I wanted to make a challenge to myself to use some of my stash of misc. yarns (some labeled, some not) in a creative way. I found some lovely felted chartreuse yarn to use as warp, and some pale gold overtwist singles that went well as weft. I was hoping to make a scarf with red accents, but (wisely) decided to sample first. I knew that I would end up with differential shrinkage, from tests I did on the yarn, and thought that would be interesting.
I warped up 10 inches at 8 sett, 160 inches long (for two scarves) and wove a 7 inch sample, including red accents in both warp and weft. I cut the sample and washed it. Since I wanted to get as much shrinkage and fulling as possible, I hand-washed vigorously in hot water and rinsed alternately in cold and hot water. Pressed out the excess water in a towel, then dried wth my hair dryer (I don't have a clothes dryer, which would have been overkill anyway).
The differential shrinkage created a wonderful texture that I like a lot. Unfortunately, the yarn did not soften as much as I'd like: it feels quite stiff and a bit rought, I think due to the kind of wool in the warp yarn. So I decided to make a table topper instead. I am unwinding the warp from the back, cutting at the warp beam, sley the back ends into the reed for a 20" weaving width. Then cut each warp in half and tie back onto the warp beam and carefully rewind and adjust tension in the front. I figured this would be the most straightforward way of resleying a wider warp.
I liked the effect of the single red line (dots), and will incorporate that into the topper. I may also include some short knots as embellishments in spots: the ends of the red felted up into cute little "buttons".
This was fun to do. I should have enough to do another sample at the end that could perhaps become a hot pad. The sample I will sew up (and secure the ravelly edges) for a glasses case.
Finished Length
5.25
Finished Length Unit
inches
Finished Width Unit
yards
Length Off Loom Unit
yards
Length on Loom
7.00
Length on Loom Unit
inches
Notes
Number of Shafts
4
Number of Treadles
6
Project Status
Finished
Sett
8.00
Sett Unit
epi
Width off Loom Unit
inches
Width on Loom
10.00
Width on Loom Unit
inches