 |
| View of the loom Saturday morning. |
Saturday was a productive day, though everything that was done was not actually on my list yet. I also struggled throughout the day with shoulder and back pain so there was more napping during the day than originally intended. Still, I’m pleased with progress on the list.
- Sewing room excavated. – Check!
- Shaggy pile weave – Worked on!
- Plan kaftan fabric project – Started!
- Weaving task list – Thinking through the list!
- Sunday shoe felting prep – Ready to go!
The kaftan fabric project
About the only thing I know for sure about this project is that I want to do a point twill. There are several in Die Gräber der Moscevaja Balka that are suitable. Unfortunately, there aren’ any weaving drafts that I can key off and find an analysis, so I will have to draft it myself. My discovery yesterday is that my drafting skills can use some work. Also because of that, I will have to do a sample, because 9.5 yards warp at 1400 ends is a lot of yarn. A sample will go a long way to ensuring that I’m not wasting my time and that I will get the look I’m after. This will push out my time line for completing the project though.
I’ve done some rough calculations. I have eight pounds of Jaggerspun Main Line 2/20 worsted wool in natural in stock. There are 5600 yards per pound. The recommended sett for twill weave is 30-36 epi. I have a 16 dent reed so I’m hoping that 32 epi will work. I plan to dye 4 pound of wool.
1408 ends will yield a width at the reed of 44 inches will be approximately 36.5 inches finished with.
9.5 yard warp will yield approximately seven yards finished length.
Originally, I had intended to indigo dye both the warp and weft, but I am reconsidering that based on study of an extant piece of fabric that I’d like to approximate.
 |
A delightful surprise
Saturday evening, I received a phone call from my friend and weaving guru, Lori. She and her husband of 25 years, had been out for their 25th wedding anniversary and could they drop by with the weaving swift I had asked to borrow? Yes! Of course they could.
Imagine my delight when I was told this beautiful skein winder, made by Lori’s husband Chuck, was an early laureling gift. Lori and I promptly put it to use and skeined 2 pounds of wool.
