Sad Loom

 

There is nothing quite so...sad...as an empty loom.  Which is why I try to have my next warp planned and ready to go just as soon as the warp on the loom gets cut off.

Today I will be beaming the next warp (old photo).  This will be the second warp for the current article for WEFT.  I have been working on it for the past couple of weeks, trying to decide what will work best to illustrate what I'm trying to show and have an initial plan based on the first warp I did.  I try to make each warp be a step forward, to build on my knowledge.

Once I have all the samples woven, I will take some time to examine all of them, and the yarn I used for the two warps, and hopefully tease out some information that might be helpful to others.  No, I will not have any firm conclusions, but hopefully a stepping stone for greater understanding.  And then the task of writing up my discoveries, get my alpha reader to check for grammar and/or typos and take photos, if I can get ones that show anything worthwhile.  I may even try to draw some diagrams, if I can, although my drawing skills are less than professional!

All of that will be requiring a microscope so that I can really *see* the yarns and their structure - because I have a sneaky suspicion that part of what happens is based on the structure of the thread itself.  To really understand what is happening, I might have to closely examine many more threads, but I think I can extrapolate based on the two different yarns I used.  Of course, change one thing, and everything can change!

We are going through a spell of 'real' winter with the overnight temps in the mid -20s C.  This time the cold weather has brought clear blue skies, for which I am grateful.  The dreary days we had been having in Dec/Jan were wearing.  And, of course, current events are chaotic and exhausting.  I am managing to get to the studio at least twice a day, and continuing my exploration of cloth and how it is made as a way to stay sane.  

I need to stay focused on my craft or I would tear my hair out in frustration.

If you are a creative person, keep creating.  Keep putting positive energy out into the world.  I think it was Churchill who, when questioned why he wanted to keep funding the arts, replied (I paraphrase) without the arts, what are we fighting for?  I don't know if this quote is accurate, but I keep it in mind because I believe that we need our creativity as much as other things.