So, the last post left off with the warp for the purple ruanas on the loom, and my weft test stripes done. I was trying to decide which colors to use for the weft. Well, two out of the three ruanas got claimed, and so those clients got to pick their weft colors. One chose silver (light grey), and the other choose a deep purple.
I decided I really liked the purples of the warp, so I chose black for the final weft color, in order to keep them as close to true as possible. I was tempted by a dark pink, but figured the black was a safer choice. Maybe next time I'll get a bit more adventurous.
And so, the weaving part is done! I've cut the fabric off of the loom, trimmed thread ends, zig-zag stitched the beginning and end in order to prevent raveling, and popped the fabric into the wash to wet finish.
I've got it on hot, with high agitation. This fluffs and shrinks and moves threads into their final position. The fabric comes out much softer to the touch, with a nicer drape. I love seeing the transition that this first wash and dry brings!
Now... I often put just a bit more warp onto the loom than I think I need, in case of mishaps. I wove that extra off with the black weft, and ended up with 21" of bonus fabric (pre-washing). I'm wondering what to do with this extra bit. I'm thinking that a handwoven yoga mat bag might be in order, with perhaps a matching inkle woven strap. But I'm not sure. What else would you do with that extra bit of fabric?
EDIT: After washing, the extra bit of fabric ended up 24 1/2" wide from selvedge to selvedge, and 18" long.
Beautiful.....I am mesmerized by your managing to get the gradation lined up the way you do.
ReplyDeleteI work by proportion. I divide the warp into equal sections of warp threads. One section will have 3/4 the original color, and 1/4 the new color. The next section will have 2/3 the original color, and 1/3 the new. The next one will have equal amounts. Then, a section of 1/3 original and 2/3 new. And then on to 1/8 original, 3/4 new...and 1/8 the color to change to after that. And so on. It makes for a lot of cutting and tying at the warping mill, but when I go to put it on the loom the color changes are all done for me already.
DeleteI’m a beginning weaver and a friend just turned me into your blog. Beautiful work here! A few questions, is that a baby wolf your weaving on? Do you use mostly 10/2 cotton? I really want to make a ruana with what I’m weaving now, is thete a pattern online I could follow? It looks easy and I’m a sewer but would like to look at a pattern before working with all the handwoven cloth! Also what’s your Etsy shop? Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteHi Dana! Glad to see you here. :) This loom is a Pendleton, that I found at a garage sale years ago. For the ruana, I'm using 3/2 mercerized cotton for the warp, and either 8/2 or 10/2 cotton for the weft, depending on what I've got on hand that works with the warp colors. I buy the Valley cottons from Webs. This is all plain weave. I weave one long rectangle, then cut it in half and put the two rectangles side by side. Sew them together up to about 3" short of the mid point (sew back and forth a bit there to reinforce, as that is a stress point at your neck), and then hem the ends. For width, measure from the middle of the back of your neck down your arms as far as you want it to hang. For length, measure from your neck again however far you want it to go down your back/front.
DeleteThank you so much! Beautiful work!
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