I want to use 8/2 cotton (that's what I have on hand) for the log cabin sample and understand that I need to add ends if I want it to come out close to the size the pattern as written would produce. I started to think it was as simple as doubling the number of threads in each section but then realized that if I thread it that way my dark/light and light darks will be off. Should I just thread 11,22,33,44 for these sections or can I just pull two threads through one heddle? Or will I be happier if I wait and order the 8/4 cotton?
Converting log cabin to 8/2 cotton
Season 3 - Pushing the Boundaries of PW
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Cynthia McDonagh
You could follow the draft for the sample in 8/2 cotton - the size of your blocks will be smaller but you could increase them by instead of doing 5 alternating dark/light or light/dark - you could increase it from 10 ends to 20 ends until you get to the final red zinger. Then, when you weave it remember to increase your Tromp as Writ to include the changes you have made in the draft. Does this make sense?
Sandra:
On log cabin I also have 8/2 yarn. By adding 5 more threads ( from 5 to 10) does it change reed as 12 and slay 1 per dent.?
I got loom that is 18" width. If I add extra ends then total ends will be 240 not 160.
Let me know. Thx guoda
Hi Guoda - your sett changes from 12 epi to 18 epi when you switch from 8/4 cotton to 8/2 cotton. You would sley your 12 dent reed with repeating 1,2 ends in the slot as you move across.
I've been playing with the possibilities trying to get to where you could weave a nice sized sample. In the white section on the right side of the sample, you could increase those stripes to 36 white (from 24 ends); 10 charcoal (from 5 ends) etc.... 18 white, 10 charcoal, 18 white, 10 charcoal and 18 white plus the red zinger.
In the Colour & Weave section - the 8/4 cotton alternates 5 dark/light - giving you 10 ends in that section. My suggestion would be to wind 10 alternating dark/light or light/dark to give you 20 ends in those segments. The final white section could be 36 white. If you choose to do this - you would have 269 ends which will give you a width in reed of 14.9". Jane is a huge fan of Log Cabin, as am I - I would love you to be able to weave this sample, it's so much fun and you can use what you learn in designing your cloth in the future.
Hope this helps.....
Gouda did you complete your project in 8/2 cotton based on Sandra’s directions? I too have way too much 8/2 cotton that I’d love to use up on.
These comments regarding the use of 8/2 cotton as a substitute for the 8/4 are very interesting because at the beginning , like several other people, I wanted to use my current stash rather than buy more yarn. Then I thought I would take the “easy” route and simply double the 8/2 threads up to make one thread and make a slightly bigger sample. On the loom the width is 14”, one thread (ie two ends) in each slot of the 10 dent reed. The resulting fabric looks lovely but it has been a bit of a pain manhandling two threads together on the bobbins when they stretch slightly differently and getting two threads on one bobbin takes more work when you have only one cone of a particular colour.
However, I have still really enjoyed doing this log cabin and I love the variety Jane has provided us with in the different samples.
I think another time I would splash out and buy the thicker thread!! 😝. We live and learn.