A Different Tack

 

Over the weekend I got the next warp into the loom and started weaving this morning.  

Shawls are similar to tea towels in that I'm using 2/16 bamboo for warp and a similar sized rayon for weft.  But, shawls are larger - wider and much longer - so it looks like it is going to take about 4 hours to weave one shawl.

The weave structure is twill, and ratio is 7:9 so the cloth has more warp showing on one side, more weft on the other.  That is a little hard to see in this shot, in part because it is an awkward angle, in part because of the light (which isn't great) and partly because it hasn't been wet finished yet since it is still in the loom.

My next warp was going to be tea towels again, using that fine singles linen that just arrived, but instead I've agreed to write an article and will have to do some samples to illustrate.  OTOH, I can piggy back that experimentation onto a warp I had been planning some months in the future to use up some of my 2/8 cotton and that mystery yarn I posted about a few days ago.  Instead it will go on 'next' and I'll start to use up that mystery yarn at long last - once the article samples have been woven.

One of the things about the articles I've been writing over the past month is that they have required some digging, some thought experiments, some examination of my assumptions, forcing me to think about things in a deeper way.  And then, of course, how to design the experiments to prove - or disprove - my assumptions.  

To have the previous warp, and now this one, go smoothly (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself) is leaving me with some time to sit and ponder.  Since I only need surface attention to weave, other parts of my brain can wander hither and yon, looking at the craft, or my approach to the craft, in different ways.

Wednesday I get the next injections for my back and as such I will need a few days 'rest'.  Part of that 'rest' time will be looking at the Brassard colour cards and choosing the yarns to go with the fine white singles linen.  Part of it will be spent reading about the topics I'm exploring for the articles.  I also have a bin full of hemmed towels that need their final finishing press.  I think I have plenty to keep me occupied for a few days until I feel able to try weaving again.

And who knows what ideas will float to the surface?  In the meantime, I'm enjoying these nice 'easy', co-operative warps.