Yesterday I finished up a project that has been lingering on my rigid heddle loom for a while: a waffle weave towel worked in striped Sugar n' Cream (worsted weight cotton). I've been interested in waffle weave and started this project to see the results in large gauge yarn. In my weaving class, I'm starting another project, doing double weave waffle weave in 10/2 perle cotton -- fine yarn at the very other end of the spectrum. What I thought would be most interesting about my rigid heddle project was seeing how the fabric changed from right after coming off of the loom to after it was finished (washed) under normal handling conditions.
This is a close up of the pre-finished fabric. There is visible texture and you can see how the threads move around and bend in areas near the warp and weft floats.
This is a close up of the fabric after finishing (which involved a regular trip through my washing machine and dryer). The fabric is much more compact. It shrunk both width-wise and length-wise. Interestingly, the warp floats have spread apart, while the weft floats have gotten closer together and the overall texture is more indistinct. The fabric feels think and thirsty. After I finish up the ends, it will likely make a serviceable dish towel.
You might remember that I used the same yarn in the warp as in the weft, hoping I would get interesting striping effects. In this respect,I was mostly disappointed. The warp stripes are hard to distinguish and the weft stripes are wide enough that you have to be looking for them to see them. The overall effect is a pleasant mottled pastel fabric.
This may be my last rigid heddle project for a while -- not because I don't enjoy it, but because my class project is large enough and challenging enough that I need to focus my weaving brain energy on it for a while. I also have couple of big knitting projects that need attention. Now that Lotus is done, I've promised myself that I will get back to Z's Zebra Striper sweater so that she has it for the fall.
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This is a close up of the pre-finished fabric. There is visible texture and you can see how the threads move around and bend in areas near the warp and weft floats. This is a close up of the fabric after finishing (which involved a regular trip through my washing machine and dryer). The fabric is much more compact. It shrunk both width-wise and length-wise. Interestingly, the warp floats have spread apart, while the weft floats have gotten closer together and the overall texture is more indistinct. The fabric feels think and thirsty. After I finish up the ends, it will likely make a serviceable dish towel. You might remember that I used the same yarn in the warp as in the weft, hoping I would get interesting striping effects. In this respect,I was mostly disappointed. The warp stripes are hard to distinguish and the weft stripes are wide enough that you have to be looking for them to see them. The overall effect is a pleasant mottled pastel fabric.
This may be my last rigid heddle project for a while -- not because I don't enjoy it, but because my class project is large enough and challenging enough that I need to focus my weaving brain energy on it for a while. I also have couple of big knitting projects that need attention. Now that Lotus is done, I've promised myself that I will get back to Z's Zebra Striper sweater so that she has it for the fall.
Wow. I love the way this looks, though unfortunately I like it a bit better before finishing.
I really need to clean up my craft stuff enough to set up another project on my loom. I miss it and haven't done any work on the loom since late April or early May.
I love the way your weaving looks before and after. I look forward to seeing your current perle cotton project as well. Weaving is yet another craft I would like to try, one day, when pre-school is in my life again. I like the rigid heddle looms because they don't seem to be such an overwhelming investment to start understanding the craft. Pregnancy brain and complications, baby/ toddler time has almost killed my knitting energy and completely killed my spinning. I admire your ability to knit something as impressive as Lotus with an almost two year old around.
I developed a serious fiber fever several years ago at SAFF, the closet sheep and wool festival to my home. I left knowing that I would be saving for a spinning wheel beginning then and finding a teacher who would teach me.
I enjoy your blog and love visiting Chicago. I didn't make it to a yarn store on my last visit though. Sigh. I know there must be some wonderful ones there. Too many family obligations and sight seeing opportunities took up our time. It was great fun though.
Teresa