Habu Wool Crepe--Japanese overtwist
Percentage: 100
Rio Grande Rug
I took the Rio Grande weaving class at Convergence 2010 with Karen Martinez. It was a well-designed class, and we finished a generously-sized rug while learning four different wefting techniques on traditional Rio Grande looms and using the unique open-sided shuttle. I loved weaving on this loom, and liked that the project design reinforced the skills we were learning several times throughout the project.
If you want to read more about the experience, visit chat > "New Mexico...We're Here" for more photos of the looms and the class experience.
Seaweed collapse scarf
Overtwist wool warp with spaced denting. Larger linen weft outlines the cells and used for half-hitches and Spanish medallion.
Over Twist test
Okay, I got the unruly warp onto the loom. Next up, sampling the sett, structure, and shrinkage rates. Also frequency of use of the over twist to get the desired results. It's kinda pricey, and I need to do several yards for an assignment due in March/April. This is just a test on the "Mighty Metal Structo"
Feedback: Test #1 was awful! I used fine linen weft as the resist to the stripes of overtwist. It worked just fine, and the HABU did not twist into little projections sticking out of the collapse areas, so I think I got the sett correct for those areas. The fabric was soft enough. Just not very interesting.
Feedback: Test #2 was inspired by a project here at Weavolution. I used a sock yarn with lots of cotton, wool, and 7% elastic to make the medallions. This is the unwashed sample, but it is already puckering up in an interesting way just relaxed off-loom. I am leaning toward removing the HABU as it is not a pleasant or fun fiber to work with IMHO.
More sampling to come, but the deadline is looming!
BTW, Shrinkage is huge. A 7" sample (in the reed) ended up washing down to a 5.75" sample.
