Soap Box

 

wet finished

loom state

Heading into my 51st year as a weaver, I have been constantly amazed - and intrigued - by the transformation of the loom state web into the finished cloth.

It has been a constant learning experience as I worked with different yarns, in different weave structures, and experimented with the 'best' practices when it comes to getting to the 'finished' state.

And then trying to convince some weavers that it is necessary.

I've done my best to explain why I see the process as being integral to making 'good' cloth, and still try my best to educate people as to why I make that claim.

I know not everyone agrees with me.  And if my experience learning as much as I can about the process, plus my examples don't convince someone it is necessary?  Well, I've done my best.

The above photos are one of the examples in Magic in the Water.  The foundation cloth is a 2 ply merino, which will full quite readily.  The accent thread is a textured rayon.  

When I was working with the local printer who helped format and print the original Magic, they were not really understanding what I was hoping to bring into being.  After months of consulting with them, sourcing appropriate papers, deciding on format/font, etc., the printer asked if I would bring a copy in so they could see it, once I had all the samples inserted.  And asked if they could have a copy for their archive.

When I finally had a 'finished' copy of the book, I brought one in and while the printer and I talked, his son, a graphic artist, was paging through the samples, closely examining them.  When he got to this one he stood upright and said "Oh!  I get it now!  This one (pointing at the loom state) it looks like this yarn is just sitting on the surface.  On this one (finished) it looks like it is part of the cloth!"

I figured if a non-weaver could see the benefit, then surely weavers would, as well.

At that point I finally was able to breathe a little.  All the work, effort, and *expense* of creating this...thing...was not in vain.

Sort of.

There are some people who refuse (I know this because they have told me to my face) to use the term 'wet finish'.  I have heard others describe the term as a 'pretentious' way to refer to 'washing'.

Has any of that deterred me?  Obviously not.  

Because I'm a 'believer'.  I will continue to climb up onto my soapbox for so long as I see people who need to know about the transformation during wet finishing.  New weavers who don't know, don't know that they don't know.  So I will keep on, keeping on.

I should finish the current section of the warp on the loom tomorrow, and then I will take those towels, plus the sample with the singles 6 weft, and run them through the washer/dryer.  I want to see how the singles 6 behaves in the water.  My examination will let me know how far off from what I'm expecting to happen really is.  And give me a clue as to how I might get closer to what I want to have before I begin planning the next warp.

Because it depends.  And without a road map, all I have is my best guess.  Which is probably a fairly good clue, but I'd like to be surer before I go to all the trouble to dress the loom and do the weaving.

Remember, it isn't finished until it's wet finished...

Magic in the Water, pdf or print 'magazine' available here...