Weaverly: Plain Weave

Classes

Weave Brocade On Your Rigid Heddle Loom
Acquire new rigid heddle skills in a class for intermediate rigid heddle weavers or intrepid beginners. We will focus on indirect warping, the creation and use of string heddles, and the pickup stick, while learning to weave brocade motifs in supplementary wefts on a plain weave ground. Intensive three-hour class, eight weeks. Jan. 13 - March 9, 2020 at OLLI, Furman University.

Books

The Woven Pixel: Designing for Jacquard and Dobby Looms Using Photoshop®
Co-authored by Alice Schlein and Bhakti Ziek. 362 pages, many illustrations. Now available for free download on handweaving.net. The accompanying CD with 1400 pattern presets is not included with the free download, but may be purchased separately. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for more information.
The Liftplan Connection: Designing for Dobby Looms With Photoshop® and Photoshop Elements®
By Alice Schlein. Build your own weave library. Design liftplans for your dobby loom. 157 pages, spiral bound, many illustrations. Now available as print-on-demand from www.lulu.com.
Network Drafting: An Introduction
By Alice Schlein. Break away from the block. Curves for your dobby loom. Originally published in 1994, now available as print-on-demand from www.lulu.com.

Monographs

Amalgamation: Double Your Dobby
24-pages of text, diagrams, and color photographs, in pdf format for download. Create drafts for 8 or more shafts in half-drop or brick arrangements which would normally require twice the number of shafts. Related to network drafting, this is a technique for intermediate or advanced weavers with dobby looms or multi-shaft table looms. Includes guidelines for amalgamation with three current weaving applications. View on a computer, or print out one copy for your own use. USD$21. via PayPal. Email aschlein[at]att[dot]net and indicate your preferred email address for PayPal.
Lampas for Shaft Looms
Class notes from Complex Weavers Seminars 2016, newly revised and formatted, in pdf form for download. A review of methods for designing your own lampas fabrics for treadle looms, table looms, and dobbies, eight shafts and above. Over 90 color photos of actual fabrics with drafts. Includes info on pickup lampas and a lampas bibliography. View on a computer, or print out one copy for your own use. USD$21. via PayPal. Email aschlein[at]att[dot]net for ordering info.
A Crepe Is Not Just a Pancake
52 pages of text, b&w and color diagrams, and drafts for multishaft tradle & dobby looms. Many color photos of actual cloth. Methods for drafting your own crepe weaves. Annotated bibliography. Pdf available for immediate download. $21. USD. Payment by PayPal. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for payment instructions.
Echo Weave
Based on the 1996 article in Weaver's, Issue 32. With brand new diagrams and high resolution scans of original fabrics. Pdf available for immediate download. $7. USD. Payment by PayPal. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for payment instructions.

Plain Weave

It was raining steadily this morning; I postponed my morning walk and headed straight to the loom. The white warp was too heavy to be sett at 24 epi, and I planned for this by winding fewer ends and resleyed the reed to 20 epi as well. The final warp at this setting is just a tad wider than the previous warp, even though there are fewer ends.

Weaving in a header of scrap yarn, it is clear that my choice of plain weave for this warp is a good one.

There is such variety of size and texture in the warp, that the plain weave will show it off well. It will also make for a lighter weight fabric. Some of the yarns are a little sticky (that yarn with the rayon pigtails in particular) and will require a little fiddling in the weaving.

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The rain has cleared and it is now time for my walk.

The utility crews from yesterday have taken down a number of trees. This one appears to have been healthy, so I assume it was impinging on the powerlines.

My favorite magnolia tree, the one whose blossoms are at eye level, so that I don't have to crawl on my belly or wish I had a stepladder in order to photograph them, is now blooming. They look luscious just after the rain.