Woven Rainbows

On Measuring and Moving On . . .

 

So after the shrinkage/measuring disaster, I've come up with a solution.  I'm using paper rulers attached at the side of my weaving to act as a 2nd measuring assistant.  In addition, I'm putting little markers every 50cm.  . . . as well as another measuring tag that gets moved as I advance the warp.  Can't be too careful after the 2nd wrap was so far off in measurement.

I've also added more waste yarn in the length of each end, as well as accounted for draw-in.  This seemed to have worked, and I've not successfully completed the 3rd wrap, and am working on the 4th.  Using metric calculations also helps.  Converting back and forth just wasn't making any sense, as in the end I need to wind up with metric measurement to fill the order.

So anyway, these are photos of the most recent wrap, and also the current one.  Above the post, the wrap has a black weft; below, it has a purple weft.  All use exclusively 8/2 unmercerized cotton.  The current weaving will be fringed, not hemmed, hence the  Italian hemstitching.

 

Death by Shrinkage

As the woven cloth sits on the dining room table, I am paralized - unable to sew the hems so that I can wash the fabric.  Will the shrinkage be what was calculated?  Will the wraps be woven, washed and shrunk to the correct size?  Will all that hard work be a wasted effort?

I must be crazy to try an control this process.  I had several towels, same fabric, same pattern design.  They all shrunk the same percentage in the width; and the same percentage in length (although a different percentage than the width).  So what am I worried about?  I'm concerned that because there is so much fabric, it might not shrink in the same way.  To be honest, I won't know until I try it - hence my paralyzed state.

Enough talking.  Go and do it already.  Or . . . wait until tomorrow.  Yup.  Get a fresh start on it tomorrow.  Maybe.