Ready to thread!

Finished beaming the warp this morning:

It turned out I had enough thread to beam on 24″ wide, at 60 ends per inch, so that’s exactly what I did.  I wound 2-3 sections at a time on my AVL warping wheel, which sped up the process immensely.  I also used a 4×4 cross, 4 threads in each bundle, which made things even faster.  I don’t know yet whether that will work out well, but I sure hope so!

Now, of course, I’m somewhat stymied.  Before I can start threading, I have to design the threading!  Which means I need to settle on at least some aspects of the design.  I’m currently contemplating an expanding advancing twill threading, with an expanded advancing twill treadling that goes back and forth in curves, like this:

Unfortunately, I don’t like this (yet).  I added some variation in the length of the advancing twill “runs” on the right-hand side, which helps, but it still feels stilted and repetitive.  It’s nothing like the complex, organic feel I’m looking for.  I think I may try a long curvy line in the threading, network drafted on a 6-end initial.  Mumble, mumble, throw up hands, try something new.

While I’m debating the threading, of course, I can keep my hands plenty busy by finishing off the cross-dyed samples, preparing silkscreens, and so on.  I also have to finish off my article for Complex Weavers Journal, get an article proposal to Handwoven, and study up on a big pile of stuff for work, so it’s going to be one seriously busy weekend.  (But ain’t they all?)