36 Threads Per Inch

Two projects of wool travel shawls last year, with a third set just finished and soon ready for presentation, prompted me to weave next with finer yarns. I wanted to make big blanket scarves that wrap warmly around the neck with no possibility of itchiness or scratchiness, and which look elegant and classy in the process.

I weave my towels with 2/8 cotton, but the borders are in 2/16 cotton so that they can be folded back at the hems and be about the same thickness as the rest of the towel. The weight system for cotton means that 2/16 is half the weight of 2/8.  2/16 is slightly thicker than sewing thread, but not by much.

Blanket scarves in silky 2/16 cotton would be super, I thought. I knew it would be a tight sett, meaning many threads per inch. All the charts I checked said 36 threads/inch for 2/16 cotton in a twill weave. I had several cones in navy and purple, so I ordered more to thread alternating navy and purple. The two slightly different shades of purple give the cloth a certain unique depth I hadn't anticipated.

Such fine yarns tend to tangle more easily than my usual 2/8 cotton at 24 threads/inch, and even float in the air with a little static electricity. Beaming the loom with the 36 cones was pretty quick, but even just taking them off the racks, winding each one back up and putting them away took awhile. Then the threading ... at 26 inches wide ... that's a total of 936 threads.

It was worth it though. The blanket scarves turned out great with the alternating lengthwise stripes of straight and advancing twill. Now they'll need some time for fringing.  Here is one sample on the loom, woven with fine silk.

More later on a future blog, or feel free to ask how the fringing is going. :-)

Square Scarves

One of my latest ideas, which has been rambling around in my mind for quite awhile now, was to weave big square scarves in fine cottons. I've been inspired to some extent by the common cowboy custom around this area of wearing a big neck scarf, originally printed cotton bandanas but now usually in a solid colour. There has to be a story or two behind this. Well, just google "cowboy scarf" and there are tying directions, shopping opportunities and more. A big square scarf can be folded diagonally, draped around the wearer's front, the ends crossed at the back, and then tied in front, either over or under the main scarf part.  Or, just roll up into a thick length and drape around the neck.

I now have a big selection of big square cotton scarves by Cariboo Handwoven. They are all about 60 cm x 60 cm (24" x 24") but please note that some are not perfectly square.  Each one is priced at $60 plus applicable taxes. Shipping should be easy and inexpensive because I can flatten one or two in a file folder and fit in a large envelope.

Please note whether any scarf that interests you is in mercerized cotton (shiny and not absorbent, but appears like silk), wool-cashmere (soft, definitely hand wash) or silk (hand wash and you're getting a bargain). The pure cotton scarves (with no mention in caption of any unique fibres) would also make great little traveling towels. I'll present the scarves by colour.

Red

Scarf 1 

Scarf 2 | Mercerized cotton in fairly bright orangey-red

Scarf 3 | Mercerized cotton in fairly bright orangey-red

Scarf 4

Scarf 5 | Burgundy wool-cashmere | Hand wash

Scarf 6 | Mercerized cotton in orangey-red to purple at other end

Purple

Scarf 7 | Mercerized cotton

Scarf 8 | Mercerized cotton

Scarf 9 | Mercerized cotton

Scarf 10 | Mercerized cotton in purple with bright orangey-red at ends

Blue

Scarf 11 | Dark navy

Scarf 12 | Blue with purple ends

Scarf 13 

Black
Both black scarves would look great with a black coat or jacket.

Scarf 14 | Mercerized cotton | On hold

Scarf 15 | Mercerized cotton

Cream Silk
This one is gorgeous with very fine cream silk.  Hand wash only.

Scarf 16 | On hold

Scarves in Navy and Reds

After the fringing was completed on my travels, Cariboo Handwoven has seven scarves in navy and three shades of reds and burgundy combined with a variety of weft yarns and colours.  The first three scarves are quite deluxe - long lengths to wrap around the wearer's neck a few times and woven with luxury yarns. The others are also fun to wear and woven with cotton or Tencel (derived from wood pulp cellulose).

Please contact me if you'd like more information on any of these scarves.

S022 | Cotton with wool and cashmere | 168 cm x 24 cm (66" x 9.5") | $120

S022 Detail

S023 | Cotton and silk | 165 cm x 24 cm (65" x 9.5") | $120

S023 Detail

S024 | Cotton with baby alpaca and silk | 186 cm x 26 cm (73" x 10") | $120

S024 Detail

S025 | 100% cotton | 153 cm x 26 cm (60"  x 10") | $80

S025 Detail

S026 | 100% cotton | 163 cm x 26 cm (64" x 10") | $80

S026 Detail

S027 | 100% cotton (reds with black stripes) |
165 cm x 26 cm (65" x 10") | $80

S027 Detail

S028 | Cotton and Tencel (blue is darker) |
 113 cm x 26 cm (44.5" x 10") | $60

S028 Detail

Traveling Scarf Fringing Kit

I raced a bit last week to finish weaving a set of scarves and have them ready to fringe during some upcoming travels. Since I really prefer to always have a job to do, and am fairly done with knitting and needlepoint for at least awhile longer ... this is a fun and productive project to take with me.

I have seven scarves stuffed into this packing square, along with scissors for cutting off the coloured header at each end that keeps the scarf together until the twisted fringes hold, as well as the little fringe twister tool itself.

The finished scarves will be posted in July when fringed, washed, pressed, labeled, measured and photographed. Stay tuned!

Brown and Black Scarves

I've finished six scarves and one has already sold.  The lengthwise threads are fine cotton, and I wove with more cotton or silk - details are provided below with each scarf. All scarves are quite wide, and long enough to wrap twice around the wearer's neck with ends draped down in front.

I really liked this weave structure and had fun playing around with it. It's kind of dynamic ... but it's time to move onto something else, which I've already begun ...

Here are the scarves:

S016 | Cotton and very fine silk | 161 x 24 cm (63.5 x 9.5") | $120

S017 | Cotton | 163 x 26 cm (64" x 10 1/4") | $90

S017 Detail

S018 | Silk and cotton | Sold

S019 | Cotton | 165 x 25 cm (65 x 10") | $90

S019 Detail

S020 | Cotton | 169 x 26 cm (66 x 10 1/4") | $90

S020 Detail

S021 | Cotton | 178 x 26 cm (70 x 10 1/4") | $90

April Showers Bring ...

... more studio time!

Any promise of spring is welcome, and we've had some beautiful days lately. But when a light rain begins at dawn and the outlook is a damp and gloomy day, more studio time is the solution.

I've been weaving some interesting scarves this week in response to a friend's request for one or two in black and brown. The warp is black, brown and ivory 2/16 cotton set at 32 threads/inch, which is slightly thicker than sewing thread but not by much. Some of the scarves I wove with more of this cotton, or a range of silks I have on hand both in natural tones and dyed. Here are some samples on the loom. I know they look on the raw side here, but they will transform into nicer cloth when washed and pressed, and make soft, nicely draping scarves that are long enough to wrap around the wearer's neck a few times.

I wish readers a great long weekend!

New Scarves - Part 2

I last posted the first three new scarves and here are the rest. I should add that my number of scarf wraps around the neck is my personal estimate - please refer to the length noted for your own best approximation.

S011 | Silk and cotton | 26 cm x 166 cm (65" x 10") | Two wraps around neck | $120

S011 Detail

S012 | Cotton | 26 cm x 160 cm (10" x 63") | Two wraps around neck | $90

S012 Detail

S013 | Cotton | 26 cm x 115 cm (10" x 45") | One wrap around neck | $90

S013 Detail | These colours are more accurate than above.  :)

S014 | Cotton | 26 cm x 142 cm (10" x 56") | One generous wrap around neck | $90

S014 Detail