More M's and O's

The last two towels were with some 8/2 mill ends in Pecan. I have several cones of this and I use it often. It's a nice neutral taupe which works well with a wide range of colors.



Like many other weavers I've experimented with many types of hems and this is what works for me when I'm making towels. I use 100% cotton sewing thread for just under 1/2", then I begin using the pattern weft and weave for just over 1/2". I throw two picks in the same shed when starting my pattern just because I like the way it looks at the fold.



I'm always thrilled when I see the cloth beam filling up with new fabric but alas - it's coming to an end!



I used Davison's M's and O's Three by Three Plaid (p. 64), inspired by Leigh's work. I love reading about the history of each structure. Just as I reached the end of the warp I started looking through Anne Dixon's the Handweaver's Pattern Directory. Dixon recommends a weft thread which is thicker than the warp. Dixon also warns that floating selvedges must used and she recommends setting the selvedges as follows:

left selvedge: float,4,2,3,1,44,33,22,11
right selvedge: 44,33,22,11,4,2,3,1,float

I think I'll try that the next time so I can make some comparisons. Unfortunately there wasn't much warp left to experiment with a thicker weft but I did throw a few inches of 5/2 (brown and gold) and 4/4 (the variegated).



I'm teaching this weekend but hopefully I'll have enough energy tomorrow night to stitch between the towels and throw them in the wash. I like the look of the 5/2 on the loom. I'll be interested in seeing how they all wash up.

Spring Break Weaving

The skies are gray, there's a nip in the air - but it's Spring Break and I'm off! Too cold to do any of the outside work I usually do over spring break. I already painted the guest room so no big painting project. Guess I'll just have to play!

So, back to my Ms & Os. I had planned on trying the suggestions of a floating selvedge or temple. Peg mentioned trying a plain weave selvedge. Being a lazy weaver (and also forgetful) weaver I went for the quick fix first.



I attached one pound weights with an S hook to the four end threads and that did the trick!



The selvedges are MUCH better.



I completed two dish towels with the Alabaster weft and started on a runner for the guest room using more Eight/Two, this time in Baked Clay.



Listening to the end of Haven Kimmel's Something Rising (Light and Swift) I wove 40" inches before I left to pick up Jackson.



Really, even after tossing his cookies and getting a quick wash up the kid is gorgeous! His eyes get me every time!

It Doesn't <i>Really</i> Go Away

If you're anything like me you have this ability to believe that if you wish really, really hard that the little flaw you noticed just might go away! WRONG!!



I should have taken a picture right away and then there would be no doubting the fact that you can see this and it's not acceptable. Oh well, at least it's pretty high up the sleeve, a 3/4 sleeve to boot! Ripping won't be that painful.

Apart from the obvious problem the Minimalist Cardigan is coming along very nicely. I'm using Cascade 220 in Bluestone (7920) with size 6 US needles. It's a lovely greenish blue, although you wouldn't know that from my washed out photo. Here's a better better view.

If you didn't read the comments on my M's and O's post Christine suggested floating selvages and Marie suggested a temple. I'll try both later this week.

M's and O's

Yesterday's snow day gave me the time I needed to get the warp threaded and sleyed.



This is the first time I used the threading chart that comes with Fiberworks. It was very easy to follow. Although I was a bit blown away when I got to the end and had 18 threads instead of 8!



I checked and there were no threading errors so I guess it was a counting error.


This is one repeat of the treadling. I'm using WEBS' Eight-Two Alabaster for the weft.



It looks like the sides are sort of wavy. (If you click you can see the curve on the edges of the warp dominant blocks.) It seems like the 3-4 end warp threads get sort of twisted during the weaving of one block but not the other. I slid my finger in and opened the shed right to the fell but I don't know if that's a good thing or not. If I don't the weft won't pack all the way down on the first shot of the block. I might cut off after the first towel to see if washing tightens it up.

I love the fabric and am already thinking of other design possibilities. Leigh played with bright colors for her towels. Kristin wove several scarves using a turned Ms and Os. I'm thinking of a wrap using a handpainted warp with some sheen, maybe rayon or silk, with a cotton weft.

M's and O's

Yesterday's snow day gave me the time I needed to get the warp threaded and sleyed.



This is the first time I used the threading chart that comes with Fiberworks. It was very easy to follow. Although I was a bit blown away when I got to the end and had 18 threads instead of 8!



I checked and there were no threading errors so I guess it was a counting error.


This is one repeat of the treadling. I'm using WEBS' Eight-Two Alabaster for the weft.



It looks like the sides are sort of wavy. (If you click you can see the curve on the edges of the warp dominant blocks.) It seems like the 3-4 end warp threads get sort of twisted during the weaving of one block but not the other. I slid my finger in and opened the shed right to the fell but I don't know if that's a good thing or not. If I don't the weft won't pack all the way down on the first shot of the block. I might cut off after the first towel to see if washing tightens it up.

I love the fabric and am already thinking of other design possibilities. Leigh played with bright colors for her towels. Kristin wove several scarves using a turned Ms and Os. I'm thinking of a wrap using a handpainted warp with some sheen, maybe rayon or silk, with a cotton weft.

Out With the Old

Rip, rip, rip! It's out with the old and in with the new!



You might remember Jackson in his sausage sweater. I was just going to give this to a younger baby but I realized it wasn't proportional. The arms are too short and the body too tight and long. I started this at a very stressful time last fall and I now realize that along with my gauge being off I was following several different sizes in the instructions. Doh! While looking for something else I found another ball of the Fixation so knowing I'll have enough for a size 2 I started ripping. I started over, going up a needle size and have progressed through the neck ribbing and short row shaping and am now doing the raglan increasing through the shoulders. In case you need a dose of cute, here's Jackson getting ready to watch the Super Bowl!

Inspired by Leigh's lovely M's and O's I starting winding a warp for some more towels using one of my favorites - WEB's Eight-Two in willow green.



It's a 128 end repeat and I have three repeats wound. Now I have to figure out my sett and decide if I need to play with the pattern a bit. That's wrapped pretty tightly and it's 36 wpi. I could have sworn I used 20 epi before with this yarn. You'd think I'd have records somewhere but apparently only pictures!



I'll mull it over while I rip up carpet. Yes, I'm doing another room makeover!

For those of you who are lucky enough to have a three day weekend, enjoy! And take some time to read Syne's new endeavor WeaveZine. Bonnie has a great Turned Weft Ikat article. Tonight it's back to the table of contents for more information and ideas.

Out With the Old

Rip, rip, rip! It's out with the old and in with the new!



You might remember Jackson in his sausage sweater. I was just going to give this to a younger baby but I realized it wasn't proportional. The arms are too short and the body too tight and long. I started this at a very stressful time last fall and I now realize that along with my gauge being off I was following several different sizes in the instructions. Doh! While looking for something else I found another ball of the Fixation so knowing I'll have enough for a size 2 I started ripping. I started over, going up a needle size and have progressed through the neck ribbing and short row shaping and am now doing the raglan increasing through the shoulders. In case you need a dose of cute, here's Jackson getting ready to watch the Super Bowl!

Inspired by Leigh's lovely M's and O's I starting winding a warp for some more towels using one of my favorites - WEB's Eight-Two in willow green.



It's a 128 end repeat and I have three repeats wound. Now I have to figure out my sett and decide if I need to play with the pattern a bit. That's wrapped pretty tightly and it's 36 wpi. I could have sworn I used 20 epi before with this yarn. You'd think I'd have records somewhere but apparently only pictures!



I'll mull it over while I rip up carpet. Yes, I'm doing another room makeover!

For those of you who are lucky enough to have a three day weekend, enjoy! And take some time to read Syne's new endeavor WeaveZine. Bonnie has a great Turned Weft Ikat article. Tonight it's back to the table of contents for more information and ideas.