New weaver asking for help with first non-book project. Lots of questions.
My project is to weave a coverlet for my father, and as this is my first project not straight from a book or magazine I'm tying to use the everyone's advice to sample. But I'm not sure how to interpret the results of my first sample, so some questions.
Background on the project. Summer & Winter structure, 6 blocks. Eventual pattern for coverlet will be a variation on Nine Snowballs & Four Roses with Double Pine Tree borders, page 176-177 from Carol Stgrickler's American Woven Coverlets. My sampler is a simplified version, only 5 blocks, 17 inches wide, warped long enough (after samples) for a table runner when I get the warp ends per inch right, and to practice the treadling and beating.
Yarns. Background warp and weft, light blue Tencel, 8/2 weight. Pattern Weft dark blue 5/2 mercerized cotten.
Warp sleyed for first sampler at 20 epi. Bottom end of range for 10/2 tencel from the store website where I bought it. As the pattern is supposed to be symmetrical, my target background weft picks per inch was also 20.
I've finished the first sample and I'm happy with the way the warp structure is bringing out the pattern, so I think my choice of yarns was OK. But even trying to keep the beat light, I'm ending up more like 24 ppi for the background (and of course pattern) weft. I haven't wet finished yet, but does this indicate I should resley the warp to 24 epi for the next sample? Or should I wet finish before evaluating?
In addition, does anyone have any suggestion for wet finishing? I know it's important, but a little hard to find info. Not much in my weaving books (so far) and difficult to find on the web. I understand the general principle is to 'stress' the fabric the first wash and to wash more gently after, but I'm not sure where to start.
Thanks,
Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI