You know that feeling
when you've spun some yarn,
generated a few questions,
can't continue without answers,
and Wikipedia just won't cut it?
when you've spun some yarn,
generated a few questions,
can't continue without answers,
and Wikipedia just won't cut it?
Of course you do.
Technical and aesthetic inquiry
into physical materials
requires experiment.
At least -- it does for me.
My brain will make stuff up--
and is not to be trusted.
My hands, however,
know what I like.
Sometimes the process
goes like this:
Technical and aesthetic inquiry
into physical materials
requires experiment.
At least -- it does for me.
My brain will make stuff up--
and is not to be trusted.
My hands, however,
know what I like.
Sometimes the process
goes like this:
If I spin these batts like this,
leave some as singles
and ply a couple of hundred yards
with that silk/merino stuff
I spun months ago--
leave some as singles
and ply a couple of hundred yards
with that silk/merino stuff
I spun months ago--
---then wind the warp with a strand of each,
and weave them together like houndstooth
(two strands of each in both directions),
at an open sett--
--and how do I... Oh... right--
use the plastic heddle--
works great--
anyway, can't carve 12 epi 10 inches wide--
mmmm love these shuttles--
and weave them together like houndstooth
(two strands of each in both directions),
at an open sett--
--and how do I... Oh... right--
use the plastic heddle--
works great--
anyway, can't carve 12 epi 10 inches wide--
mmmm love these shuttles--
Nice.
Comfy too--
--and still blending in
with my surroundings
Comfy too--
--and still blending in
with my surroundings
like a chameleon.
Huh.
Huh.
Best to try several weft combinations--
--test my reactions.
Ugh. Not enough twist.
Oh right, I spun it from the fold
on the Charkha--
only way to cope with top.
I don't like top.
Or silk.
Spindles are better.
And wool I prepare myself.
So fussy.
Oh look! Done already.
Where do the days go?
I thought this was supposed to be slow cloth.
--test my reactions.
Ugh. Not enough twist.
Oh right, I spun it from the fold
on the Charkha--
only way to cope with top.
I don't like top.
Or silk.
Spindles are better.
And wool I prepare myself.
So fussy.
Oh look! Done already.
Where do the days go?
I thought this was supposed to be slow cloth.
`Gee Whiz.
Silky cheesecloth.
Silky cheesecloth.
Better after a bath--
some vigorous fulling--
let the wool do its thing.
some vigorous fulling--
let the wool do its thing.
Ah yes. Much improved.
Nice drape.
Now....stitch between the sections
and cut them apart.
Do so love my sewing machine.
Listen to it purr.
Nice drape.
Now....stitch between the sections
and cut them apart.
Do so love my sewing machine.
Listen to it purr.
Still don't much care
for the silk/merino part though--
even if it is shiny.
Too shiny, really.
Not enough loft, or bounce.
Darn -- thought I'd figured out
a way to use up that stuff.
Oh well. If it's wrong, it's wrong.
for the silk/merino part though--
even if it is shiny.
Too shiny, really.
Not enough loft, or bounce.
Darn -- thought I'd figured out
a way to use up that stuff.
Oh well. If it's wrong, it's wrong.
Tapestry warp--there's the answer.
It's worked before.
Silk is strong, anyway.
More twist though.
Maybe a 3 ply.
Back in the cupboard for later.
Now--
keep spinning--
need enough for next time --
all wool--
same structure.
Sizing? Decide then.
OK. Back to it.
It's worked before.
Silk is strong, anyway.
More twist though.
Maybe a 3 ply.
Back in the cupboard for later.
Now--
keep spinning--
need enough for next time --
all wool--
same structure.
Sizing? Decide then.
OK. Back to it.
What was I doing?
OH yes, re-arranging my studio.
How am I going to store these books?
OH yes, re-arranging my studio.
How am I going to store these books?
