The Fabric of our Lives...

This weekend, as we have been waiting for the first lambs of the year to be born, we started another weaving project...  It was time to try something new and to "step it up a notch" so to speak.

We had taken a trip last weekend to Phaneuf Pharm, home to our friend and "weaving coach" Cathy Phaneuf and picked up some cotton yarn in a few different colors we liked.  Our plan was to weave some cotton kitchen towels and Cathy helped us plan how much warp we needed to put on the loom, we picked a pattern, and she also gave us a few more tips on working with cotton and smaller diameter yarn.

On Friday we prepared the strands for our warp and threaded them through the reed...  we decided on using two colors alternated in 2 inch stripes.  To give you some idea of how much planning and time was involved, the warp for these towels is comprised of 378 strands of cotton yarn - each at a length of 5 yards.

After I returned from a great morning Zumba class, we spent the rest of Saturday threading those 378 strands of warp through the heddles which are the little wires that raise and lower the strand so you can weave through the opening created.  We finished tying the warp late on Saturday.  We did have a few mishaps along the way, but we got them straightened out and I think things turned out great in the end.

click to enlarge

This morning we finally started weaving our first cotton towel...  I am still very surpised how much I am enjoying weaving.