Weaving Update

shawl warp in progress 2
Originally uploaded by sapoague

So I've been working on this textured wool/mohair/alpaca shawl project for months now.

I started out with some cones of a variegated mohair loop yarn, with blue, pinky white, gold, and brown in it. Not an easy color combo. I came into a big box of wool yarn (probably) from a Weavolution auction on eBay. It is gorgeous, but one ply and undyed. So I two-plied some cakes of yarn and dyed them blue and brown. Then I bought some blue mohair and light brown mohair, the fuzzy kind. Then for good measure I bought some locally spun and dyed alpaca yarn in a nice lighter blue.

Here's a group portrait:



So then I had a chenille scarf on the loom and had to finish it. That being done, I started warping for this shawl. The color order and yarn order is pretty much random. I tried to distribute colors and textures pretty evenly. I'm setting it at 8 epi, which is pretty spaced out for me. And, I'm going front to back, through the reed and through the heddles. Considering how much texture is involved, I must be crazy.

The first picture shows the warp chains on top of the loom so the kitties won't mess with them. They like the wool, especially the fuzzy kind. This photo shows kittie temptation:




But, so far so good. I will tie bouts to the warp cords this evening and wind on. Slowly. Ever so slowly.

Stay tuned.