I have questions galore as I begin a new warp on the combination drawloom. Is this the best sett for these threads? How are my sheds? What will orange-ey weft colors do on this pewter and blue warp? Is the image of this first design better face up, or face down? How can I include a couple extra colors in the design? The loom is set up with 45 pattern shafts and 148 single units. I’m eager to begin!
Sampling at the beginning of the warp gives me answers. The sett is good—18 ends per centimeter, with 16/2 cotton in 6-shaft irregular satin. After some tweaking, the sheds are good—and all the treadles touch the floor when the optimum shed is reached. The weft colors look good—better than expected. And, definitely, the jam jars need to be face down—so, I reverse the image in Affinity Designer on the computer and print out a new chart. I can sneak in some extra colors with narrow weft stripes—beginning and ending borders. I’m ready to roll! New kitchen towels in various designs are moving forward! First up…Peach Jam Jars.
~It is a joy to have you visit with me every week! It is time for my annual pause for the month of July. I’ll see you back here on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.~
Until then, may the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.
May your questions get answered.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
This is lovely but, boy does it boggle my mind. Enjoy your July, Karen!
Hi Beth, It is quite a contraption, but everything makes perfect sense. I think you’d enjoy it!
Enjoy your summer!
Karen
Have a wonderful and safe vacation!
Hi Pam, Most of this month will be a stay-cation. Looking forward to enjoying each day!
Thanks,
Karen
What made you decide to Weave the jars face down?
Hi Den, Thanks for asking a great question! When I viewed the reverse side of the fabric with a mirror I liked the orange outline for the peaches. On the face of the cloth, the outline is blue in the borders and gray in the center section, in an orange fabric. I think it could go either way, but I liked the orange outlines better.
All the best,
Karen
Karen
I’m in awe of your weaving skills and how you deal with that level of complexity is quite mind-blowing – just looking at your pictures has me reaching for a damp towel to wrap around my head!!
Thank you for all that you share on this blog and for being so generous with your time. May your month away from it be blessed in many ways.
Mark
Hi Mark, It’s great to hear from you! I hope all is going well in your circle of influence. Even the most complex things are simple if taken one small step at a time. I’m an all around simple person, but I do enjoy taking steps that lead in a complex direction.
Blessings to you,
Karen
Oh my, your skills and equipment have encapsulated a lot of investment on your part! Way over my abilities.
Hi Bonnie, I like the word “investment.” That’s exactly how I approach each day. Time is our greatest commodity, and we can invest it in many different ways. I’m always asking the Lord to show me how to invest my time.
Thank you for your kind encouragement!
Karen
Love your towels! Have a great vacation,
Linda
Hi Linda, I think these towels will become favorites.
Thanks!
Karen
Blessings over your vacation and … see you in August.
Take care
Ida
Thank you, Ida! I appreciate your kindness so much.
Karen
Karen,
I’ve looked online at the different computer programs that can be used for drawloom weaving, but there doesn’t seem to be enough information on them for me to figure out which would be better/easier to use. Your printouts look so clear and easy to read. Which computer program are you using here? Do you recommend it?
Thanks,
Karen
Hi Karen, I tried a couple other programs before I settled on what I use now, which is Affinity Designer. It does everything I need it to do; however, I admit it has a learning curve for someone like me. I needed to watch several tutorials before I could grasp what I could do with the program. And there are some tricks to printing the chart. I find it easiest to export the file to Adobe Reader and print it as poster tiles. If you have more questions about the program, or would like to more specifics about how I use it, please click HERE to send me an email. I would enjoy discussing it with you further!
All the best,
Karen