The rigid heddlers group is working on a log cabin WAL.  Everyone is working on the item of their own choice using the log cabin threading and treadling.  The directions for warping are here and direct warp is here.

I started a piece that didn't work because the yarn I had chosen was way too thick and was hard to weave with and was overwhelming the dark yarn.  I removed the taupe color yarn and added off-white in it's place.  But now I am doing something and the piece looks wonky.  See the whole story here.

I need help and advice.  I have done this on my 4-shaft without any issues but am struggling to get this right.  I am here, on the Weaving forum, to request help from others with greater experience.

Thanks,

Claudia, greatly humbled by this experience.

Here is my current effort:

 

Comments

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 15:29

Su Butler

Log cabin is a balanced plain weave exhibiting a color-and-weave effect pattern.  In order for the pattern to show, the weave must be balanced, i.e. an equal number of warp ends per inch as weft picks per inch.  In addition, the color rotation order must be maintained.   Looking closely at your piece, it appears the color order was not maintained in the weft........the color order for this piece for both warp and weft is D,L,D,L, L, D, L, D  repeated.  If the color order gets messed up, the pattern will not show.  I think if you resley your warp to a denser sett,  then be sure to maintain the color order, you will have Log cabin cloth.

Su

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 20:13

claudia (not verified)

Thank you Su, I am going to resley the reed/heddle and give your suggestions a try. 

I appreciate the help.

Claudia

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 20:20

Kurt Pippin (not verified)

In addition to Su's suggestions, remember that the pattern will show up better after the fabric is off the loom and relaxing. All colour-and-weave looks better after finishing--assuming your dyes don't run!

Kurt

Mon, 11/09/2009 - 20:44

claudia (not verified)

Hey Kurt,

Given how this project has been, that is probably exactly what will happen to me.  I'll wet finish it and all the navy will wash out and I'll have this lovely white scarf with some mysterious, invisible pattern.

Thanks for the laugh.

Claudia

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 16:10

claudia (not verified)

OK, resleyed at 8/inch rather than 5/inch.  One other thing came to mind.  I was threading the log cabin pattern in two blocks.  Block A was a 4 thread block and Block B was a 5 thread block.  I have a feeling, just concept, that on a 2-shaft loom both blocks or groups of threads need to be of equal number.

So, following that theory, I now threaded the loom with 6 blocks of a 7 thread combination:  D-L-D-L-D-L-D and repeated that grouping across the entire loom.  I will take pictures once i have the warp spread and start weaving.  The photos do not show anything at this point.

Back to the loom,

Claudia, undaunted.

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 16:18

lkautio (not verified)

Claudia, the two blocks do not need to be equal in number of threads.  Varying the numbers is a useful design tool and should not cause any problems.  I agree that sett was probably your main problem. For the color and weave effect to work well you need a relatively balanced weave, rather than strongly weft or warp faced. Your first piece was probably a better sett (more balanced fabric)  for the yarn used so it worked better.   If you were trying for squares in the original piece, at ppi=epi you would have needed more threads to square one of the blocks than the other, giving a pattern of two sizes of squares and two sizes of rectangles.

Laurie Autio

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 18:40

Su Butler

HI Claudia....here is a draft of your new design to use as reference while you are weaving.  With the proper sett and beat, as well as color rotation, you should see this design as you weave.

Su :-)

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 19:59

Claudia

Hi Su,

I think changing the sett to 8 from 5 did the trick:

It makes it easier to see the draft and drawdown.  I think it's time for me to invest in weaving software.  I can see the interlacement more easily.  I would love to play with the draft and see what the effect of doing the two different blocks I had originally planned. 

Thanks, Su.  I understand it better and am liking this project a whole lot better now.

Claudia

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 23:20

francorios (not verified)

Hooray!

It looks good!

Have a joyful day!

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 21:10

Kurt Pippin (not verified)

Yay for perseverence! That looks great!

I'm learning (slowly) the ProWeave software for Mac. I also have a very old version of Fiberworks PCW on my little Windows laptop. It does help a lot to see the drawdowns, and it's quite fun to play with. I'll probably get more serious with the ProWeave after the 4-harness Montana loom gets here. Or not. I'm quite distracted by spinning and backstrap at the moment.

I also have the free tablet weaving software from John Mullarkey for playing with threaded-in designs. There are several other programs for tablet weaving, but this was the easiest one for me to use without studying a manual first.

Kurt

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 22:18

Su Butler

Hey Claudia.....that is looking good!  It is possible it could look even better if the sett were a little closer, but you are getting the pattern and that is what you were trying to do!  Remember that Log Cabin is just plain weave.....the pattern is developed by the color in the warp and weft.  So sett for a nice balanced plain weave with whatever material you are using and you should find success!  Happy weaving!

Su :-)

Tue, 11/10/2009 - 22:36

Caroline (not verified)

Great! That looks much better, and the pattern is nice and clear!

I like the choice of colours, not too in your face, but a good contrast.

 

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 08:35

kerstinfroberg

Your original warp order also gives a nice pattern, if woven as drawn in (colourwise). (There was an inconsistency at the beginning of the threading - you would have to adjust for that in the colour sequence in the weaving)

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 12:46

claudia (not verified)

Thanks Kerstin,

I like the way this one looks, too.  I can see quite clearly that my weaving would benefit from using some form of design software.  It's too bad no one is designing for the Mac.  I know there are two choices if you stick with a Mac and don't use PC conversion software.  At this point, I don't have room for more software until I buy a new machine.

Looking at the draft you created for me, I see clearly what people are talking about when they say that doubling the dark thread in the log cabin design adds a different look.

Thanks again for helping me see the design more clearly,

Claudia

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 14:34

Sara von Tresckow

 While waiting for that new computer, you can easily do the same thing with graph paper, colored pencils and some patience. After learning to draw a few drafts by hand, you will warm up to the software more quickly later.

Wed, 11/11/2009 - 15:26

claudia (not verified)

You are right Sara and I have used graph paper often.  I forgot to do that this time and it would have helped enormously.

Thanks for the reminder.  I enjoy the colored pencil part, throw back to childhood and all.  It is also a nice way to put the brakes on life for a minute and do something that requires focus and a little concentration.

Claudia

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 02:54

kbird (not verified)

Claudia!

What do you mean, "throw back to childhood"???   I think EVERYONE should have colored pencils in their crafty kits....

*grin*
Kay

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 07:35

kerstinfroberg

A tip for pen-and-paper colour-and-weave drafting: prepare a template for the weave structure you will be using, copy it (so you don't have to do it every time). It will be much easier to get the result correct... (Ask me how I know)

Like this:

  or  

 

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:31

DianneStucki (not verified)

Don't forget the crayons and Elmer's glue! There's still nothing as intoxicating as the smell of a new box of crayons.

 

 

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 12:35

claudia (not verified)

Thanks, Kerstin, I hadn't thought about it but see where it would be helpful.

Claudia

Thu, 11/12/2009 - 16:01

Michael White

 

TIP, Color matching. Crayons make a great starting point when asking a fellow weaver if they have a color yarn you are looking for. Also paint charts from a paint store you both have. Of course the Pantone Color Matching System Guides are the be all for color matching. At:   http://www.d-zignsinc.com/view/pantone.html you can find Pantone colors. Just remember all computer monitors and the human eye sees colors different.

Michael

Fri, 11/13/2009 - 21:56

sequel (not verified)

I picked up on that little bit of worry about the colors running in the wash... Use "Shout" brand "Color Catcher"  little non-woven sheets that attract dye in the wash.  They come in a box and are found in the laundry additives deptartment at the grocery store.  I once washed a new red t-shirt with a load of dark clothes and one of my husband's brand new white cotton briefs got mixed in the load by mistake - the "Color Catcher" sheet came out hot pink, and the undies stayed snowy white.  I ALWAYS use this when wet finishing cotton hand wovens!

Fri, 11/13/2009 - 23:33

claudia (not verified)

Wow, what a great find.  I'm heading out tonight, we have to pick up a couple items, I'll look for it.  Sounds like a real life saver.

Since we have fallen drastically off the subject (where is that moderator??lol) I recommend Lestoil or Pine Sol as a stain remover on almost any cotton fabric.  I always get that one drop of salad dressing on my blouse and it's the only thing that really works.

Claudia (the missing moderator)

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