Pinwheels

Pinwheels or Houndstooth?

Prior to weaving I knew the two tone, black and white fabric as houndstooth.  When I started looking at weaving drafts I learned that it is generally called pinwheels in the weaving community.  

What is the difference?  The traditional houndstooth was woven using a 4 shaft loom. It is 4 threads white alternated with 4 threads black in both the warp and weft.

When you introduce more shafts to create the design it offers many more possibilities for changing the design.

Using an 8 shaft draft the traditional houndstooth starts to look more like a pinwheel.  It is now warped using 8 white then 8 black threads. The threading is a straight draw or 12345678.  The weft is also alternated 8 black, 8 white.   What is nice about this threading is that there are many ways to change the tie-up and treadling to create a different design using the same warp.

With a change to the threading fancy pinwheels are created.  Here are a few examples.  Just click on the picture to increase the size.

Mixed greens

I just took a shawl off the loom so I am using the same threading for my next project.  I tied on to the remaining warp and beamed the back beam.  Since I was using bamboo on the last project I had a 10 dent reed on the loom.  I decided to use Tencel this time so I needed to change the reed to a 12 dent and sett it at 24 EPI.  

This warp I mixed 3 colors of greens, light yellow, and orange.  I used a warping paddle for the greens and put an orange thread after every 15 greens.

I decided to use the undulated twill draft to highlight the warp colors.  I did not want a fancy pattern; as I thought the colors of the warp should be dominant. 

I started the first scarf using a medium green.  I am very happy with the results.  
The only thing I would do different next time is to space the orange warp thread to hit where the design changes direction.

Also on this project I started using an end feed shuttle.  The selvedge is much better with this shuttle. I'll go into the difference at another time.

Cowl Neck Scarf

Have you noticed the new trend toward infinity scarves and cowls?  It seems everywhere I go I see them.  Usually knitted and often in chunky yarns.

Personally,  I prefer the refined look of woven scarves.  The various pattern intrigue me.  I thought the idea of a cowl in handwoven fabric would be the best of both worlds.

I love to wear scarves, but have to admit, I was never sure of how to tie them.  I have found a few ways that work for me.  I am fairly active and the problem is that the long ends of  the scarf get in my way.

So I've started weaving cowls or, what I call, Collar Scarves.  They are basically a short scarf about 26" long and about 10" wide.  I sew a snap to keep it closed.

 I have considered sewing a button whole, but I am not sure how the button whole will stand up to washing on a handwoven fabric.  (Something that I will need to try).

Next I sew a button or fancy large bead to make it look like there is a button closure.  Usually I add some small beads to the edge of the scarf, near the fringe, and add a few more beads to the fringe.

Only one end gets the fringe and beads.  The other end is hand hemmed.

 

 

These Collar Scarves work great.  I love them when I travel.  It is nice to pack fewer tops but change their look by using a different scarf.  I usually weave them form Tencel which makes them light weight and good for many climates.

My Etsy Store

I've been busy.  I recently decided to open an Etsy Store so I am weaving and finishing items to put in the store.  Although I would have liked to have more things to put in the store before opening it, I decided to get started with what I have.

It is Christmas time and I have been weaving gifts so I don't have a surplus of items right now.  Today I spent most of the day twisting fringe and hand sewing beads to a few things I took off the loom yesterday.  Hopefully, I will get them listed tomorrow.

I found Etsy a very easy sight to get up and running.  They have a lot of information about starting a business.  Everything from photographing your products to marketing and even info on shipping.

I even had my first sale today!  It was to a family member to give as a gift to her sister, but it was a sale and gave me the opertunity to see if everything is working in my listing.  So far, so good.  It really was easy.

Now I need to keep weaving more to get my store fully stocked.

If you have a chance, take a look at my store:  DMJacobsDesigns.etsy.com