Took 3 days to warp the loom and finally started weaving New Years Eve night. I'm making a set of 8 place mats and have only finished one so far. Will be working on them daily until all 8 are done. I do have a couple of questions: 1. Wet finish? 2. Finish with a burnished look using a rolling pin? If anyone has any suggestions on the final finishing, please don't hesitate to say so. Would love to hear your advise. Thanks
Day 3 - Have finished weaving the first mat and have decided that I'm going to hem them instead of leaving fringe - so back to weaving another one to hem. Leaving more regular weave on the ends so that I can make a nice turned hem. Wish me luck.
Your placemats look like they are going to be very nice. I love that color of red! What is the weave structure? I can't quite see. I saw on your blog that you're using 16/2 linen. Is that right? I have used Bockens 16/2 for years and this is how I have finished it , although some of my weaver friends say" you're kidding" but it works for me. I've done over 100 samples for the COE this way in 16/2 linen. First I zig zagged the edges twice on the sewing machine to be turned under twice later for hand hemstiching. Then wash in machine with hot water. Then I roll in a towel while wet and place in the freezer for several hours, until frozen! Linen likes to be " shocked", it helps break done the outside of the fiber, so it will become shinier. Then I pry it apart, Let it rest a few minutes, straightening, laying it flat, place a smooth tea towel / pillowcase on top and iron , I usually use the steam setting. You'll hear lots of sizzling. When the piece is ironed out and damp straighten it out selvedges etc., and press with dry pillowcase On top until piece is dry.you may have to take the steam off the iron. At this point be very,very careful not to scorch , check frequently! The piece should be shiny! The more it is washed and ironed the shinier it will be. This is just how I do it. I imagine others will get on with their tried and true methods too! Good luck ,I'm sure they'll be beautiful!
Ironic, with my rather aggressive approach to ironing linen , I still wash on gentle, too funny :)
Cathie, thanks so much for the instructions Since this is my first 100% linen project, I will follow your steps as advised. From what you have said, it follows along with what I have read elsewhere...so, it's gotta be a good tried and true method. Will let you know how they turn out. Gonna take a while, since I have 8 to make. :)
The patterns are as follows: Page 42 of Margarete Porter Davison -A Hand Weavers Pattern Book. XI repeated 3 times, regular tab weave x 12, XVI repeated 4 times, regular tab weave x 12. Repeat steps.
Feel free to pm me if you have more questions.
Recieved your message and am taking your advise. Thanks again.
Teresa, they're beautiful! You can really see the sheen of the linen in the photos. They are really nicely woven and The fringe looks great. You've done a great job!
Thanks so much for your help. I think they turned out nicely, too. Planning to make four more soon - and will know exactly what to do. About the fringe - I had to "comb" it out before ironing because it wrapped around itself - but that was fairly easy.
Have a great day.
They are going to be beautiful!
They are going to be beautiful!
