Got started weaving this morning with a couple of oopsies. Approximately 900 ends in a fairly complex threading pattern and I had one sleying error and one threading error. The threading should have been 7,8,7 and it was actually 8,9,8. So I cut the errant threads out, tied repair heddles where needed (two on shaft 7 – I could use one of the 8’s that were emptied) re-threaded and pinned to the fabric.
And started over. 🙂
I’m weaving the fabric ‘upside down’ or ‘back-side up’ in order to lift the fewest shafts. I got into the habit of doing this when I was treadling manually (pedally?) and after getting the air assist for the treadle just kept on using this approach. I figured what was better for my knee would be better for the piston. 🙂 Maybe it doesn’t care, but……..
You can just see the start of the pattern on the front as it rolls down toward the cloth beam. The difference in colour is the shadow from the top of the cloth. Hopefully the close up (click on the image) will show it nicely.
For weft I’m using two of the 24 nm strands doubled. Now why, you may ask, would I use two ends doubled instead of some of the perfectly good singles 12 nm? Well, the fact is that I have about twice as much of the 24 nm as I do the 12, and since one strand of 12 plus one strand of 24 seems to be the perfect weft on the 2/16 cotton warp, I decided to use up the 24’s on the 2/20 merc. cotton warp.
It’s got to be used up one way or another, right?
Currently reading Sisters of Heaven by Patti Gully – the role of three Chinese aviatrix’s during WWII