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Saturday, March 27, 2010

Moths and Camels and Yaks... Oh My!

Okay, this doesn't look too different from my last picture of this scarf warp. The difference is this is scarf number two and the weft is a soft creamy beige. It's a blend of bombyx silk and soft camel top that I bought at Diane Sanderson's Studio on Granville Island in Vancouver two years ago.

Even with a reduction in the size of the images, Blogger liked it better this way and it works for me this time as I want you to notice the selvedges. I'm loving it! I have the treadling memorized and keep the shuttle moving in a steady rhythm and my edges are beautiful! After all that trouble with the previous pattern and not being able to remedy it, this is proof that rethinking a pesky project sometimes works out for the best! I'm actually enjoying the weaving now and look forward to sitting down at the loom.

The silk warp is 2/30 grist and is sett at 36 epi. I'm not sure of the yardage of the silk camel blend but it must be identical. I'm getting 36 pics per inch and a perfect 45 degree angle line. So nice when that all comes together. I have zoomed in (above) to show you the orderly little world you find when you look at close-ups. Let there be no doubt that I'm a structure weaver first... colour second.

So despite cutting off a ten inch length of the older abandoned project, I seem to have scads of warp left. That would be the bonus of factoring in 12 inches each time for samples. I may get a third scarf, weft undecided right now, but no new samples to share. I'm sure my friends will understand....
Not sure what to put on Lilibet when this is done, so must mull over some ideas. I will be turning to the 'experiment' on my big loom which is stretching my colour boundaries and then some!

Reno report:
So we have some new trims and moldings as of yesterday and should be finished next week, to follow with more painting. The stairwell now has skirting and is waiting for the 1930's style bead board paneling and then paint. This is the one other area in the house that has had a big change from when we moved in and will get a post later when complete.
Kitchen is waiting for the staining and assembly of the wood wrap for the centre island and you can't rush that process. All is contingent on the weather and humidity for how long each layer of finish takes to dry.

Laundry room now has a ceiling and now, even new stipple texture applied as of yesterday.
The short story is: we went from no ceiling after the dishwasher overflow...
To a new ceiling with it getting better day after day (it seems to take forever!) Mind you, they might think the same about my weaving!

{My loom is about 15 feet from the laundry room door and the young man doing the work loves to listen to Euro-techno beat dance music while he works. I found the pounding 'boom-boom -boom of the bass beat helpful to develop a rhythm on the loom, but I eventually put my iPod on and went for something more my style! } Next, the sanding of the walls in the laundry area and perphaps progressing to paint this coming week. I get to do my laundry once a week when they kindly slide my washer and dryer back in!

Our dog Connor who used to bark at a squirrel in a tree now ignores the endless progression of people trooping through my house and naps through the whole thing. Smart dog....

Geesh... I have never vacuumed and cleaned up so many days and after so many men at any time in all my life! :)

14 comments:

dorothylochmaben said...

Hi Susan - what a lovely post, it is good to hear you saying you are enjoying the weaving so much and how well it's going. When things go well the selvedges follow suit ! I'm sure when you are not so keen on a project they don't settle in as well as if they sense something not right !
I love the close up picture of the structure, it looks so neat and orderly, can't wait to see it in the Tencel on my Spring !
The colours sound very elegant and the silk will drape beautifully.

Theresa said...

The weaving looks beautiful, even if it wasn't the planned pattern and that renovation is moving right along! Give Connor a pet from me. He's saving himself for squirrels.

LA said...

The only word I can think of to describe the scarf is "exquisite." That is truly a treat for the eye, and I can only imagine how it feels. The reno project is coming along......

Cindie said...

lovely scarf!

Annie MacHale said...

What a beautiful pattern and precision weaving!

Lynnette said...

So happy that you've found a pattern that has selvedges that work well. Selvedges really make all the difference between OK and great; needless to say, you've hit great!
The reno's must be getting to the downright tiresome stage now - worthwhile, but so schedule disrupting for you and Bruce!
I can't wait to see photos of the stair wall - how well I remember the green paint!

charlotte said...

The scarf is a real beauty! I'm glad the selvedges are straight now, selvedge trouble is really hateful. But I have a question: you have a different binding at the edges than in the rest of the scarf. Do you the warp threads in the middle "weave in" less than the threads at the edges?

Susan said...

That's a very good question Charlotte! The short answer is 'yes'. The plain weave edges do weave up more than the twill interior. This is the take up factor as the plain weave has many more interlacements than the twill areas. In some projects this can be a real problem and the remedy is to either hang the edge threads separately or use a second warp beam for those portions.

In this project I'm beating firmly. It's working okay and I'm managing to get to the 72" okay with out any real issues. I think the silk warp is better able to seat its self better being softer and more maleable. If this was linen or a hard twist cotton, maybe not so much....

I really appreciate all the nice comments!
usan

bspinner said...

Sue, your scarf if beautiful!!!!

Glad the reno is moving along. Bet you can't wait until its finished.

Marion B. said...

Susan, the scarf looks so very lovely. You say you are more of a structure weaver but I love the colours as well.

DEEP END OF THE LOOM said...

Simply lovely! So beautifully intricate.

Leigh said...

I am definitely impressed with those selvedges! They look perfect. The scarf is beautiful.

Your laundry room is looking pretty good too! :)

Boise Barefootweaver said...

Lovely scarf! I love the pattern.

Trapunto said...

Beautiful!