when you've spun some yarn,
generated a few questions,
can't continue without answers,
and Wikipedia just won't cut it?
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:
leave some as singles
and ply a couple of hundred yards
with that silk/merino stuff
I spun months ago--
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--
Comfy too--
--and still blending in
with my surroundings
Huh.
--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.
Silky cheesecloth.
some vigorous fulling--
let the wool do its thing.
Nice drape.
Now....stitch between the sections
and cut them apart.
Do so love my sewing machine.
Listen to it purr.
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.
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.
OH yes, re-arranging my studio.
How am I going to store these books?