I’m still digging out from under my backlog (would you believe, over 500 unread emails?), but I stole some time today and created a turned Summer and Winter draft for the phoenixes on 24 shafts:
And here is the “fabric” (warning: the full-size image is about 2 MB):
And here are some color simulations:
I like all three of these, for different reasons. The phoenixes stand out most clearly with a solid background, but with the gradient, it really looks like they are flying into pure light. The mottled background gives the idea of a bird flying through fire (though I would tone down the background contrast a bit, making the yellow parts darker and more orangey). It is harder to make out the phoenixes with the mottled background, though.
I will probably try all three color patterns (and come up with a few more) when I paint the warp. I may also tinker with the phoenix design some more.
Currently the phoenixes are about 168 threads wide by 240 picks long. That sounds enormous, but at 90 ends per inch, each phoenix is only about two inches by three inches, a manageable size. I’m not sure what the aspect ratio will be, though, so I will likely have to tinker with the profile draft and pattern.
Next step is to start winding the warp, I think. I’m going to make it 13″ across, which will give me just about 7 repeats of the pattern – 1170 threads. I’m not sure how long I’m going to make it yet, but 7 yards seems eminently reasonable – that’s only two ounces of 140/2 silk for the ties and four ounces of 60/2 silk for the pattern warp! So if I decide to cut it off, I won’t lose much. And 7 yards at 60-90 picks per inch is a pretty long warp.
Enough playing around! Back to work. I’m hoping to catch up on my emails today.
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Nice image!
Summer and winter, not turned, generally has twice as many picks compared to ends: 4 pattern picks plus 4 tabby picks per block with 4 warp ends. Normally I don’t sett for a 2:1 ratio of warp to weft with turned but I certainly do not expect 1:1 (90 epi, 90 ppi). This is why I devoted some CW seminar time to aspect ratio. I haven’t used these sizes of warp yarn but my sett is generally a little closer than I use for a twill with that yarn, adjusted when I have two different warp sizes.
Remember that the background is a combination of one of the warps plus your weft. You can achieve shaded backgrounds with color gradations in one layer of warp and/or in weft colors. The yellow birds will remain yellow; they will show some but not much if both yarns forming the background are yellow.
It was great to see you again. Bonnie
Wow, your designs are great. Love your colorwork. Sounds like you had a wonderful time at CW. I knew you would. I follow you closely and admire you and your work. Helen
Very nice. I like the gradient best. And the phoenixes also look a little like angels, which could be fitting.
Kristin
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! Leaving out the fact that I am a major fan of S&W…LOL. but, truly, it’s lovely! I am considering doing a S&W on a Christening blanket I’m designing…..for a fave young cousin as well as a possible submission to SOMETHING. Either that or expanding a design I did for some overshot bookmarks a few years ago for our Confirmation class….it has kind of an overall pattern of crosses with a cross made of the “infamous” Icthos (fish…”infamous” due to the little metal ones the Bible Bangers put on the backs of their cars…if I wasn’t afraid of the number of leaflets and tracts I’d find stuck under my wipers, I’d get a “Darwin Fish” for MINE!!!) I’m also thinking about using the parents’ initials, but, I’d come out with A-Z (Alison and Zoltan). Ditto the proposed name for the baby…Avalon Zavos. This could change, so I’d hate to commit to weaving it up, then they decide to name her “Winifred” or something)
anyway, Gorgeous…can’t really decide which colour treatment is the nicest. sorry…..
actually, given the “Phoenix” theme, I’d say the gradient really works with it!
This comment is not really directed to your present design which I like, but to a question you had some time ago. You were looking for direction. You are interested in designing and weaving garments. Over the years in my travels I see clothing designed for the “skinny” model. There is real need for the so called plus size. When we mature with age, we tend to grow width wise. Why not design and make clothing that enhances the larger stately form. There is a real need for this market.
Thanks everyone for the comments! I love the phoenixes too, and favor the color gradient as well. But I’ll try all three combinations (and more combos in the weft!)
I’m also making some changes to the phoenixes, as Toni and Bonnie both pointed out to me that the current one looks like the Austrian eagle! The new one has a much longer and more flowing tail, more fitted to a fantasy bird. Hoping to have a new version to post tomorrow!