I don’t know where i went wrong. I was diligent with the warping 2 thin + 1 thick in one hand. Problem started putting the warp through the raddle as the 16/2 cotton easily twisted around other threads. Beaming under little tension broke 12 threads, thick (organic cloud cotton ) and thin 16/2 cotton. I’ve replaced 12 threads now sitting in spice bottles hanging off the back. Not a great experience all together. Could this blanket be woven with 8/2 cotton instead of 16/2 which is very delicate. As i contemplate pulling the threads through the reed, I am not so confident that the blankets will look anything like the pic. Can you suggest where I went wrong? Have other people had similar problems? Thank you
Diversified Plain Weave - 8 shaft baby blankets
Season 9 - So Many More Places To Go!
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Oh no, I'm, so sorry you've had a frustrating experience so far!
When you were winding with three threads in your hand, did you keep a finger between each of the threads so that they didn't wind around each other as they went onto the warping reel or board? If so, the culprit may be the little tension you used while beaming on. Constant and consistent tension is important to keep the threads running parallel to each other and to prevent snagging at the raddle and the lease sticks. But even the best wound warp can occasionally hit a snag when working with such a diverse thread combination. It sounds like you had more than your share.
You could weave the project with 8/2 as the thin, but would need to sample first for sett, opening it up quite a bit from what we used with the cotton cloud and the 16/2 combination. And the colours of the 8/2 would have more impact on the cloud cotton. Sampling would tell, and you'd likely get a stunning project.
In the mean time, however, keep on going. You got that warp beamed, you may as well thread and sley it. I hope those parts of the process go better for you! Crossing my fingers.
I love the patterns for both blankets in this episode, but think the four shaft design would be an easier starting place. I will need to move heddles on my loom to accomplish this project. I’d like to do the four shaft pattern using 8 shafts if possible, but I don’t know how to translate the threading from four to eight. Is there a principle to apply to the process? Also, I loved Brenda Reimer’s small red sample and was hoping I could get the draft for that design. Thank you for putting together such a great episode.
Ann
Ann,
Could I get back to you tomorrow on this? I don't have the brain power at the moment to explain how to expand the draft from four to eight shafts without needing too many heddles on one and two. I'll look at it in the morning, with a fresh head.
Rebecca, thanks! Tomorrow is fine. I am ok with needing more heddles on one and two but I prefer using all eight shafts. So mostly I was wondering how to expand the pattern treadles, especially as I’m interested in the draft for that red sample from Brenda Reimer and wondering if that was for four or eight shafts.
The draft that Brenda used was on seven shafts. If you us the Contact Us on the JST website it will put you in touch via email with the staff of the online store. They can then contact me, and once I have your email address I can pass on Brenda's draft, she is happy to share.
After I expanded the four shaft draft to eight shafts I saw your comment about mostly wanting to use more pattern treadles. You don't actually need to use more treadles, just put the two for the tie-down threads on your left and the two for the pattern threads on the right. That way both your feet are in use.
The expansion from four shafts to eight is actually quite complicated, but I will send it to you via email. Essentially you put the tie-down threads on shafts 1-4, and the pattern threads on shafts 5-8. I did it by alternating everything. So the first unit has tie-downs on 1 & 2, the second unit has tie-downs on 3 & 4. Alternate throughout. For the pattern shafts, if the pattern was on an odd shaft (3) it stays on odd shafts, now alternating on 5 & 7, whereas if it was on even (4) it moves to 6 & 8. The tie-up needs major changes. But on the plus side you can weave the blanket with less than 100 heddles used on all eight shafts.
I'll keep an eye out for an email putting me in touch with you via the online store.
Rebecca, thank you so much for all this helpful information. I will follow up with the online store about the other draft today. I so appreciate your insight and suggestions.
Ann