I've finally finished threading the Baby Girl Blanket yesterday and started sampling. First I concentrated on floating selvedge on a double-width weave; both selvedges are on the right side. Theoretically it was easy, and after a centimeter or two, after the two layers could be separated easily, I stuck a few window blind blades so I can move them around to easily see which ends belong to which selvedge. The practical difficulty was, this is a wide-ish warp and I haven't woven anything wider than 30cm since her brother's blanket; to weave properly, I have to sit in the middle of the warp, but if I do, I can't see the right selvedge well. So with every other shot, every time the shuttled came in and out of the right selvedge, I had to move my Unsmall to the right. Yes, slow.
While sampling, I realized some of the sheds for the bottom layer was so "thin", i.e. too many shafts were lifted so the shuttle doesn't glide over the remaining warps. In fact, I'm using the heavy boat shuttle and sometimes it escaped right though the warp and landed on my foot. I counted the number of warps lifted to see if I should change face so fewer shafts are lifted, but it didn't seem to make much difference on paper.
What I did realize in the middle of the night is this: one side of the finished blanket should be all the red hearts on white background, the other, white hearts on red background. While folded, when I weave the top layer, one set of shafts should be lifted, (let's say to weave red hearts), but when weaving the bottom layer, the other set, which create white hearts, should be lifted, yes?
I think I need a combined draft to weave the two widths. That's next.
EDIT: In the top, flat cloth, the second line should read: "white hearts on red".
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In light of what's been happening in Japan, Ben and I have been discussing whether to postpone or cancel the upcoming trip home. I haven't had the heart to discuss it with my parents, but have sought Brother's and Sister's views. Yokohama is included in the electricity ration, which is officially expected to go on to the end of April, but since we lost the power generating facilities, (this morning, a thermal power plant was damaged,) I can't see how it can end in a month. Most supermarket stock disappeared a couple of days ago, though this may or may not be temporary.
Late Tuesday, the "traditional" epicenter near Mt Fuji started rumbling at around Mag 6.4. This is the one that shakes the Kanto region, including Tokyo and Yokohama, and continues rocking at Japanese Scale 3-5. There is apparently yet another epicenter further west, in addition to the one in the Japan Alps which has been shaking since the original big one. And then there is the small matter of the nuclear disaster.
We are weighing how much of a burden we will be if two extra people stay in my family's homes for three weeks, (we've given up the idea of traveling around,) both to our immediate family and to the region, verses how much we may be able to help, which will mostly be in the form of distracting/entertaining them. If Dad could travel, I'd at least get my parents out via Osaka, but I don't think he'd even want to travel to Osaka, so that is not an option.
Oh, the smoke ghost. S/he finally went away last Thursday. Then this thing since Friday. Occasionally s/he's been back, but this time in an extremely strong cigarette smell. Yuuuuuuck!!!
8 comments:
do you have someone living in your attic who smokes? Just kidding, sort of.
Would a stick shuttle or a ski shuttle work on your blanket project? I have always wondered when you weave double weave to double the width of the piece if there is a ridge or a bump left in the center of the fold? Has that ever happened to you?
And finally on the Japan matter, I am heart sick for you and your family. ALthough I read your family suffered minimal damage, it is just unimaginable what living conditions in the country must be like. The US news has focused on the radiation leak story today. I wonder if they are over-reporting it, hyping it to a more serious situation than it is. You sound rather nonchalant about it. Is this partly your Japanese independence and pragmatic way?
One more item I wished to tell you, I have not been weaving much for a few months. and in getting back to it, I find that I am returning to beginner mistakes, not beating evenly, pulling my weft too short, etc. ((sigh))
Stick would slow me down, and I gave away all my ski shuttles. And I don't think either are heavy enough to glide the width of the warp.
The bump in the middle, oh, yes. Usually I try to design it in, though not this time. They seem to do a bit better after some use and several washes, but it's there.
I try not to dwell too much on Japan here, outside of what's happening to my family, but I've been watching the Japanese television live about 20 hours a day. Situations are so dire, power execs and government's disconnect unimaginable, words like Armageddon don't seem to be an exaggeration any more.
I am not nonchalant, but I try not to go on about it too much here, as I am aware some people are not interested.
Gosh, Meg, surely we are all interested in how your family are coping. I am very relieved to hear they are okay but life will be very difficult for a long time for everyone.
I seem to have won one of your scarves in Trade Me! I'm delighted of course and I think I'm watching another one as well. xxoo
You are Coralreef?? Ben thought so, but I said it could be anybody! H2C staff will be posting it to you tomorrow. And thank you for helping Christchurch.
We have a smoke ghost in the office. Turns out that the smokers all congregate outside the building right next to the air intake, and it goes straight to my side of the office. This is in spite of four prominently displayed signs indicating that it is a no-smoking zone.
I do keep looking around if a neighbor is smoking, but haven't found one to date.
I'm sorry, i misread what you meant, and yes, obviously it is a huge concern to you.
No worries.
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