I'm planning a twill scarf using a bamboo/silk yarn.  It measures 19 wpi and is a bit slippery.   In my pattern set at 10 epi I have quite a few 3 thread floats.  Do you think the weave will hold together well enough, or should I try something else?

Warmly, 

Kay

Comments

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 04:46

pammersw

Consider a floating selvage so your edges look good, and it should be fine for a scarf. :)

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 09:00

ReedGuy

I have not worked with those fibres myself. I do know someone else tried scarves with slippery yarn in a twill and the interlacement did not bind well. The weft would slip and make gaps in the scarf using tencil warp and silk weft. You may want to use wool or maybe a wool blend so it doesn't slip. Three end floats isn't bad, but if you never tried a floating selvedge here might be an opportunity. I never use them myself. I did try one once, to sample a little in a project. Didn't see that was doing much and cut it off. ;)

Here is Steve's improved version.

 

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 14:56

justmekaybee

I do plan to use a floating selvage. I'm wanting to try a braided twill and the pattern in handwoven calls for one.  I would expect a wool to be more appropriate for this , but I want to use some inexpensive yarn I got from CNCH to try out 8 shaft weaving, which I've never done, on my new to me baby mac.   I really like the braided twill but I know the yarn will be "shifty" so I wonder if a different pattern with only two thread floats would be best?  Problem is I can't find a simple 8 shaft pattern I like as well as the braided twill.  : )

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 15:32

MaryMartha

You don't need a new pattern.  What you need is a different sett.  10 epi sounds more appropriate for plain weave.  Twills take a closer sett than plain weave to begin with, even without slippery yarn.   At a rough guess, 16 might work, subject to sampling.  This will also shorten the length of your floats down to .25" or less.  It is the actual length (not necessarily the number of threads skipped) that matters.  Still, braided twills are nicely coherent, and the floats are part of their nature.

I've done braided twills in tencel ((with cotton, bamboo or tencel weft) and wool/silk.  With the wool blend, it was easier to keep a consistent beat. For me, a tencel warp is more of a struggle, but sure is pretty.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 15:55

SallyE (not verified)

I once did a scarf with a rayon warp and weft.   It was a disaster and the sett had nothing to do with it.   The problem was using slippery thread in both the weft and warp.   I'll never do that again.

I'd try various other yarns you have laying around and do a little sampling with other fiber types and maybe other sizes of yarn.   Adding wool in the weft will definately help.

 

 

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 16:22

laurafry

Like MaryMartha says, it isn't so much how many threads are being skipped, but how long in actual measurement.  With 'fancy' twills, the float length can be 5 or 7 threads.  If your set is dense enough (with floats that long, increasing epi/ppi is probably a good idea) those floats may only be 1/4" or less.  

With a slippery yarn such as rayon and/or silk, increasing the density is probably a good idea.  Both fibres have pretty good drape (unless very tightly twisted in the spinning/plying) so higher epi/ppi won't make the fabric as stiff as the same set used with, for instance, unmercerized cotton.

Only sampling will tell.  Since I have not used the yarn you want to use, I can't tell you whether or not it will work.  The only way to find out is to try it and see what happens.  And don't judge the results until after it has been wet finished.

A scarf doesn't have to be as sturdy as something that will receive more wear and tear.

An 'easy' way to sample is to wind your warp a little bit longer, weave a small 'sample' at the beginning, cut it off and wet finish it.  then decide if the results are what you want and if not, what needs to change to make it 'better'.  That may mean re-sleying to a tighter or looser density.

cheers,

Laura

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 16:51

ReedGuy

Yes, that is a good point about the lenght of the floats. Because you could use a real fine yarn and the float length could be tiny. :) However, I have used heavy wool yarn at 8 epi for blankets and 3 floats was no trouble in a Goose eye. Wool is hairy obviously so it tends to bind when finished. In fact you'd have to tear the hair to separate it once washed. It really comes down to the fibre.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 22:35

justmekaybee

Thanks everyone,  I think I'll try a few samples and then decide.   I did see this yarn woven and it was nice but a bit ?  I dont know, not too loose but not terribly cohesive.  For the price though worth the fun of experimenting. 

Fri, 05/02/2014 - 16:14

justmekaybee

Not enough yarn!  : 0  Well I guess I am making a "sample scarf"  I neglected to check the size of the example scarf I was told that I could weave with 4 skeins.   I bought 5 skeins thinking that would be plenty but its not.  It will be fun to see how it works up in any case.  I'm out of town for 3 days so it will have to wait until Monday to see if it works out. :  )