SO far so good. I have learned that a spray bottle of water can held tame that kinky, wiry linen weft. I found when the weft was dry I often got little loopies on the selvedges - they seem to disappear when the weft is damp and the linen better behaved. I might actually attmept to try linen in both warp and weft! Yikes! but not right away.

Comments

mneligh

I spent over an hour last night researching photoluminescent dye last night, and half an hour just now responding to vendors emails.  Clearly I need chemistry help -- probably from my son, who took 6 semesters of it at CalTech.  The sad news is that it's about $30 a kilo and you have to buy a hundred kilos as well as import it from China.  The American vendor that sells in small quantity has not responded yet.   I thought I was pretty knowlegeable about dyes, too.

On the other hand, after the demo at the state park, I got Baby back home and set up again. 

I also started teaching coworkers to spin at lunch.  I need to make some drop spindles for them, but there is hope.  They also want to learn to weave, so I may have to set up a backstrap loom.  Of course, they all want floor looms . . .

endorph

to be productive when all you have to do is weave! I am enjoying my vacation from work and my weaving class - in fact I will be finishing my towels a day in advance so they are coming up with something for me to do on Thursday - And Friday I plan on weving at home - this is my week to weave!   Yikes on the price and quantity of the photoluminescent dye -

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

So pretty! I found some wild flake cotton cones at Tuesday morning in bright Jewel colors.  When I finish this project I am going to think of something for my new find.  How long would Photoluminescent dye last?  

Cheryl'B

Go Girl Go!  they are beautiful!  All of these towels makes me want to try towels.

endorph

towel five and six today. Nice relaxed weving since i had plenty of time to get finished. Tomorrow I will wind a warp for matching dish cloths.

endorph

five and six woven today - they have been cut off the loom and are awaiting finishing! Before going to class I hemmed and wet finished my Acadian tea towels, and this evening I might get some weaving done on my Keep It Simple towels.

mneligh

There is one place in the USA that sells small quantities of photoluminescent powder -- if only they would respond!  On the other hand I sent my son links to both the photoluminescent powder place and also to the chemistry behind both reactive and acid dyes.  Hopefully, he'll devise a solution.

I know things like the photoluminescent stars and moons put on the ceilings 20+ years ago are still glowing when they get a dose of daylight, and this is the same stuff.  I'll ask my son what the chemical half life of the powder is. 

Because the roofers were here today, I was home, and it was too chaotic to write software, so I both wove and spun.  The weaving is another shawl on the bamboo warp as my multifiber demo shawl, this time in fine handspun Shetland in teals and turquoise with a lot of abrash, and crossbred Australian wool in white.  It's an 8 shaft pointed twill threading, and I change colors using an ombre effect.  Simple, soft, raised design.

One thing people at the demos noted was that my work looks more 3-d than most, and after they pointed it out, I see it's due to the weft yarn.  I have known for a while that my handspun has more drape than a lot of yarns, and coupled with a bamboo warp it makes for a very drapey fabric.  I guess it has more poof too, in that it packs in fairly tightly, but poofs out on the surface of the fabric anywhere there's even a 2 thread float, giving it a raised appearance.

The spinning is for the lion, of course. 

Mindy Stowers (not verified)

Please post some pictures ofyour work.  You are incredible talented and efficient.  I would love, love love to see!

mneligh

I need to borrow a camera and my husband has been off at a conference with his.  I have owned 2 digital cameras, and both times my offspring (in their 20's) have really needed them much more than I in situations where I never get them back.

I'll bost photos when I can.

kathyinozarks (not verified)

I am a new member here-your project looks great. I have not tried linen yet, but I have several hanks and cones of it now-so am wanting to learn how it behaves before I try it in some towels Kathy

kathyinozarks (not verified)

I am a new member here-your project looks great. I have not tried linen yet, but I have several hanks and cones of it now-so am wanting to learn how it behaves before I try it in some towels Kathy

kathyinozarks (not verified)

don't know how that happened-I didn't see where I could delete one of them thanks Kathy

Group Audience