I'm starting this thread for Brewers to post their progress this week! My hope is to do a bit of warping each day! What are your accomplishments? Cheers, Erica

Comments

Mon, 10/03/2011 - 12:56

tien (not verified)

I'm well into weaving by now - here's the first of eight panels (click for a larger view):

I've made a few tweaks to my design process that I hope will work out well.  The knitted blanks for the next two panels are hanging to dry, and I'll be winding them off onto pirns this morning.

Mon, 10/03/2011 - 18:45

Erica J

Wow Tien! This looks great! I'm sorry my connection to the kick off t good enough for us to chat today! Cheers, Erica
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 00:51

Looming

I took my shifu sample off the loom and turned it into a wall hanging, which I've dubbed "Blueberry Field--First Snow." Blueberry leaves behave much like maple leaves in the fall, turning lots of bright colors, especially reds and oranges, and Oregon is blueberry central. My order of handmade kozo/mulberry paper arrived from Thailand yesterday, so I've started to twist that into weft. Tomorrow, I warp The Quad rigid heddle loom for the actual project, which is going to be a scarf for a friend who practices Zen Buddhism. I still have a few details to work out, but I know the name of the scarf will be "Bo!" (my way of combining elements of Buddhism and Halloween).

 

Wed, 10/05/2011 - 11:58

Erica J

I love it when samples can also be useful! I think this is a lovely wall hanging. Your friend is very luck to recieve a beautiful handmade scarf! I know they will both appreciate and love it! I can't wait to see pictures of your progress!
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 14:23

tien (not verified)

Just picked out colors for the darker panels of "Autumn Splendor":

I'll be dyeing the knitted blanks today - assuming I finish knitting them in time!

Sat, 10/08/2011 - 20:40

Erica

Great colors! May I ask what you mean by knitted blanks? It seems obvious, but I want to make sure I understand!
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 02:08

tien (not verified)

Hi EMJ,

A knitted blank is just a length of knitted fabric that you dye and then unravel so you can use the yarn/thread for another project.  Knitpicks sells sock blanks that are made using two strands of yarn (so you get two identical socks, at least in theory).  i'm knitting mine up using a knitting machine and 2/60 nm merino wool (15,000 yards per pound).

Here's a pic of some blanks (with a section spread out so you can see it's knitted):

I'm using them to get gradual color changes and also add some "texture" (irregularity) to the color.  You can see the effects in the panel a few posts above this one.

Sun, 10/09/2011 - 12:57

Erica J

Well I've started winding my warp. Everything has started to waffle in my head. Here are the things that are bottling me. 1) how the hand dyed fabric looks in the mill. I'm winding about 2 yards, the color variation has about a 1 yard repeat, so all the same bits are ending up together. Not the effect I want. 2) no matter how long the prhect is I think I'll try designing in the reed 3) the other possibility I'd that I go with the yarn and just weave whatever lengthnand width I can from the one yarn. If I d td what is the best way t decide on the length. Trial and error at the mill?
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 13:34

tien (not verified)

(1) change the length of your warp.  Even a few inches "off" will make a big difference in how the colors stack against each other.  You will get thinner and thinner stripes as the length gets further "off".

(3) Take the length of the skein (calculated from McMorran balance if needed) and divide by number of ends.  Then subtract 10-15% for error in measuring, and use that length.

 

Sun, 10/09/2011 - 22:37

Erica J

Thanks Tien! I think 2 yards is going to actually give a nice effect. I've wound one chain, 4". I'm not sure how much width I'll get, so I'm ready to roll with this project. I'm going to warpi it up, weave it off and then see if it's shawl worthy or if I need to go with something else! :)

Cheers,

Erica

Sun, 10/09/2011 - 23:08

Erica J

Tien,

Thanks for the suggestion of using a dummy warp. I forgot to ask in class if you, or anyone else here, has any advice for tying onto the dummy warp? What knot to use, etc.

Cheers,

Erica

Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:38

tien (not verified)

I think the weaver's knot is commonly used - Blossom Merz has a tutorial on it on his website - but you could probably just use an overhand knot.  I've never used a dummy warp, though, so I could be totally wrong!

Mon, 10/10/2011 - 11:56

Erica J

I'm not the best at learning knots, but Oliver is great at following directions like this and showing me what I don't understand! I have done this once before, but it's been years so I need the refresher.

Thanks again,

Erica

Mon, 10/10/2011 - 18:14

Erica J

This far I have 12" wound, alternating handspun and commercial yarn. Itvlooks like I'll get another 4" or so. Not really drawl width, but perhaps a purse or some such. We'll have to see the cloth t find out. I guess this one will be a mystery! Cheers, Erica
Tue, 10/11/2011 - 01:35

jennybellairs

I showed a weaver's knot a while ago on my blog:

http://jennybellairs.blogspot.com/2010/01/fast-pictorial-guide-to-weavers-knot.html

It is the easiest way I have found, and you won't have to get a book out to make it.  Check it out.

Jenny in Charlevoix the Beautiful

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