Monday, March 27, 2017

Right Answer


I make no secret that I use bamboo blinds as warp packing.  Usually I buy cheap ones, but they tend to wear out quickly - apparently I use them - a lot.

Yesterday I stopped at Jysk (a 'cheap' IKEA) to buy more and could not find any blinds.  Thinking that they sometimes put inventory in 'odd' places, I decided to walk the store and lo and behold, near the exit was a cart with wooden slat blinds.  Now, I don't usually buy this type of blind because they are more expensive than bamboo, but they were on sale for $5 each!

They are 140 cm wide and cut in half, that means I will have 10 blinds 70 cm wide.  This is a little narrower than I usually go, but since I rarely dress the Fanny with a warp much wider than 24", a 27" wide blind will be fine.  And a much higher quality blind so I figure I have enough warp packing to last the rest of my weaving life.

I sometimes see discussion about various kinds of warp packing on chat groups.  People love their paper.  People love their wooden slats.  People love their venetian blind slats.  I happen to love my wooden blinds.

Ultimately the 'right' answer to any question in weaving is that which gets you the results you desire.  

All I am suggesting is that if someone is having issues with their processes or tools, they might like to try something different.  If someone likes my results, they might like to try my approach.  If it doesn't work for them, then figure out what does.

The only 'correct' answer (in short form) in weaving is...it depends.  Each person, each situation, each loom, each yarn, each studio space - each one may require a somewhat different answer to those I have found for myself.

Try it.  Accept it.  Adapt it.  Reject it.  Do whatever it is that you need to do to find your happy place, make the cloth you intend to make.  Become your own 'expert' for your circumstances.

Discover the principles of the construction of cloth and choose your own road. The 'right' answer?  It depends.

6 comments:

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Unknown said...

Hello Laura; I do hope you are well - feeling better. I've read your blog - not consistently, but for a while now. You were kind enough to offer me a very seasoned opinion in the purchase of my first loom - the Fanny. We've moved from NB to BC (on a boat) & I was able to pick up another LeClerc. This one is a Kebec. 100" wide. I want to get into weaving blankets/rugs. But that's another story.

You mention Bamboo blinds for your warp beam. I have 100" width. My first attempt (at weaving) is not 100" wide, but I wonder whether to invest in a bamboo blind that covers all possibilities rather than one that matches the warp I have on the loom now. Is there any particular type of bamboo blind - wide slat/narrow slat? Or would a 'bamboo curtain' accomplish the same thing? I found one at JYSK : jysk.ca/home-decor/window/bamboo-curtains/brenda-vertical-blinds.html

Do you think that might work? It would certainly accomplish the width issue, by turning it on its' side. Anyway - I'd appreciate your opinion. I've searched window suppliers for corrugated cardboard, but ... that could end up a full time job. Sticks? I see them as much bother. So I do like your idea and would like to use it. Thanks Charlene

Laura Fry said...

I used bamboo 'stick' blinds for a number of years but they get a bit wobbly. I now have wooden slat blinds. The slats need to go onto the loom so that the blind can bend and roll around the beam, so it would need to be 100" wide. If I had a 100" loom I'd probably invest in blinds that were wide enough to cover the entire beam (buying wider and cutting to width works with wooden slat blinds).

But if you aren't going to be going full width, but more commonly a narrower width, you might gave two sizes - one to reflect the more common weaving width and then the wider for when you go full width.

Unknown said...

Thank you. I really appreciate your feedback. Brilliant!

Unknown said...

Apologies for kicking the can again . . . So understanding the slats must be on the beam in the width (direction) they would be on the window, because turning them vertically would not allow them to roll, would it work if instead of 1 blind @ 100" (which is difficult to find) I had 2 blinds @ 45" ? or does that make it too awkward to single-handedly get the 2 on the beam while keeping threads under tension. . . ? - Charlene

Laura Fry said...

I might tape them together to keep them as 'one'...