Not Set in Stone

 

 snowflake twill towel

I cut the blue/grey warp off the loom last week, wet finished and started hemming them.

Since I have made significant changes to the draft to the current warp, and some to this previous one, I'm not sure I can any longer call it 'Swedish Snowflake' (as we know it in North America) or just that I used a fancy twill in the category of 'snowflake twills'.

I think it was the day I realized that threading drafts are not written in stone that I began to see the potential for designing things.  It felt like I slipped the coils of gravity and was able to 'fly'.  Well, not really, but I felt like the horizon had suddenly got exponentially bigger.  

I began to play with the elements in the design, once I could see what they were and how to make them 'dance'.  Right away I knew I wanted a lot more shafts.  A Jacquard would have been ideal, but way out of my budget (still is.)

So I bought a 16 shaft loom, which - other than a draw loom - was the most that handlooms came in, until after the computer interface dobby became more common.  By then, however, I had gotten used to 16 shafts, and while I sometimes cast a longing eye at looms with more, the reality is that I don't really 'need' more.  I have far from explored everything there is to do with 16.  And the creative 'limitation' is good, too.  It forces me to really think about what I want to achieve and think through the best way to achieve it.

I didn't make it to the loom yesterday, but last night was 'better' and I aim to continue weaving on the beige warp today.  And decide on the next warp since it looks like I can't order the yarn I need yet, for the next article.  But that deadline isn't 'tight' so I've got time to get back to 'usual' and keep weaving off the fine linen singles.  And keep working on stash reduction.  And hopefully Canada Post will come to an agreement with their employees soon.