Weaverly

Weighty Matters

I was disturbed by the high breakage rate in the selvedge threads of my previous towel. Temples, the kind with teeth, don't mesh well with this loom. They tend to leave scratches on the shuttle race. So I opted for tarp clips with weights. I was still experiencing breakage, as the draw-in remained excessive. 

After a bit of noodling, the fix was found. I spaced the edge warps a little more openly, added a doubled selvedge thread on each side, and added 8 ounces to the weights on the sides of the loom.

Here's the current towel in halvdräll, in progress. 

And a composite picture of the tarp clips on each selvedge.

The following shows a cord, connected to a clip and passing through an I-bolt on the loom frame

And at the bottom of each cord is a collection of weights, containing various items from my pantry (rice, dried beans, and lentils). The weights are easily adjusted by adding and removing legumes. The comedians among us remark that there's my dinner, in case of emergency.

Friday Entertainments

Getting in a walk is a little tricky when it gets hot so early, but I did sneak in a stroll around the lake a couple of days ago. Lucky me--the lilies in the koi pond are magnificent. 

Back in my studio I did some doodling with networked rose path. Do you catch that segue?

Here is the initial.

And here is the resulting draft, treadled as drawn in, with four different 16 shaft twill tieups. Click to enlarge.

Here's a closeup of a single iteration.

Now about that word iteration. What I actually mean is a single repeat, but if it's single, it's not a repeat, right? Any help here, English majors?

Nature Abhors a Naked Loom

I guess you can figure out what's going on here. Two warp chains, incorporating colors from my cotton stash.

Spread in the saddle, ready for beaming.

Lease sticks behind the shafts, ready for threading.

Threading is finished.

A new warp holds such promise.

First picks. This is halvdräll, something I've never woven before.

Four shafts, very pleasant weaving.

In the books department: I have just finished reading Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light, the third and final volume in her Wolf Hall trilogy. Really wonderful, for so many reasons. Writing style, character development, philosophical insights. Fiber artists should love it especially for the many detailed textile descriptions.