Working Surfaces for Mesh Weaving

As I mentioned in the last post, while you weave, the one thing you really need to be concerned with is keeping the yarn smoothly tight without drawing the mesh too tight. The easiest way to accomplish that is to choose a proper working surface.

You need to choose a flat, hard surface. The old patterns say that you can work with a pillow on your lap. I don't think that is the best choice. It doesn't offer enough support.

Here are some better options:

• A card table. Have a chair tall enough so that your arms don't get too tired.
• A large book on your lap. This might be a good solution for traveling. Keep a careful eye on the tension of the yarn since you will have a smaller working area.
• A kitchen or dining room table. This is likely to be taller than a card table, so be aware of your arms and shoulders as you work. You could try using a step stool - the kind that has a lower step and then a seat. Some kind of taller chair.
• An ironing board. This one gives you a nice long surface to work on and it adjusts for the height you need.
• A coffee table may be the right thing depending on how ornate it is and, once again, the height. See if you can find a stack of pillows to sit on or a footstool that will give you comfortable access to work. Please don't sit on the couch and lean all the way forward to work on the coffee table.

The first order of business for this work is to make sure that your physical needs are seen to. Don't hurt your back, shoulders, or arms while you are working on something fun.

Thanks for visiting with me.

Kathi