I've had a request to weave a memorial piece for someone from her horse's hair. I did a little reading, including Kerstin Fröbergs article in Väv. I wanted to weave this on a warp I would use for another project, in order to save on costs for my client.
So.. I warped my loom with 8/2 cotton, sett at 20 epi in a goose-eye type twill. Two threads per dent in a 10 dent reed, the floats are 2 threads long. It's pretty but I think the warp is dominating more than I'd like. This is with 3 picks, so not much of a sample, but I don't have much hair so Im trying to conserve. I'm weaving it dry, and it doesn't seem like it's going to break. I'm going to try it damp as well. And I'll try it as a 3-1 twill instead of the 2-2 it is currently, so the floats will be longer.
But I fear this warp is too thick or sett to densely. I'm not weaving with one strand per pick, more of a little clump thicker than the 8/2 cotton. It's not a big piece so it's ok if it's a little time consuming. It will hang in a shadow box on a wall, so it doesn't have to hold up to the rigors of upholstery.
Kerstin's article recommends 12/2 at 10 ends/ cm, which would be 25 epi.. about the same as one would use for twill, I think. But she also says to sett it wider than one normall would.
So I'm wondering --
How wide should I sett the 8/2?
Should I rethink using 8/2 cotton in favor of a thinner yarn?
And finally.. how damp is damp enough. A sprits with water, or a longer soak?
Thanks for any wisdom anyone can share...