Is there a reason that a pattern would call for two strands of 2/8 rather than a single strand of 4/8?
I am weaving a picnic blanket that calls for 2 strands of 2/8 cotton for both the warp and weft. I have wound 2 strands of 8/2 cotton onto bobbins and am having difficulty with the tension on the weft. After a couple picks, one of the 2 strands becomes longer than the other so I have to straighten out each pick.
Is there any difference between using 2 strands of 2/8 and using 1 strand of 4/8? It would be so much easier to use the 4/8.
I would sample this but don't have any 4/8 nor a local store, so will have to mail order.
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
Hi Jan, There is no difference. Perhaps the designer only had 8/2 and wanted it to be thicker. It poses no problems in the warp to have 2 ends in a heddle, but you are now dealing with that reality on the bobbin and it is frustrating. Some weavers use a double shuttle (a shuttle where you can put in 2 bobbins) and you can control it better with one of those, but it is an expense you might not appreciate. Heck, if you need to picks in the shed I would just use a floating selvedge and weave 2 picks....it might be easier because you won’t have to stop all the time and manage that extra length on the bobbin which can be very frustrating. Hope this helps, Cheers, Jane