Hand spun wool (Wensleydale?) approx. 1800 yards/ pound 2 ply (doubled in four selvedge warping); 9 e.p.i.
I had a plan to list all the the things I love about using wool warp for tapestry.
But now that I've put all these photos in place,
measured the grist of various yarns on my McMorran Balance,
and written the captions,
it seems self explanatory.
What's not to love?
But now that I've put all these photos in place,
measured the grist of various yarns on my McMorran Balance,
and written the captions,
it seems self explanatory.
What's not to love?
Brown Sheep Wool Warp; Singles 1200 yards per pound. 8 epi
But I'll give it a shot anyway.
Might as well put something in all the text blocks I carefully inserted.
1. Variety: Many fleece types seem to work
as long as the warp is even and well spun.
For larger tapestries, long staple, inelastic fibers are best
but as you can see from the captions below,
almost anything goes with smaller pieces--
just be prepared for stretch in your warp (and maybe sample... ugh).
Might as well put something in all the text blocks I carefully inserted.
1. Variety: Many fleece types seem to work
as long as the warp is even and well spun.
For larger tapestries, long staple, inelastic fibers are best
but as you can see from the captions below,
almost anything goes with smaller pieces--
just be prepared for stretch in your warp (and maybe sample... ugh).
Hand Spun Grey Romney, 2200 yards per pound two ply; Doubled for Four Selvedge Warping.
2. It is easy to weave in weft ends as you go
Wool warp tends to be hairy, so the little wisps of warp fiber grab the little wisps of weft
and everything stays in place.
NOTE--don't cut the weft with scissors. This makes a blunt end which will want to pop to the surface of front or back no matter what you do! Untwisting and separating is best, followed by breaking or, if necessary, feathering the end of your yarn with scissors
Wool warp tends to be hairy, so the little wisps of warp fiber grab the little wisps of weft
and everything stays in place.
NOTE--don't cut the weft with scissors. This makes a blunt end which will want to pop to the surface of front or back no matter what you do! Untwisting and separating is best, followed by breaking or, if necessary, feathering the end of your yarn with scissors
Overlapping ends of new and old strand of weft
3. The finished cloth is stable.
Warp and weft work together to make a structurally sound fabric.
In my experience, cotton or linen warp remains separate from the weft
and can be moved around -- its as though the weft is 'hung' on the warp
but not really part of it.
Some people really like this.
But it freaks me out.
Warp and weft work together to make a structurally sound fabric.
In my experience, cotton or linen warp remains separate from the weft
and can be moved around -- its as though the weft is 'hung' on the warp
but not really part of it.
Some people really like this.
But it freaks me out.
Hand spun Cormo knitting yarn -- grey overdyed yellow with weld to make green; 2000 yards per pound 3 ply; doubled in four selvedge warping
4. Wool Warp feels good in my hands.
No seine twine hang nails
No seine twine hang nails
Warp Face (in progress); Rambioullet; Two Ply knitting yarn dyed yellow with lichen at 3600 yards per pound used double for four selvedge warping. The strands are separated in the face.
5. Wool is easy to dye.
Hand Spun Romney Warp; 2200 yards per pound 2 ply doubled for four selvedge warping; 9 epi
6. The pH needs of the finished cloth remain constant.
Wool can handle acid but doesn't like alkaline.
Cotton and Linen can handle alkaline but don't like acid.
Makes storage and cleaning tricky.
NOTE: I'm NOT a conservator, so if you are, or know more about this aspect of things, I'd love to hear your thoughts
Wool can handle acid but doesn't like alkaline.
Cotton and Linen can handle alkaline but don't like acid.
Makes storage and cleaning tricky.
NOTE: I'm NOT a conservator, so if you are, or know more about this aspect of things, I'd love to hear your thoughts
Hand spun Coopworth/Columbia X dyed brown with Walnut; 2000 yards per pound 2 ply. 9 epi
7. Wrapping weft around a single warp is a viable proposition.
The little hairy bits grab each other, anchoring the weft in place
The little hairy bits grab each other, anchoring the weft in place
Hand spun wool (Wensleydale?) approx. 1800 yards/ pound 2 ply (doubled in four selvedge warping); 9 e.p.i.
Some of my tapestries demand a LOT of wrapping.
Brown Sheep Wool Warp -- 1200 yards per pound. 9 epi.
Brown Sheep Wool Warp as above, 9 epi 8. Shaped pieces are easy to deal with
On this tapestry I used a needle to work the warp ends into the back of the tapestry.
This is perfectly possible to do with a cotton or linen warp of course, but some of my warp ends were VERY short (those on the inside curve had to be cut in half), and I was happy to know that once I had those 1/4 inch bits of warp anchored into the back, they would stay.
Wet finishing and a little agitation helps, of course.
NOTE: this tapestry is one tiny part of Line Dufour's
ongoing International Tapestry Project,
Fate, Destiny and Self-Determination.
All are invited to participate.
You too!
On this tapestry I used a needle to work the warp ends into the back of the tapestry.
This is perfectly possible to do with a cotton or linen warp of course, but some of my warp ends were VERY short (those on the inside curve had to be cut in half), and I was happy to know that once I had those 1/4 inch bits of warp anchored into the back, they would stay.
Wet finishing and a little agitation helps, of course.
NOTE: this tapestry is one tiny part of Line Dufour's
ongoing International Tapestry Project,
Fate, Destiny and Self-Determination.
All are invited to participate.
You too!
More Brown Sheep Singles. 8 epi
9. Wool warp is just so pretty.
Subjective, of course.
But everything I write is subjective, so...
Subjective, of course.
But everything I write is subjective, so...
10. NO (or minimal) shopping
As a spinner, I can make my warp with the materials at hand
A big plus for me.
As a spinner, I can make my warp with the materials at hand
A big plus for me.
Hand Spun (can't remember breed); 1400 yards per pound 2 ply. 10 epi
11. Hand spun wool makes great fringe.
(especially with a little deliberate overtwist in the plying)
and with a little forethought, the finished edges can match the body of your tapestry.
Wow -- 11 reasons.
I should put that in the title of the post.
11 REASONS WOOL WARP WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!!!
Kind of like a tabloid newspaper.
Never Mind.
Have a lovely week!
(especially with a little deliberate overtwist in the plying)
and with a little forethought, the finished edges can match the body of your tapestry.
Wow -- 11 reasons.
I should put that in the title of the post.
11 REASONS WOOL WARP WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!!!
Kind of like a tabloid newspaper.
Never Mind.
Have a lovely week!
