Preparing to dye

My warping wheel is arriving late this week (impatience, impatience), at which point I will start winding on the warp for the doubleweave chapter of Bonnie’s book, Exploring Multishaft Design.  I’ve never attempted doubleweave before, so this will be quite interesting; it took me awhile to wrap my head around the basic patterns, but much to my relief I managed to get a simple pair of twills drafted so they work in separate layers.  I even managed to figure out how to reverse the twills!  It’s complicated to visualize (at least now, since I don’t understand it) but I do “get” the principle.  Which is a fine thing.

Anyway, I’m planning to wind on a 9-yard warp in 4 colors (so I can do four layers of doubleweave once I get to that part), threaded up straight draw as Bonnie recommends.  (Someday I’ll get around to network drafting in doubleweave, but first things first.)  I’ve been musing over colors for awhile and think I will wind up using orange or red, fuchsia, blue, and purple (possibly turquoise instead of blue).  I’m going to use the cotton I bought from the thrift shop as my yarn – that will help me clear out my stash – and dye it this weekend or next week, so I can start warping once I get the warping wheel (impatience, impatience!).

Well, actually, I need to finish weaving off this warp first, so perhaps there’s not that much of a hurry.  I’m eight inches into the scarf – it’s progressing slowly due to other commitments (and needing to adjust the loom, etc.)  but it is looking gorgeous.

Going off for a long ride (55 miles) with B. today, so not sure what else will get done – got dehydrated yesterday (on a much shorter ride) so will have to be careful today.

But meanwhile, time for a dye bath.  (Not for me, for the yarn!)