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Samples #1-4
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I ended up with 34 samples from my
4-shaft crackle manners of weaving sampler. Now that it's off the loom, washed, and pressed, I'm getting a better idea of
what each manner of weaving has to offer.
The sampler particulars:
- warp
- 10/2 cotton
- 160 ends
- 20 e.p.i.
- 10-dent reed threaded 2 per dent
- weft
- 5/2 (or 10/2 doubled) cotton pattern weft
- 10/2 cotton ground weft
- Some samples used a 10/2 pattern weft
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See
introduction
for profile draft, threading, and tie-up.
- Width in reed: 8 inches
- Finished width: 7 inches
Shrinkage makes a difference, of course, both in fabric size and the look of
the fabric. For example, sample #6 which is a twill treadled without tabby.
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Sample #6 before washing
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Sample #6 after washing
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The
summer & winter treadling
was one I was interested in. If you recall, this is one I thought might be a
contender for
dining room draperies, to coordinate with my Blue Willow china. Wet finishing made a wonderful
difference . . .
Sample 12 looks like it might do very well for that project and deserves a larger sample.
The
woven as lace samples
also improved with wet finishing. It's difficult to appreciate in a photo because the pleasingness of the effect is
textural. Same color warp and weft makes it difficult to photograph. It needs the angle of light to see it in a picture.
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Samples #13, 14, and 15.
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Bottom to top: samples 16, 17, 18
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The
shadow effects samples
also interested me on the loom. The one on the bottom (on the right), #16 is called "Shadow-y." It
doesn't have good color contrast between warp and weft, so I find it more
difficult to appreciate. I'd like to try it again with contrasting
colors.
The middle sample, #17, Shadow Blocks, is okay, but doesn't inspire me, I think because it's flat looking compared to the top sample, #18.
#18 is Mary Snyder's Shadow Blocks and is much more
interesting. I think this is because it has a more crackly look to it. Plus, using more
colors offers more opportunity for color blending (which is what drew me to crackle weave in the first place). I chose two neutrals (dark
gray and brown) for my two color wefts, and I think brighter colors would be
really fun.
Another sample that I was curious to see wet finished is #27,
lengthwise stripes.
Here it is below, before and after wet finishing.
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#27, lengthwise stripes on the loom
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#27, lengthwise stripes after washing, drying, and pressing
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I like that the stripes pop out more after finishing and I'm happy that the little background
stripes remain. This one would be fun with various stripes being different warp colors.
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Samples #29 - 32
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I wove a lot of samples, and amazingly, I didn't exhaust the catalog of manners of weaving for crackle. But I've got a good collection and I'm getting important information about my yarn size and color choices. Some of them I'd like to weave again, to explore them on a larger project. Sampling is good to a point, but doesn't necessarily tell me how the fabric will behave on a larger project.
My next step is to sew the edges of each sample to prevent fraying. Thankfully, I made good notes in my blog posts, and each of these will be printed out for a
sampler book. Each sample will be secured with it's information and notes. I'll use the new photos to update my Crackle Manners of Weaving page.
Between all that plus some sewing and mending, I have plenty to keep me busy for awhile.
