Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Next

The cotton warp is done. I like Triona's piece; it looks different in different lights, but I particularly like it when the blue designs lifts off the background like danging earrings. The selvedge is problematic, and my hemming technique has much to be desired, though. (I'll post a bigger pic after she's received the piece.)
I don't like my fabric for my project. I chose the weft color because I liked it in the sample (bottom, below), and used the twill draft because I made it but hadn't used it and expected it to weave quickly and easily; it turned out to be excruciatingly boring and the weft makes the cloth looks dark and in disharmony. I should have gone with the squary draft. But stay tuned for the project. 
 
Some time ago my yarn source asked me to sample a yarn, and I did this at the end of this warp. As control sample, I did a bit of the twill with the same 2/20 in white. And look! Christmasy!!
So it wasn't all a waste.

This is a silk scarf from Myanmar Mom bought me in Japan some years ago; she knew I'd go goo goo gah gah over the grays. And of course I have.
For many moons I've looked at cotton like these,
and dreamt of weaving with silk like these,
So imagine my surprise, when I found myself making this warp as the first inspired by the scarf. Doni's cashmere glided onto the warp beam; so smooth, so lovely. And in case you can't tell, (weird weather today,) it's half red-and-orange, and half red-and-pink, and the red came from two dye lots so are ever-so-slightly different. I'm using a subset of the Pillars drafts for two pieces from this warp; at least that's the plan at the moment.
Until I took a pick of the scarf on the couch, I had thought it was in two colors split down the middle. When I admire something so much, I revere them too much to look at them closely, I know.

10 comments:

  1. Those reds are going to be spectacular!

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  2. I'm hoping, Sandra, but I'll have to do a few samples to decide on the weft color and sheen... I may even dip into my silk box, though that's asking for tears in the selvedge department...

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  3. I love your grey silks! That's exactly what I am craving at this very moment. Can't wait to see your reds in action, though.

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  4. Ohhh, come to the gray side, Cally... The desire is strong in this one.... (But I am not your father.) Sorry, feeling a bit silly this morning.

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  5. All glorious yarns, Meg! I can't wait to see the results.

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  6. I do love the grays. And I have a lovely set in wool that would be very fine but easier for me to weave. Or less worrying than silks - because they would be selvedge-suicide for moi, Margery.

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  7. I love the christmas tree sample piece. Looks amazing. I still get amazed by just how much difference the weft colour/texture can bring to a piece. It's transformational in this example. Lovely, as ever.

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  8. This certainly surprised me, I can tell you, Jane. I mean, for days I had thought it's such a boring draft, while I persisted and wove the 180cm with much cheerful music and chocolate, and WHAM, just by changing the colors, there are these... pine trees!!!!!

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  9. This afternoon I have just spent an enormous sum of money to increase my choice of grey silks - and I have only bought teeny tiny amounts for sampling! When I have to buy actual proper amounts for making, my bank account will implode.

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  10. I know!!! This is why I "rescue" so much silk from Mom's stash, even though for some reason she has lots of greens. (She's not a green weaver, either.) But talking about bank accounts.... I had one hour at the dentist yesterday. Enough said. :->

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