On card weaving

[cormac]

So a recent post mentioned that I had started tablet weaving. An update:

My first project was an 80-card sash for my grandfather, using a pattern I created to emulate the "Vigil" sash for the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society (picture here. As you can see, the sash is normally machine-stitched.) In this first project, I made several errors. The first was my assumption that the typical ratio for card weaving designs was 3-to-1. In practice, my ratio was more like 6-to-1, stretching my design in a way I was not entirely happy with. Secondly, I arranged the cards alternating in opposite directions (or, for those who know the lingo, an S-Z pattern). While this made the cards easy to turn, it gave a texture to the band that didn't lend itself well to the design, and made it bulkier than I intended. Thirdly, I calculated the length of the sash as 8' long, rather than 6'. By the time I'd gotten 1/4 of the way through the sash, I realized my errors in one fell swoop, and removed the design from the loom.

I've since restrung with all the cards going the same direction, with an improved, 60-card design and recalculated lengths. Pictures will follow soon.

Comments

[herveus.livejournal.com]

If your pixels were stretching out 6-1, you probably weren't beating hard enough. Pack it in really tight.

I suspect that your warp tension was pretty tight as well. Easing that just a smidge could help you beat the picks harder.

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my warp tension was extremely tight. I packed the warp down as much as I could, and still ended up with a long ratio. I've loosened the tension quite a bit with this new design (so that I can move the cards better). I just did a quick measure, and it looks like I'm closer to "normal" now. The band is 2 1/2 inches wide (with 60 cards) and in a 2 1/2 inch length there are 18 completed rows. Still not QUITE the 3/1 ratio, but much closer than before.

[czina.livejournal.com]

I hope someone has told you - but you DO want twined edges - this will help keep the sash from developing a twist. These edges are usually solid color, and match your weft thread, so you don't see the little 'bumps' of the weft on the edge. If you have 2 cards per edge, have the outer one match your 'main' design, with the inner one going the other direction.

Luckily, this is easy to fix, and if they're solid colored already, you won't even notice if you fix them.

If you have set up your edges to be 'all forward', be sure to reverse them periodically, or you will get major twist build up on your loom, and this can cause problems, as well.

Have fun with the insanity :)

[cormac.livejournal.com]

*blink*

Huh?

[czina.livejournal.com]

If you warp the whole band S threading, the band will tend to form a twist in that direction. Since you're doing a design, this helps keep the band from twisting, but by having solid selvages that are both S and Z, it helps make the weaving more stable.

Now, if you do NOT have solid colored selvages, this can make an interesting design element, whereas if they're one color, you don't notice that they're not threaded in the same direction. However, you'll see the weft thread as little 'bumps' on the edge, too.

Thoroughly confused yet?

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Completely.

My edge cards have the same two colors as the rest of the warp, and I'm 6 inches into my solid-colored lead. If I flip cards 2 and 59, so that they're Z cards, perhaps when the cards aren't in home position, and keep going as per normal, will this take care of the issue and keep my whites white and my brights bright?

[czina.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah - if you have already started - keep going the way you have.

I've had a bit of trouble with twisting when I didn't use have a twined selvage border. It was suggested to use the selvage striped edging, and it solved the problem, along with making a very nice edging on the weaving.

But if it's working for you - go for it :)

[herveus.livejournal.com]

While you were writing this, I was composing my response below.

Were this band being done in a technique that involved significant twining of the threads, that would be a valid concern. With double-turn double-face (3/1 repp), that just doesn't happen.

I have a piece that is woven in 20/2 silk, 77 cards, all S threaded. There is no perceptable twist in it. Not in the 3/1 twill sections. Not in the 3/1 repp sections (that are plain ground).

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Oh, fantastic. *phew*

[herveus.livejournal.com]

The short answer from this weaver is to carry on without the twined edges.

[herveus.livejournal.com]

I beg to differ.

Double-turn double-face (the technique in question) doesn't twist up.

In my experience, twined edges are not essential for 3/1 repp or 3/1 twill. I've done a bit of 3/1 twill and had no problems omitting the twined edges. In fact, my piece de resistance reproduces figures from the Arlon band, whose twined edges were woven separately and sewn on later, so far as I can tell.

That also is my wife's experience. As bona fides, I offer up the face that she has woven "a couple of miles" of 3/1 repp bands over the years, without using twined edges. Even in 5/2 cotton, the edge floats do not create a problem.

Setting up a warp for 3/1 *mumble* is easy. Continuous warps are your friend. Adding monochrome twined edges is extra work. It also gives you an edge that has a different texture from the main piece. That is neither a Good Thing nor a Bad Thing, but it is something to keep in mind.

[czina.livejournal.com]

Oh I've seen your work (and drooled over the larger pieces) :) And I LOVE continuous warping on my looms - 2 full size inkles, one mini tw-inkle, and a floor inkle :)

And 3/1 CAN be easy ... or it can be one of the most frustrating things on the planet :) Of course, I have 2 children under 5 - so threading anything can be quite the challenge. :)

[feistymonkey.livejournal.com]

Finally, the man gets his sash!
You should totally post pics on craftster. And I'm not just pimping that site out because I just finally joined.

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Is it bad that I learned this skill for the express purpose of making his sash?

Inordinatly complex

[(Anonymous)]

That's what this all sounds like to me. However, I shall simply need to be sat down, when I next visit you, and be taught a new thing. My degree feels so inferior now! =) Best of skill to you.

-Daniel