Here it is friends, the draft for our very first WAL.  It is a beautifully complex 36 pick pattern that should really challenge those treadles.

Four Pettel Flour

Of course I hope that everyone is inspired to create what you desire.  This would be perfectly suitable for a scarf or curtains since both sides are equally as beautiful.  I have a plan for a table runner.  Red cotton warp with a red cotton chenille weft.  Let us all know what you plan on doing and with what.  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

 

Comments

claudia (not verified)

 Hi Traci,

This is a terrific choice and I can't wait to get it started.  I am seriously considering a table runner.

One little problem, the draft will not print from the projects page.  When I try to print the Projects page you have it on, I cannot see the draft.  When I enlarge the draft on the Project page it will only print a portion of the draft, not the whole thing.  Perhaps it would work out best if you could just post the draft here on the WAL and we can do a screen shot and then print it.  

Unfortunately, I am not the techie part of the Weavolution team.  

Claudia

Silverwheelyarn (not verified)

That's ok, it's perfectly sized for a sheet of paper which makes it a little to large for the viewing plane or to place it on the forum; it will make it to small to read. However,  I tried it out and here is what you do;  (on a PC) to right click on "enlarge image," select "copy image," and "paste" it into Word or a like program.  If you have a Mac, I'm sure there is some similar steps to take, perhaps someone out there might add how to do that.

If you are still have trouble feel free to message me with your e-mail and what kind of operating system you have (Apple, Windows, ect) and I will be happy to e-mail it to you. 

claudia (not verified)

It worked.  I am a Mac and I did a control-click and then clicked on "copy image" and then opened my word processing program and did control-click "paste" and it was indeed one page.  I printed it up and it's perfect. 

I'm off to the studio to check out the available yarn supply. 

Thanks,

Claudia

Silverwheelyarn (not verified)

That's great!  and thanks for leaving a "how to" for the other Mac users out there.

lkautio (not verified)

I'm not familiar with the concept or goals of weave-a-longs, so if this is in an inappropriate question, please ignore.  If a person was interested, could they use the draft as a profile for other 4 shaft loom- or finger-controlled interlacements (such as crackle, overshot, finger laces, boutonne, etc.)?  Some leeway would make it more interesting to intermediate and advanced weavers, while still being instructive to beginners.

Laurie Autio

 

claudia (not verified)

Hey Laurie,

That's a great idea.  This WAL is Trace's to run but my concept is the same as yours.  The draft is here as a guide.  It becomes most interesting to see how everyone uses it.  Some people who are not familiar or comfortable with overshot, like me, might enjoy weaving it in the exact way Traci has suggested.  You might enjoy using the draft for a different project.  I would love to see it used in another way.  That would enhance the learning experience for me.

I'm glad you asked the question.  It opens the topic up for discussion in this group.  And, as you point out, it makes the WAL more interesting for a broader group of handweavers.  It would help those of us who are beginners, I've only been weaving for 5 years, to learn more about how you use the draft.  I have a concept of what a profile is and have read a good deal about profile drafts but couldn't begin to figure out how to turn the draft Traci provided into a profile.  Can you explain that a bit more?

Claudia

lkautio (not verified)

A profile is just a shorthand way of noting which areas or blocks are weaving pattern and which are weaving background.  Usually a black square means pattern (for example, floats, loops,  3/1 twill, etc.) and white is background (for example, plain weave, 1/3 twill, etc.).  Generally this means that the profile draft is indicating what groups of threads are doing, rather than how individual threads interlace.  These groups are represented by letters (ABCD, etc.) rather than the shaft numbers of threading drafts.  The bonus is that it takes far less time to draft and get an idea of your pattern, and then can be converted to a variety of structures.

Conversion from a profile draft to a threading draft requires choosing an appropriate structure (no long floats, enough shafts on your loom, etc.), picking a block size, and running the substitution.  What you substitute for the threading, tie-up, and treadling is dependent on the structure you choose - there is not a universal substitution or tie-up.  You need to understand how pattern and background are produced in your structure of choice to make these decisions and substitutions.

For finger-controlled weaves you could use the profile as a way to note where you want to do boutonne (loops), Brook's Bouquet, inlay, Moorman, tapestry, etc. either as a graphed pattern or as a cartoon, blown up to fit the width of the warp and pinned below it as you weave.

Example of conversion to overshot, using smallest possible block of two threads:

Threading: A=1,2; B=2,3; C=3,4; D=1,4 (the blocks overlap by one thread - you don't double the thread; adjust turning points as needed)

Tie-up for overshot:13, 24, 34, 41, 12, 23

Treadling: alternate tabby (13, 24) with pattern in A (34), B (14), C, (12), or D (23) squaring the blocks and making sure your turning points are symmetric.

Best source for learning profile drafting is Designing with Blocks, by Doramay Keasbey.  It includes cheat keys for all common loom-controlled structures, which makes it very useful for the novice.  I've found that more of my students find it easier than Complete Book of Drafting by van der Hoogt.  DwB also has design information which is helpful. 

Laurie Autio

 

Silverwheelyarn (not verified)

Take it and run with it.  I would love to see what this inspires you to do as much as what it can make.  Just be sure to share with the group since we're all here to learn from each other!

claudia (not verified)

Ok, the loom will be empty in the next few hours and it's time to plan the warp for this project.

Has anyone else started working on this?  Any thoughts, suggestions, ideas? 

I haven't done and overshot pattern in about 2 years.  I know I will need 2 shuttles.  Now to plan colors. 

BTW, Doramay Keasby book is hard to find.  I have the van der Hoogt book and always had a hard time understanding it. 

Thanks for all the info Laurie, lots to consider before I thread.

Claudia

Silverwheelyarn (not verified)

I will be starting this weekend.  I have my weft done (I twisted red and white chenille) and on the shuttle, I only have to do the green cotton warp and weave away.   I wanted this to be so much Christmas it would be shocking.  I'm planning on macrame-ing the ends and may even add bells.  It should be fun. 

claudia (not verified)

Wow, your enthusiasm is wonderful and slightly infectious.

It's time for me to calculate sett and size and get rolling. 

Off to the basement.  Oh, I was supposed to say, off to the studio.  Anyway, I'll be back soon with pictures of yarns and a plan.  I'm going to post the details of the project before I start.  Just to be sure I understand what I'm doing.  This is a bit of a stretch for a young (experience, not age) weaver.

Please post photos of the twisted chenille or of the beginnings of the project on the loom

Thanks,

Claudia