Weave structure: Plain weave
Warp and weft: 2/20 silk and an overtwisted wool yarn.
Overtwisted yarn can be tricky to put onto a loom. Once the ends are cut, the overtwist can start to run out of the yarn. At each stage I tie the groups of threads together. This keeps the overtwist in the yarn.
 |
| Winding on |
 |
| Threading through the reed |
Once I have threaded the ends through the reed I tie them loosely onto the front beam.
 |
| A close up of the weaving. |
This weave is loosely woven. The weft alternates - two picks of wool to two picks of silk. The wool is carefully tapped into place so that there is a gap between the picks. The first silk pick is tapped into place leaving the same gap as between the two wool picks. The second silk pick is tapped into place so that it touches the first silk pick. This could be described as cramming and spacing.
First sample
Reed 12 reed with one end per dent for the wool and two ends per dent for the 20/2silk
Width at reed: 28 inches 77 cm
Off Loom before washing
Width 26 inches
Length 11.5 inches cm
After washing
Width approx 14.5 inches
Length approx 8.25 inches 20.5 cm
After washing I examined the sample carefully. I would have liked the weave to be slightly closer together after washing so I thought that I would alter the sett and weave a second sample.
 |
| First sample after washing and the second sample on the loom. |
Second sample
Reed 8 reed with one end per dent for the wool and two ends per dent for the 2/2- silk
Width at reed 25 inches 63.5 cm
Off Loom
before washing
Width 23.5 inches 59 cm
length 7.75 inches 19.5 cm
After washing
Width approx 12 inches 30 cms
Length approx 5 inches 13 cm
I decided that the second sample was better so I used this sett for the final scarf.
Long scarf
8 reed threading 1 1 2 (silk)
Before washing
Width at reed 23.5 inches 59 cm
Length before washing 119.5 inches 302 cm
After washing
width approx 12.5 inches 32 cm
length approx 81 inches 206 cms
The finished scarf has a lovely soft feel and a beautiful texture. It has 'bounce' because of the collapse weave structure. This makes it difficult to measure exactly. The fringe at each end has to be knotted as soon as it is off the loom.
 |
| Completed scarf before dyeing |
 |
| Closeup of texture |
I am intending to dye this scarf. I am afraid that it has to added to the list of things to do! My pile of UFO's (unfinished projects) is growing longer by the week.
Susan J Foulkes
August 2023
