Friday, November 26, 2021

Ten Shaft Networked Scarves

Both of the 10 Shaft Networked scarves are off the loom and will be ready to put up on Etsy as soon as we get some weather good enough to take photos.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was able to finish them.  Frankly, I usually dawdle along quite slowly because I have the attention span of a gnat!  

The scarves were woven with different coloured wefts but otherwise identical, the first scarf had purple weft. While I was weaving it I thought it high lighted the pattern really well, so I was stoked.  These photos were all  taken in the millisecond that we got decent sunlight last week, so the fringes had not been twisted yet.

The second scarf had black weft and it showed off the pattern even better.

Here they are side by side, just as they came off the loom and haven’t been washed yet.  I was really hesitant to use the black weft, but frankly it’s the real winner of the weft competition.

This is a lovely pattern to weave and I highly recommend it. It has everything going for it, an easy threading sequence, a treadling sequence that is easy to remember and selvedges that are smooth and even.

Since the garden is far too soggy to work right now.  I have been indulging myself by baking some of the Technical Challenges from the Great British Bake Off.  This is one of the challenges from the newest season... Chocolate Babka.  Thankfully the family loves to try new things and this one was a real winner.

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Questions, Questions

Another grey and blustery day on Vancouver Island which means lots of loom time for me, and time to start a new project.

When I want to weave something my first thought is ‘What do I have on hand?’ That means a trip to the yarn closet and a good hunt around.  This time 2/8 Tencel jumped out at me.

Once the yarn has been chosen my next question is ‘What does that yarn make well?’ for example  I would not use linen warp for garments, so I try to think of how to use the yarn in a way that is fit for purpose.  Tencel makes lovely scarves, shawls and fine garments as you can see from the drape of the scarf below.  So a scarf it is.

Now comes the hard part, my next question is ‘What pattern?’  So a search through my binder of things I have previously woven is a good place to start.  I have chosen to weave a 10 shaft networked twill.

The hardest choice for me is the next in line ‘What colour(s)?  This is when I go to my yarn binder and see what I have available in my yarn of choice.  

Luckily I have plenty of Tencel to choose from and this time I decided to use them all!  Well, maybe not all.  An autumnal gradient of colours will work really well as the pattern lends itself to stripes.

Last choice and ultimately the one I pfaff about the most ‘What weft colour?’  Today was definitely a when in doubt . . . purple or black.  So I decided to pull the warp for two scarves and make one with each colour.

The warp looks just lovely once it was on the loom.  I love the way you get a forecast of pattern by the way the heddles line up.

I started with the purple warp fist and I’m really pleased with the design so far.

Today is such a dreary day I decided to make Staffordshire Oatcakes for lunch....these are super tasty, oaty crepes that are perfect eaten as is with just a pat of butter.  But...wrapped around bacon and scambled eggs they actually hit heavenly!