Project 9 - First samples, Experimenting with Weave Textures + Making a Loom.

Just a few notes on the samplers that tested different weaving techniques - the only background I have for this is when I was trying out the instructions for making a loom and used a large tapestry embroidery frame to attach the warp threads - sewing each loop of navy wool to the twill tape nailed to either end of the frame. I then took a piece of bamboo cane and made a continous string heddle (credit for the tutorial goes here) for it - as well as a reinforced cardboard shed stick and shuttle, which I covered with clingfilm to reduce the friction (it increased the static electricity though!). This made it easy work, though the fibres occasionally felted together with those of the heddle - if I tried this full weaving method again I'd use a tightly woven cord, perhaps the kind you can find in Roman blinds. Once I'd finished, I was quite happy with the product - but holding it up, realised that it was really quite see-through. In some places the tension was a little uneven, too. So I put it away for a bit, and worried about it. Looking through the folder's instructions, I saw that the way forward was to tighten the whole thing using the suggested fork method. I thought that I had been really very thorough with my (again) cardboard beater, but this worked like a dream. As it was only a trial - and one where the shuttle had run out about halfway through, I decided I would move either side of the shuttle join back out towards the edges of the loom. With a large gap of warp threads exposed in the centre, I thought I would take the opportunity to try a little needleweaving - the only trouble this caused in the end was not showing up on camera!

The second sampler I tried out my makeshift loom on, I made a little easier for myself. I made it much narrower, and stuck to the brief - just a few repeats of each technique until I felt confident I could remember and untilise them. Currently, the biggest problem I have in terms of finish is that I somehow never manage to make the warp threads tight enough, and they bow inwards. However, as an experiment, I think this one went very well indeed. I learnt a good few techniques in a short space of time, and without a large outlay of resources. Roll on the next exercise!