Double Weave Window Panes

I am currently working on a Double Weave project.

I have done several DW projects in the past.  One was a piano keyboard and several Double Wide items.  Studying Double Weave is on my list this year and this is my first project.

Window panes is one of my favorite drafts.  I love how the colored window panes are surrounded by the black frames.  It is also a good draft to understand how the various layers in DW exchange places to create the design.

To make things more interesting, I created a gradient using two similar colors within the windows.  Doing this requires using 3 shuttles, one for the black, and one for each color.  Shuffling the shuttles gets a little difficult and slows the weaving down.  I am enjoying the pace of this weave although I would not want to do it all the time.

To change the design it is easy to weave the windows square or elongated and changing the colors is fun.

I am weaving 2 scarves with this warp on my AVL Loom.  The warp and weft are both Tencel and I chose a sett of 15 EPI on each layer, or 30EPI.  Using a 10 dent reed I threaded 3 ends per dent.  I will need to get the scarves off the loom and wet finish them to determine if the sett is open enough to create a nice drape in the scarves.  Since the fabric is doubled I want the sett to be open enough that it is not too thick and stiff.

To learn Double Weave I have Jennifer Moore's Video and Book.  A new and revised edition of her book has just become available.  Here is a link to it in Amazon:  Jennifer Moore Double Weave

I have not seen the new book but the original is a great source to learn DW.  If you put a warp on your loom and follow along you easily learn many ways to use DW.

Complex Weaver's Study Groups

Last year I joined Complex Weavers Guild.  Complex Weaver Link.  I joined this guild when I first started weaving and enjoyed the journal that they print and send several times a year.

My first impression was that it was beyond my weaving ability.  So I did not rejoin until 2018.  Actually my first impression was wrong, the problem was that I did not join any of the study groups and did not take advantage of the library.

Library:  Last year I read many books that I would never have had access to.  It is easy to get the books.  All I needed to do was look at their library on line and email the author and title of the books I wanted to their Librarian.  She quickly pulls the books, calculates the postage and emails the options.  Once you decide how to send the package she mails it to you.  The books are on loan for 1 month and if you need longer just email the librarian and as long as no one is waiting for the books another month extension is given.  Payment for the shipping is sent either by check when the books are returned or by PayPal.

The best thing is the sample books created by some of the study groups.  They are a collection of samples woven by the members, including the draft and notes.  Some of the weavings are spectacular.  There is nothing like seeing and feeling the fabrics.  It is a great way to see fibers used that you have never woven with.

Study Groups:  I started with one study group last year.  Designing Fabric, this group does not exchange woven samples.  It chooses a study theme for the year and each member submits an article once during the year.  We just upload the article to the internet and have the opportunity to discuss it with the other members.

For 2019 I joined 2 other groups, 24 More or Less and Double Weave.  I tried to get into the Sixteens group, but they were at their maximum enrollment.

24 More or Less is a group for weaving with at least 17 shafts or more.  All one needs to do is weave a draft using 17 shafts or more, any structure is allowed.  The samples are typically about 6"x6" to 8"x8" and you need to weave 31 samples. ( one for each member and one for the library).  These were due to be sent to the leader of the group by Feb. 15th.  That was easy to do.  Now I can start planning for next year.

Double Weave is, as the name states, a study of double weaving.  This group selects a type of double weave to study each year.  This year is Deflected Double Weave.  4 times a year project notes and a WIF file are due, two of these projects need to deal with Deflected DW and the other two can be projects from their lists.  Only one of the projects needs to be a Deflected DW woven project.

They have lists of projects, each with a different subject.  There are lots of previous projects to see and study and reference material to read.

This is a great way to force myself to concentrate on a type of weaving.  Although weaving each project is not required, I find it the best way to learn so I will be doing a lot of DW this year.

More Groups:  There are many more groups in Complex Weavers and it is tempting to join more but, I don't want to always have a deadline to meet.  The spacing of due dates for these 3 groups works for me and the Double Weave will keep me busy.

Complex Weavers is a great guild if you participate.  Every two years they have a conference with a fashion show, weaving competitions, and lots of seminars and learning opportunities.  Their next conference is 2020
in Knoxville, Tn.

Happy New Year 2019!

These are pictures of what's on my looms January 1, 2019.


I am threading the AVL with a double weave project.  You can see that I have taken the sandpaper breast beam and tension roller off the loom.  Also removed, is the reed and the top that holds the reed in the beater.  I then use a black stool to sit in the loom to reach the heddles easier.  Another thing that makes threading easier is using the computer and Dobby to lift the shafts as I thread.  My mistakes in threading have gotten so much better by doing this.

Warp:

The warp is Fuchsia/Mauve, Ming Blue/ Teal, Green, Yellow and White separated by Black.

About half done, I should be weaving in a few days.

On the Harrisville Design Loom:

My Rainbow scarfs are on the HD 8 shaft loom.  I am inspired to finish this warp because I need the 10 dent reed to use on the AVL.  I have one more scarf to weave off on this warp.

I am enjoying weaving the bright colors of this warp.  I have several drafts that I am using on this warp by just changing the treadling.  I'll get a picture of all of them when they are off the loom.

It's a good start to the new year.  I hemmed this scarf, threaded a few minutes and am now watching the Mummers Parade.

I hope you are enjoying your New Year day as well.