01-08-2023

Overdyeing…very uneven. I think the 150g skein is too big. Will have to overdye again, in smaller skeins.

Also, WPI on this yarn - now that it has been washed -is about 20-22, that would indicate a twill set of 14-16. If I go for 18, I get 653 pattern threads, and a max of 224 (yellow) ends used in the warp. That means I can make a warp of 1312/224 = 5.8 yd.

13-02-2024

Revisiting. Going to do 16epi instead of 18, and redoing the design so it is as wide as possible on my loom. Enough for a 6.5yd warp (ie. plenty).
I have to adjust the design so it has a midpoint in the middle of one of the checkerboards, and I need to work out something for the edges (ie. borders).

Thread with selvedges on the left and 1” extra on the right, with a coloured thread to show overlap line for later sewing. I will beat the bottom and top 1” of the blanket harder to produce a firm edge, and hemstitch for fringes.

19-02-2024

Weaving. I was afraid the yarn would be too soft and I’d get lots of warp breakage, but so far not! Have to figure out how long to make each piece…after some math I think 7 squares long works.
I’m using the max width of the loom, and have taken all the extra heddles off as they interfere with the edges. It’s not ergonomically very comfortable for me, weaving this wide. I prefer around 24” - a more natural armspan. Have also discovered that the heavier shuttles work better at this width as they zoom straight through.

20-02-2024

done weaving, exactly enough warp. In fact, not enough for tying on another project as I had planned…
It’s off the loom, loosely woven and you can see through it, kind of sleazy. No judging until fulled!
Next up: twisting fringe, sewing together prior to fulling.

21-02-2024

Sewed the center seam by hand, flat-felled so as reversible as I can make it (see photos). Then twisted all the fringes (took a while…good Netflix activity), and then into the washing machine, perm. press “warm”, short cycle, and into the dryer for 20 mins.

Final size 50” wide x 63” long, not incl fringes.
Shrinkage: approx 25% width, 35% length.

OH. MY. GOD. this thing turned out AMAZING.

It fulled magically into a real honest-to-goodness soft and wooly blanket and the colours are just perfect! Hard to photograph - will try in the sunlight tomorrow.

I have leftover yarn in the weft colours, maybe 150g total? I used up every last inch of the mint green - it was the limiting factor in making the warp.