Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Weaving Wednesday?


Sloppy on the left, no?

The first ten rows of my sample were perfect. After that? Well, let's just say I'm glad I warped the loom with a ridiculous amount of yarn so I could do some sampling. I mean, who needs a one hundred inch long scarf? Not me. I'll be satisfied if there is enough for a nice and drapey 5 foot scarf.


This is the right side with a rather neat selvage.

I'm having both tension and selvage issues and I'm trying to figure things out. In the first place, though it really helps to blow off steam, I don't think I need to beat the yarn so hard with the heddle (the innuendo doesn't escape me and I think this terminology could be linked to other topics. I'm having a hell of a time choosing my words because I think the male readers of this blog, given half a chance, would run with it: beat the heddle, indeed). In addition to the cruddy looking selvages, it made for some incredibly dense fabric. I'm a tight knitter, so it tends to reason that I'm going to have the same issues weaving.


I don't know what I did to get this, but obviously, it was really wrong.

In the second place, I haven't been pinching the yarn at the point where I'm wrapping the weft yarn to pass through the shed in opposite direction and this may be contributing to my messy selvages on just one side of the fabric. I didn't think I was doing anything differently, but obviously, I was. I had a nice right sided edge and on the left, a bundle of sloppy loops.


This would be a nice design feature if I'd meant it. I didn't see it until I took the sample off the loom. Here we have an area where the shuttle passed over and under the warp and this space was not woven in.

I cut the sample from the loom, but it's still warped for a return engagement. Not today, though. Today was for working until 2:30 AM and then getting up at 9 AM to chart on what I couldn't get to last night. 3/4 night shift nurses ran their butts off last night. The other one slept all night. Lucky wench. I'm hoping that tonight is better, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

The moon won't be full for another ten days. What gives?

18 comments:

Jeannette StG said...

Give yourself some slack, dear friend! You'll soon will be able to smooth out your weaving issues - I love the color combination of threads you choose!

Rudee said...

Yes, Jeannette! That's exactly what I need: slack. I need to loosen up so I get a nice even tension.

Celia said...

It's like when you first start knitting. I used to strangle my yarn. It was so hard to slip off the needle. At least I would think so, because I have never weaved.

Stephanie V said...

Oops! My latest scarf clocked in at 100+ inches.

Really, I think your weaving is getting off to a great start. I do like the way the yarn colors worked out.

Wasn't weaving men's work once upon a time? Maybe that explains the words.

Miss T said...

You'll get it. And it's going to be very, very pretty.

Jane said...

Not sure mine would look that good the first time. When i started knitting, it was so tight, I bent the needles! Hope you have a better night

Anonymous said...

Hi Rudee, yes I see some trouble. Not because I can weave but because it has the same skills needed for using the sewing machine and crocheting. But you also are able to note the miscues and know what is causing the trouble. That is a good sign you are on the right track. You will get it. Hope you have a better night.
qMM

Winifred said...

100 inches + a Dr Who scarf! Nothing wrong with that. I love long scarves.

Have to day I'm taking up no new hobbies. Ever! So no weaving for me. I'll stick to the sewing, knitting and crocheting.

Brenda said...

It looks great to me. I rarely do anything without making loads of mistakes.

Gail said...

I love these colors! Not bad for a first shot, way better than I could ever do.

Rose said...

I have nothing to add about the weaving other than it looks great for a first timer. But the innuendos? I'm a middle school teacher; EVERYTHING has a sexual connotation! :) Makes life interesting, no?

Larjmarj said...

Looks great!!

Joanna said...

Hi Rudee, I haven't been reading for long but enjoying what you have to say about..well, stuff, really!

Just a suggestion for your loopy selvedges, it could be related to the fact that one of your hands is weaker than the other which impacts on the eveness with which you are sending the doohickey with the yarn (see, up with the technical jargon I am) from that side. I'm not a weaver so probably this is just leading you up a garden path, but when I saw your photo that was the first thing I thought of.

My mother-in-law IS a weaver and she gets such a lot of pleasure from it.

Ari_1965 said...

Could the samples be repurposed into cat mats?

Kathleen said...

Is there no end to your amazing textile talents? Good. Because I love seeing what you do. You are absolutely fearless, woman! Love it. Sorry to be away so long. Did a little reading and WHOA, you have a new house!!!! Thank the Gods!!! It's beautiful. And that yard diet, fugettaaboutit!

Devon said...

I love the colors and pattern of your weaving... I'm thinking a very cool purse?

Hope your night is better! I just got home from doing an initial visit (from hell). I poured a glass of wine and will be charting for the next 2 hours! Better keep it to one glass only!

Rudee said...

Devon, I think they save up complicated starts of care just for me. It's exhausting.

I need to remember to buy my lottery ticket tomorrow.

Wish I could join you with the wine, but I have another 3 hours until I clock out.

Darci said...

Ooooh, very pretty!