Playing with plaits and curved plaits

Thought I’d post some of the results of my working through Chapter 3 of Bonnie’s book:

On the left side is the original (straight) plait, on the right side is the plait adapted for curving lines.   I thought it was really interesting how a small change in the shape of the line could have a dramatic effect on the “feel” of the end result – especially with the middle plait, which I like both ways, but in very different ways and for very different reasons.

In this particular part I was experimenting with line, and asking myself whether it was possible to produce good plaits at more or less than the usual 45-degree angle.  The answer was that yes, it is possible, but it is harder to get clean “lines” and harder to avoid long floats, since of course the shallower or steeper the line the longer the float gets.  Worth the effort, as I like my shallow/steep plaits quite a bit, just not quite as easy.

I’ve been learning a lot from this study group on Exploring Multishaft Design – from my fellow students, from Bonnie, and from my own explorations.  The advantage of doing it in a semiformal framework is that it keeps me from getting sidetracked onto other things, and the one-chapter-a-month pace prevents me from rushing headlong into the next chapter, encouraging me instead to explore the concepts in the chapter a little more deeply.  I like it a lot.

The ankle continues to be mildly problematic – it was still giving me the occasional twinge this morning – but since it’s supposed to rain all weekend, perhaps it’s not as bad as it might have been otherwise.  I think I will hop on the trainer for about an hour tomorrow, and keep a close eye on the ankle – if it starts giving me trouble, I’ll hop right back off.  If the ankle feels good tomorrow, I may also start weaving again.  Maybe.

The good news is that the bronchitis is improving rapidly, most likely as a result of the latest (third!) antibiotic.  I think I may finally kick this thing!