Tuesday, August 11, 2015

I don't Do Tapestries

But it's no use telling that to a septuagenarian client or an octogenarian mom. They kept waiting for "The Tapestry" commissioned when I was in Japan two years ago, to the month. So here's the wall piece.
It is 43cm wide and 109cm long plus casings on top and bottom. It took such a long time to thread, but weaving was fast. I'm going to get dowels or slats before I make the casings, trim and press again.

The warp is alternate 2/20 and 2/60 cottons, 17 colors, AbAb-bCbC-CdCd-dEdE and so forth. 80EPI. The weft is slippery, shiny silk, slightly skinnier than 2/20 cottons, in pale pink, dark peach, and screamy orange, with very little twists. The close sett and the thread combination made the hand stiffer than what I'd like in a scarf, which is perfect for a wall thing.
Backlit, it's not as hole-y/lacy as I wanted because the 2/20 cottons fulled very well. Instead it created deep texture, the bumps.
Under artificial light, the wefts shine.

The overall looks is fussy and delicate, which is good for a small Japanese house or apartment, but it makes the piece boring for my place as there is no big visual interest visible from a distance.

I have enough warp left for two scarves. I toyed with the idea of making another wall piece, but maybe not. I don't know. It's too... umm... sedate for Nelson.

8 comments:

  1. Love it, love the colour, love the texture.
    I'm using slats on a wall piece I've just done as I like it to hang flat. Will be interested in what you choose.

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  2. I'm at the mercy of the local mega store, more or less. We'll see how it goes.

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  3. Love the last picture. Beautiful fabric.

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  4. Thank you. I might try photographing it in different light after the casings are made.

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  5. Gorgeous piece, love those colors!

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  6. Absolutely gorgeous, I love it!!!

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  7. Thank you folks. You're just getting in the way of my declaring I find this piece a little.... uninspiring, aren't you. But in Japanese sunlight, it will work. I know this.

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