Taking a workshop via Zoom [see New Ways of Learning – Zoom] had some perks: easy access to my stash and not having to drive to a venue in a snow storm. Another benefit was not having to wait until I got back home to continue playing with techniques covered in the workshop. After the color blending workshop I decided to use the 6 cones of blue rug yarn I’ve had for a years to develop a color progression.
To make bundles I can use for small tapestry weaving I un-plied each yarn and then retwisted/plied sets of 3 strands each. This took 3 full days to make bundles that are only 10yds long.
To move along a bit faster I divided each of the cones into 9 balls – which involved lots of calculations & weighing each ball as I wound off from the cone.
I combined 3 full strands of yarn to make bundles of thicker weft yarn.
With a new seine twine warp on the loom my plan was to use the thicker weft combinations to weave a color progression weft faced rug (the warp is completely hidden by the weft) but the combined rug yarns did not pack down enough to cover the warp so I’ll need to do some samples before I move forward with this project.
Not wanting to waste the warp that was on the loom I went back to my stash. I pulled out a bag of dyed Blue Faced Leicester roving and decided to use that as the weft.
I liked the texture that was created and used about 1 pound/450 grams to weave 75″/1.9 meters x 13.5″/34cm
I was curious to see how this would felt down. I rolled for several hours then put it into my washing machine with hot water and heavy agitation and finally into the dryer on hot. The final result still has the texture I liked and is now 63″/1.6meters x 12″/30.5 cm. I’m leaning toward making a carpet bag out of the yardage.
The month of March is one of transition and change when it comes to the weather
and it certainly was that for my weaving projects too!
Barbara Schutzgruber - Storyteller & Weaver 
It’s amazing how you are able to enjoy what you do through Zoom. That’s great!!
By: Julie Sutfin-Hanlon on March 28, 2021
at 7:58 pm
Thanks, Julie! I’ll always prefer the in-person but hey… we adapt to the times!!
By: bschutzgruber on March 29, 2021
at 9:50 am
Well, you unplying and mixing of all those blues was very successful – lovely gradations of tone. But three days or more – has anyone ever told you you’re mad? 😉 I like to look of your future carpet bag as well.
I am delighted to say (if I haven’t before?) that my daughter Ellen weaves and is getting better and better. She gave us a set of place mats for our anniversary and they are great.
I look forward to seeing what you do with those blues – keep on weaving 😊
By: StillWalks on March 29, 2021
at 4:15 am
Yes, Alastair – un-plying and mixing the yarn was a bit time consuming 🤪 to only get 10 yrds worth which is why I bailed after creating one set and just followed the same color combinations but used full strands! The reason it didn’t pack well is because the yarns are tightly spun – correct? I used a heavier seine twine – would a thinner twine be better as the warp to get a weft face? Let me know your thoughts.
By: bschutzgruber on March 29, 2021
at 10:00 am
Hi Barbara, it is certainly true that a tightly spun weft yarn used with that kind of warp (it looks a good warp!) could make packing the weft more difficult to ensure coverage but that isn’t because the warp is heavier. It is more to do with the relationship of weft weight and warp spacing. It is important that the two correspond and that the weft is allowed to go round the warp threads rather than straight through between them. You know that I am sure, but it can be a very subtle thing to get just right and while there are ways to correct the tension of the weave after the fact so to speak, getting it right in the first place will be much more satisfying to weave. You know how much attention I paid to the tension in our classes way back in 2013. I would recommend sampling first to get the hang of it for any combination of warp and weft. Remember, it’s not the weight of the warp or weft that is important but the space between the warp threads and the weight of the weft. Hope that helps. It looks like the AGSWD Summer School will be going ahead so hope to see you there.
By: StillWalks on March 29, 2021
at 10:16 am
Thanks! I will be sampling.
By: bschutzgruber on March 29, 2021
at 10:39 am