So, the last post, I see, says I have become an every-couple-months poster. Ha! As if. A whole year (nearly) has gone by since that optimistic post. A couple friends have started blogs, and the regularity of their posts both gives me reason to think I can do the same, and makes me feel pretty darned inept at my inability so far.
So, Ann, and Michelle, thank you for prodding me out of my blogging slump. Also, I now have an Ipad2, so if I can figure out how to post the text from my computer with a keyboard and then upload photos from my Ipad, I'll be in business. The jury is still out, though. (Final verdict - not without a special app - so, back to the camera.)
I've made several blankets since posting last, and painted a tencel warp and made it into scarves, made several odds and ends weavings - tea towels, runners, a couple rugs, and now have another blanket on the loom. This one is in a 3/1 twill, 20/2 cotton used doubled as one through the heddles and reed, 30 epi, 48+ inches in the reed.
The blanket will be made in three pieces, as are my other blankets, and then set together, but I wanted the center piece for this one wider than the two side pieces. I'm not sure the extra work of winding and weaving two separate warps will be worth it. Go here to see a photo of the blanket I just made (thanks, Ann). It's pretty hard to tell where it's set together - it really has to be felt for, so why did I go through threading 1450+ ends for this blanket's center piece?
As with every warp, though, I learn so much. The 20/2 cotton is very unforgiving for bad shuttle throws that catch on the threads a bit. Usually one strand of the 20/2 will snap. Not too hard to repair, thankfully. I'm using my 13" LeClerc closed bottom shuttle and the extra weight helps the shuttle through the shed. However, I found I have to unwind enough warp at the END of each throw to make it back through the next throw. Add to that the 48" width, and I'm sure I make an interesting study while weaving. I throw the shuttle, catch it and continue up and out with it until it spools enough off, then repeat. It's a good thing I'm tall and have long arms. As it is, I look rather like I'm conducting some kind of odd orchestra.
I use this technique a lot with cloth weaving. It gives me prettier selvedges. The piece is not usually this wide, though.
I'm not sure what size this blanket will end up. After I get this center section done, I'll wet finish it to find shrinkage, and then warp for the sides.
