Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Weaving the Sea Shawl


Ok, that was rather nerve wracking. Today I wound up my bobbins, and actually got started weaving on the Sea Shawl. I quickly found that I needed to add a couple of floating selvedges, because the twill pattern didn't always extend all the way to the edge of the fabric. And, my yarn was too thick for the end feed shuttle I had planned on using, so I had to switch over to a more traditional boat shuttle.

Other than that though, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. I haven't broken any warp threads yet. (Knock on wool.) The yarn isn't shredding in the reed. The pattern is showing up well. There isn't too much draw in at the edges. There don't seem to be any threading errors. The treadling pattern is dead simple, especially compared to how challenging it was to thread the heddles. And since my yarn is relatively thick, the weaving will go fairly quickly. If I devote time to the project over the next few days, I could conceivably be done weaving by this weekend, and be able to twist the fringe at the SCA event on Saturday.

Actually...maybe I'll twist the fringe as I cut it off the loom. Since the yarn is handspun singles, if I cut just a few threads at a time, they'll pretty much twist back on themselves. All I'll have to do is add the knots at the ends.

I am still worried that I'll run into trouble during the wet finishing. Wool shrinks and felts, and if I let it this might turn into a itty bitty fuzzy board.

Crossing my fingers.

4 comments:

  1. Man, you are talented! I'm so jealous of your abilities. Great stuff in your shop.

    BTW sneak attacks are a really cool idea. I've been waiting for their to be something I really want so I can get it on sneak attack night. Stick around the forums and check it out.

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  2. Thanks!! Most of what I do isn't so much talent as it is stubbornness though. :)

    I'm keeping my eye on the forms. So much fun stuff going on there. It could be quite addictive.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Beautiful work!

    I used to weave but my Dad always warped my loom (I don't have that much patience). Now that I'm four states away from my Dad my loom is collecting dust.

    Good luck!

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  4. Poor loom!

    I actually find the warping process rather meditative. There is a great sense of accomplishment when every thread is finally in place. But then, I'm weird. :)

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