a photoblog of what i did today.....

[glatt]

I'm really pleased to see this group of posts, and I look forward to seeing more. I've never seen such detailed descriptions of weaving.

So obviously the initial setup of the weaving is very time consuming. For a project like this throw/shawl, what percentage of the total project would you estimate the setup to be? Seems like once you get it all set up, the actual weaving would be pretty straight forward and quick. Is the setup 25% of the time for the total project? 50%?

Those place mats on the bench look fantastic, by the way!

[limey]

So glad to see you happy at your crafting, Ortho!

[orthodoc]

Thank you! I wanted to share because I find it fascinating as well, and I love the elegance of the loom. The woman who taught me to weave told me about people she had visited in Thailand who wove gorgeous silk fabric on stick and string looms. When the rains flooded their village, they would dismantle the looms, take them to higher ground, and carry on. It's remarkable that we can literally lash wood together, add string, and produce beauty.

To answer your question, glatt, setting up can take 50% of the project time, if you have to completely reset your loom (as I had to for this project). If you have to add or remove heddles from some of the frames, change the reed, and start with a fresh warp, it's very time-consuming. However, I don't weave to a deadline, so I don't mind. Many people settle on a type of fabric they like to weave and keep the reed, threading, and treadle tie-up the same from project to project. Then you can simply tie your new warp on to the old one (still a bit of time, but much less overall), pull it through the reed and heddles, and beam it onto your back warp beam in a fraction of the time. I did that when I made a series of blankets in the same pattern, with different colorways. If you like to try new things, you just factor in the time to set up the loom. When you're handling beautiful yarns it's a pleasure anyway.

[classicman]

... mind blown.
When you talked about setting up a room earlier, I was thinking a few bundles of thread, yarn whatever and some needles ... Wow, was I wrong.
Outstanding work. I'd love to have a ... something.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by classicman

I'd love to have a ... something.

I lost my ... something on 9/11, you insensitive bastard!

[orthodoc]

Have your people get in touch with my people.

Seriously, I'm glad you liked it.

[orthodoc]

Aaauuugghhh ... weaving lets you know when you're too tired. Or when you've had one glass of wine too many.

I sat down tonight, and even took a photo or two to show the shuttle in the shed and how the weft, in this project, has to be laid at a steep angle to allow proper takeup in the warp. Because the weave pattern is plain weave, simple over-and-under, more weft thread is taken up per throw than if the weft were skipping some warp threads, as it does in twill, basketweave, and many other patterns. So you have to throw the weft across at a steep angle to let more length of thread be pushed down by the beater.

Anyway ... I'd been merrily throwing weft shots for a little while, when I realized my selvedges were going to hell. The selvedges are the lengthwise edges of the fabric. Suddenly I realized that not all the edge threads were being 'caught' as the shuttle turned to head back in the opposite direction. Then I looked closely at the warp and realized I had major floats ...

Floats are good when you want them; they are not good in plain weave.

I have spent the past 20 minutes unweaving everything I did tonight. All because I put my feet on the second and third treadles, rather than the first and second. You'd think I'd've noticed.

I'll take this as my offering to Athena, so that I don't end up with Ariadne's curse. The end product won't have any errors (thanks to my OCD) but Athena will know about tonight's error.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

Anyway ... I'd been merrily throwing weft shots for a little while, when I realized my selvedges were going to hell. The selvedges are the lengthwise edges of the fabric. Suddenly I realized that not all the edge threads were being 'caught' as the shuttle turned to head back in the opposite direction. Then I looked closely at the warp and realized I had major floats

Damn. I hate when that happens.

[glatt]

Could be worse. Your hobby could be woodworking, and after a glass too many while being tired, you made a similar mistake with a power tool and your fingers.

[orthodoc]

True, glatt - it's hard to hurt yourself with yarn.

Yep, when your selvedges go to hell, it's time to call it a day.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Excellent, the fact you've got all your weaving tools together and set up, the piece you're making and your set up instructions. Oh, and your head too.

Without your excellent step by step, most people who hadn't witnessed it wouldn't have a clue how much work it involved. My Grandfather used to set up looms in a mill as a young man(circa 1900), and described the process to me several times. But until I witness someone actually do it, I really didn't understand what had to be done, and done right. Damn, you could have a TV show, be the Bob Ross of the loom.

[orthodoc]

I don't think I'll ever be Bob Ross, but I did finish this project, finally.
Here's a photo of the warp being cut once I'd reached the end (about 72", not quite as long as the instructions said, but still respectable).

[orthodoc]

A view of the fabric with Zoot, or Sarahna's Columbia as she's formally known, for perspective.

[orthodoc]

Here is the fabric before washing, when it's wide open, so to speak.

[orthodoc]

And here it is after washing, ready for pressing.