How to Draft a Motif in Summer and Winter

My study group, Exploring More, is looking at drafting a motif using different weave structures, the first weave structure was Huck Lace and here is the post.  The second weave structure we looked at was Summer and Winter and I am going to take you through how I drafted a pattern.

First thing is to choose a motif; I am going to use the same angelfish from the Huck Lace.  Please just click on the photos and it will make them larger.

Looking at the angelfish motif there is vertical symmetry so again the threading will be in point order (i.e. in a V shape).  Use the standard Summer and Winter threading blocks which are Block A 1323 Block B 1424 Block C 1525 etc.

Now for the tie up, which is quite easy, just take the graph of the angelfish and place on its side with the top of the motif facing to the left.

Summer and Winter is quite greedy for treadles.  You have probably heard of ‘in pairs’ in reference to Summer and Winter that is because there needs to be two treadles for each pattern pick.  One treadle has Shaft 1 on it (P1) and the other treadle has Shaft 2 on it (P2), but they both have the same pattern treadles.  Here is a basic set up; it just needs the pattern to be added.

I’ve added the pattern from the graph; every pattern has two treadles, a P1 and a P2.  Shaft 3 is left blank because it is the shaft that is used to separate the motifs.  I also left treadle 3 and 4 blank as they are the breaks between the motifs in the treadling.

Here is the treading and tie up together.

What makes Summer and Winter special is that there are different treadlings variations; Singles (also known as non pairs), Pairs (there is two different types; X’s and O’s), and Dukagang (also known Overshot).  To treadle my angelfish I look back at the angelfish graph and can see that each treadle corresponds to a single unit, there is no symmetry.  I will place the treadles in straight order (in a straight line) and in one of the Summer and Winter treadling variations, which I will explain with each example.

The first is Singles which is tabby 1 P1 tabby 2 P2 and gives a brick like pattern.  As is standard for Summer and Winter I’ve put the tabby in with a finer grist and in the same colour as the warp. This really keeps the shape of the angelfish.

Next variation is Pairs X’s the treadling repeat is tabby 1 P2 tabby 2 P1 tabby 1 P1 tabby 2 P2. The anglefish almost look like rockets now.

Next is Pairs O’s also known as bird’s eye.  The treadling repeat is tabby 1 P1 tabby 2 P2 tabby 1 P2 tabby 2 P1.  The tail of the angelfish are very well defined in this method.

Last variation is Dukagang.  The treadling repeat is tabby 1 P1 tabby 2 P1 tabby 1 P1 tabby 2 P1.  It uses the least amount of treadles, from 22 down to 12. This is the most columnar of them all.

So that’s how to draft a motif in Summer and Winter.  If you would like to know more about drafting I recommend The complete Book of Drafting for Handweavers by Madelyn van der Hoogt.