LIFE HISTORY OF A SCARF: DAY 8 - Weaving the Scarves

My samples proved to me that my sett was fine, so I did not need to re-sett the warp in the reed.

But after cutting off the samples, I did need to :

1. Tie the warp back to the front apron rod 
2. Weave a header​

See Day 7 for a description of tying on and weaving the header

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​Because the treadling sequence for this draft is not regular, I wrote out a treadling aid which I tacked to my loom castle.  It consists of a strip of cardstock on which I have written the treadle numbers for the entire treadling repeat.  The large paperclip is used to mark my place.  I marked the treadling sequence off into 4 sections that I thought I could remember, and after weaving a  section, i move the paperclip along.

My treadling aid: a list of the treadling sequence for an entire repeat (the numbers represent treadle numbers)

Scarf #1

• I wove the scarf with black 8/2 bamboo
• I got about 23 picks per inch (23 ppi)
• I wove with an end feed shuttle
• I kept a grosgrain ribbon pinned to the cloth to keep track of the woven length of the scarf.  I moved the pins as the cloth was wound forward so that the ribbon was never wound onto the cloth beam.  The ribbon was marked off every in 10" increments (not shown in photo)
• I wove the scarf until it measured 80” in length, ending the pattern with a straight twill series by omitting the last two 123456 sequences in the treadling
• I wove a rayon header/weft protector at the end of the scarf

Scarf #2

• Before beginning the scarf, I left 16" of warp unwoven to allow for the fringe for both scarves (8" for each scarf).
• I wove a header in rayon of about 10 picks.
• I wove the scarf with ming blue 8/2 tencel
• I wove this scarf in the same manner as Scarf #1
• I wove a rayon header/weft protector at the end of the scarf.
• I cut the scarves from the loom, making sure to leave at least 8" for fringe on Scarf #2

Tip:
The area of unwoven warp can cause tension problems if the warp ends "fall off" the edges of the roll of cloth that has built up on the cloth beam from the first scarf.

To avoid this problem, wind a piece of corrugated cardboard, heavy paper or some slats on with the cloth when the fringe begins to go around the cloth beam.

Scarf #1, woven with black 8/2 bamboo weft. Shows the grosgrain ribbon attached.

Scarf #2, woven with ming blue 8/2 tencel weft

Once the scarves were woven it was time to finish them.  Go to Life History-Day 9.
To review, go back to Life History-Day 7

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