sampling

Experimenting with different structures and fibers
* 170” warp in 8/2 cottolin in natural
* 18 EPI
* 396 ends (two 2” gaps, so total ends is 324)
* threading: 116 – 2” gap – 92 – 2” gap - 116
* overshot pattern small honeysuckle (star) from The Handweaver’s Directory

Hanging #1 weft:
– Loop of the Loom linen 80 /cotton 20 in color Natural
-- Raffia in colors aubergine and white, from Weaverhouse
-- handspun lowkey flax (50% merino / 20% flax / 10% tussah silk) in color heirloom, from Weaverhouse

Hanging #2 weft:
* handspun eri and tassar silk from Weaverhouse
* dark and medium ramie from Weaverhouse

Finished size: each 21” wide x 60” long

Notes:
* The ramie caused Hanging #2 to crinkle - I don’t think it was pulled too tight, but in the future, I would apply less tension or pull before beating each pick. I also think it would work better to use it only for one row every once in a while, instead of so frequently. The problem was more pronounced with the dark ramie; I’ve used the medium ramie (which is much thinner) as tabby pick before, and not experienced this problem.

* The overshot pattern was unsuccessful; when I treadled according to pattern in Hanging #1, I didn’t get the pattern as illustrated in the Handweaver’s Directory. I’m not clear what the problem was; I don’t think I made a mistake in any of the threading.

* The warp was too close together - for a wall hanging, where a firm structure holding the fabric together isn’t important, I should have used a looser warp (maybe 12 EPI)? At 18 EPI, the warp threads are too prominent.