Monday, August 27, 2012

In Praise of Longer Warps


Am just about to cut the tea towels off the AVL.

This warp was 30 yards long and about 10 yards of it went towards fabric for new office curtains.  Which I hope I will have time to sew up sometime this fall....or winter!

While it may look like there is an awful lot of warp left, the fact is the end is just over the top of the beam - in other words, about half a yard on the beam itself.  Which means that there is not enough warp left to do one more towel.

I could weave a square for a bread cloth or 'doily' but quite frankly I don't want to.  I have other projects in the pipeline and this warp needs to come off.

Do I feel bad about the amount of loom waste there will be?  No.

For one thing, there is less loom waste here than if I'd put 3 ten yard warps onto the loom.  For another, my thrums get recycled, one way or another.

Anyone worried about loom waste might think about mastering beaming longer warps.  You wind up with less waste per item than doing many shorter warps.  :)

Currently reading (or about to start) Two of the Deadliest, edited by Elizabeth George.  "New tales of lust, greed, and murder from outstanding women of mystery"  Several of my fav mystery writers are included in the collection so I'm looking forward to them and perhaps discovering some new favourite authors.  :)

5 comments:

charlotte said...

I love long warps, because of the efficiency. As you sayless waste and less work per item :-)

Rachel said...

I'm a newer weaver, I've been weaving for about a year and a half now and still haven't gotten doing longer warps down yet. Whenever I try my tension goes crazy! Do you have any tips or suggestions to help with this issue?

Laura Fry said...

Are you applying tension as you beam?
Cheers
Laura

Rachel said...

yes but the only method i've used or know to apply tension is to just hold it in my hand and pull taut. this doesn't work so well for wider warps and i'm at my wits end! thank you

Laura Fry said...

Email me laura at laurafry dot com and I'll try to help you trouble shoot, Rachel...

cheers,
Laura