 2-ply cord, ties a knot, and clips the threads even. The finished weaving is about 1/4" wide. Each bracelet is attached by hand sewing to an informational card.
When ordering, please write the name of the item, such as "Friendship Bracelet by Andrew Louie", and also write the name of the design and the colors. Choose up to four colors from the color chart. Andrew is able to work on weaving bracelets when he is here in the studio on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Please keep the slow pace in mind when ordering.
Tablet-Woven Bookmark: American Flag Design
$7.00 including shipping
Andrew wanted to weave bookmarks that would remind people of the American flag. He uses 10/2 perle cotton to weave these bookmarks. Each bookmark is about 1" wide and 6-1/2" long, including fringe. After weaving the bookmarks, Andrew steam-presses them and then sews each one to an informational card.
Click on the image for a larger view.
When ordering, please write "American Flag Bookmark by Andrew Louie". Andrew can weave bookmarks with colors from the flags of other countries by special order.
Ply-Split Braid on a Keyring: Wave Design
$8.00 including shipping
A colorful braid can help you find your keys and identify your luggage. It can also be used as a zipper pull on a backpack.
Andrew makes the 2-ply cords for this braid with 5/2 perle cotton and a 4-hook Bradshaw cordmaker attached to an electric drill. To make the braid, he uses a latch hook to create openings between the plies of some cords, and pulls another cord through. After finishing the braid and knotting the ends, Andrew sews each one to an informational card.
Click on the image for a larger view.
When ordering, please write "Wave Braid by Andrew Louie". You can let Andrew choose the colors from ones that he has already made, or you can choose up to four colors from the color chart, and Andrew will make the braid for you with your choice of colors.
Reversible Ply-Split Hotpads from Recycled Fabric
Size varies, but width is approximately 7"
$10.00 including shipping
Use this ply-split braided hotpad to protect your table from hot serving dishes, or use it under a flower vase or any time you need a small table mat.
We use recycled fabrics and start by tearing the fabric into strips. After preparing the strips, Andrew makes 2-ply cords, using a strip of a different color for each ply. He cuts the cords into the desired lengths, and then strings the cords onto a knitting needle to make it easy to keep them all in order. Using the POT structure (plain oblique twining), he splits the cords, leaving a full twist between splittings, which makes one color stays on one side, and the other color stays on the reverse. Andrew discovered how to do this -- and I think it's pretty cool! The hotpad has a texture like a waffle, and the center of each square is filled with some of the color from the other side.
Here Andrew is showing the reverse side of the same potholder.
When ordering, please write "Ply-Split Hotpad by Andrew Louie". You can suggest colors you like or let us choose for you. Also, you can mail us your old sheets (or other cotton or cotton/blend fabric, at least 2 yds. long) and Andrew will use them to make your hotpads! If sending your own sheets or fabrics, send one solid color and one coordinating print.
This page updated August 30, 2006