Complicated, complicated

I’m having a really fun time designing this experiment in tied threads. I’ve decided I want to try three things:

(1) “normal” tied-thread weaving, where the ties are arranged in tabby order and the pattern is done on the remaining shafts;
(2) “patterned ties”, where the ties are arranged in some pattern, with the remaining shafts controlling the pattern-weft pattern;
(3) “switching ties”, where you switch the tie-down shafts between set A and set B in the midst of the piece, so that each set of shafts sometimes acts as tie-downs and sometimes acts as pattern shafts.  There is always one set of tie-downs in any given pattern pick…but it might be set A and it might be set B.  (This one is hard to visualize and I’m not sure if it even works.  But it sounds like it might have potential…if nothing else, you could get access to two pattern threadings at the same time.  Needs a lot of thought though.)  Combine it with #2 above for extra ice cream (and head explosions).

All those, and especially the last one, are my nomenclature; I haven’t the slightest idea what the correct terms are.  I’m sure I will work that out eventually, after I do more reading on tied weaves, but this is really interesting, so I’m forging ahead.  The analysis is fascinating, and it will be interesting to see how the weaving unfolds.  And I’m learning a LOT.  I may wind up writing an article for the Complex Weavers CADE (Computer Aided Design Exchange) study group, on designing tied weaves using Photoshop.

I have now gotten the warp entirely beamed, and have selected a threading.  One set of shafts will have a 6-end advancing twill (advance 2) on twelve shafts, for a 36-end repeat, and the second set of shafts will have a straight draw on 12 shafts (12-end repeat).  There are a number of reasons I selected this particular threading, but explaining why would be both complex and tedious, so I’ll skip it.

My weekend goals:

• finish dyeing the second and third sets of dye-process samples for my dye study group, proving that I can dye with level and reproducible results at various depth of shade (pastel to dark)
• finish hemstitching, fringe-twisting, etc. doubleweave shawl #3
• thread up the loom
• continue designing experiments in tied weave
• start writing up an article on what I’ve discovered so far and what I’m thinking re tied weaves, for my records and for the Complex Weavers study groups
• maybe, just maybe, dye some rayon chenille and some 60/2 silk to try out as pattern wefts.

Busy weekend ahead!