the dropped spindle

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natalie · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject: First ever weaving project

I did a class at twistfibrecraft at the end of last year, and made this on a rigid heddle

It was done by warping up with several different yarns and then using three yarns at the same time for the weft, wound randomly on the shuttle. You take three yarns together, do three windings round the shuttle, then break off one yarn, add in another, do three more windings, then break the third, add in another and so on.
Warping and weaving it took less than 2 hours so it was a great incentive to try some more.

Then I got a rigid heddle of my own (an Ashford) for Christmas, and I made these.

The warp is cotton, and the weft is recycled sari silk. I didn't realise at the time that there are different grades of the silk and this one was quite thick, which made it hard to weave.
When I took it off the loom it curled up like a dead sea scroll, I think because it isn't plied, so the yarn has a heavy twist. And when I washed it the water was FILTHY. Drying was a bit of a performance, with cans of baked beans strategically placed along the edges.
I had intended to do about eight of these to use as placemats, but the curliness really put paid to that idea as it would be a nightmare to go through the baked bean thing everytime they were washed.

Since then I have acquired a spinning wheel so have been preoccupied with that, but I really must think about my next project.

natalie

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