Plying Ahead
I have been spinning singles for the last 2 months and I'm pretty much out of bobbins so it's time to settle down to some plying. I'll post details and pics as things come off the reel.
The only other thing I'm hoping to have time for is to watch this new DVD I bought called Double Weave. No, I absolutely am not taking up weaving - I have neither the time to do it nor the room for a loom, no matter how small - however - I am still insatiably curious about the process. I purchased a used DVD earlier this summer called Introduction to Weaving with Deborah Chandler, a YarnBarn production. It's a very broad overview of the whole process as well as information on tools and yarns. It was good DVD, as far as it went, but I'd really like to see more of how it's done (not to mention it looks like it was made in the late 70's, early 80's with some of the funky finished wall hangings! LOL!). It's funny, the more I learn about weaving the more I realize just how much I prefer knitting and knitted fabric when it comes to hand made. There's no doubt about it, the yarns I spin are for knitting and I think I love the softness and stretch of knitted fabric much more than the inelasticity of woven fabrics. I mean, woven fabric has it's place and if you're keen on making your own cotton towels that's great but the fabrics I love and the items I make can't be produced well by machines where as woven fabrics can and are. I spin yarn and knit it and the garment is finished. If I spin and weave the fabric still has to be cut and sewn before becoming a garment. Given the choice I'd take a hand knit afghan over a hand woven blanket any day. The afghan would be softer, loftier and stretchier, the woven one would be thinner, stiffer and have no give. If we're talking fabric, that's just my bias! (sorry, I just couldn't resist the pun! LOL!!)
The only other thing I'm hoping to have time for is to watch this new DVD I bought called Double Weave. No, I absolutely am not taking up weaving - I have neither the time to do it nor the room for a loom, no matter how small - however - I am still insatiably curious about the process. I purchased a used DVD earlier this summer called Introduction to Weaving with Deborah Chandler, a YarnBarn production. It's a very broad overview of the whole process as well as information on tools and yarns. It was good DVD, as far as it went, but I'd really like to see more of how it's done (not to mention it looks like it was made in the late 70's, early 80's with some of the funky finished wall hangings! LOL!). It's funny, the more I learn about weaving the more I realize just how much I prefer knitting and knitted fabric when it comes to hand made. There's no doubt about it, the yarns I spin are for knitting and I think I love the softness and stretch of knitted fabric much more than the inelasticity of woven fabrics. I mean, woven fabric has it's place and if you're keen on making your own cotton towels that's great but the fabrics I love and the items I make can't be produced well by machines where as woven fabrics can and are. I spin yarn and knit it and the garment is finished. If I spin and weave the fabric still has to be cut and sewn before becoming a garment. Given the choice I'd take a hand knit afghan over a hand woven blanket any day. The afghan would be softer, loftier and stretchier, the woven one would be thinner, stiffer and have no give. If we're talking fabric, that's just my bias! (sorry, I just couldn't resist the pun! LOL!!)
Posted by Gloria Patre at 12/30/2010 9:47 PM 
Categories: Other Projects, Spinning
Tags: bobbins spinning plying yarns
Categories: Other Projects, Spinning
Tags: bobbins spinning plying yarns
You know, I've been wondering about weaving, too! I've always been facinated with the process. Do you remember the loom you used to have? I always hoped that one day, I could try it but never got to it. However, since I am a terrible sewer, I agree with you about the knitting. As I get impatient at even the thought of too large a project, the thought of all the work that goes into weaving and then the sewing!! I LOVE knitting!
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LOL!! You know, I had forgotten about that loom! I think it was mom's and she gave it to me. I wouldn't use something like that again - if I won the lottery and had lots of room in my "new" studio, I'd get a proper floor loom and do a real job of it!
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I luv the look of woven blankets and I know it would be much faster than knitting a blanket. So someday I will learn...when I have a bigger house to put a loom in LOL
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Yes, I have several woven blankets with marvelous designs from India. If I was going to weave, that would be what I'd make. They're awesome for summer but that's about 2 1/2 months out of the year here! Knitted ones get used waaaay more!
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I do enjoy some woven fabrics, but I agree that for purecomfort fabric, nothing beats knitted.
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