Using 10/2 Natural mercerized yarn from Lunatic Fringe, I put 20+ yards of warp on my vertical single unit drawloom. It has 150 individual cords for non-repetitive designs. After visiting at least two exhibits showing the work of Ethel Stein who did impressive large scale damask wall pieces in bold colors, I wished to do some experimentation as well. The white warp acts as a blank canvas. Stein sometimes split her warps into halves or quadrants using both structure and ikat dyeing.
I decided to use the warp/weft effect of the structure to implement splitting the warp until having more experience in weaving this type of piece.
I chose to look for simple graphics inspired by nature - trees, birds, flowers. Also, I had promised my son to do a portrait of his glider which was fairly easy to design using a stock web photo from the manufacturer.
The plan, for the start, was to use strong and basic weft colors - black, charcoal and navy(indigo dyed)
This is a work in progress. The warp is only half woven and ideas are forming on how to complete the available “canvas”.
I look for ways to make the results a bit more varied than simple 2-color damask and hope to produce a monograph soon of techniques to spice up working on the drawloom.