Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
I’m starting to discover that weaving has endless possibilities. In fact, I couldn’t sleep last night because I kept thinking about how to set up my next silk scarf project… what yarn to use for warp, what yarn to use for weft, what colour to dye, variegated or not, ikat or not, what texture, what pattern… gah.
Too much thinking.
But I don’t want to make the same mistake as this…
This is the handpainted silk 20/2 from a few months ago… Here it is woven up in both the warp and the weft PLUS a twill pattern (Dornick twill). It’s much too much. It’s making it’s own plaid pattern and with the addition of the diagonal texture from the twill… it’s the perfect recipe for overkill. Yes, the problem with endless possibilities is picking the best possibilities and knowing when to stop.
I probably should have used a solid colour for the weft. I probably should have gone with a really really plain twill or maybe plain weave. But could’ve, should’ve, would’ve. I stopped at about 10 inches and thought, “should I unweave it all and start over? or just weave the whole thing off and say, hey that was a learning experience?” I picked the latter. Chalk it up to experience and make better (less ugly) choices next time!
Jo is thinking about taking up weaving too and after a bit of wine on Friday night, she was brave enough to weave a couple shots on my scarf…
So, I think I’ve learned my lesson: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
Tags: dornick twill
Honestly, I love it like that! I like the diagonal effect. It doesn’t look like “too much” to me, but obviously it’s your scarf.
You’re making me want to weave!
i am seeing weaving pop up more and more on the knit blogs and i just love it. there is something so great about how completely different the fabric looks from knitting. can’t wait to see your next attempts!
But it’s still wonderful!
I really love it, although I can see how it might be hard on the eyes to work on. It puts me in mind of very feminine, yet professorial, tweed. And God knows we need a bit more of that in the world!
That looks so cool!
LOL! Is it bad if I tell you I kind of like it?
i have to agree. i think it’s beautiful. but i wouldn’t want you to go blind.
Hmmm… overdye?
The weaving looks very consistent - and your selvedges are quite straight!
I think what you’ve got there looks really good! I don’t know the first thing about weaving but it sounds like this scarf has taught you alot. Good for you for keeping with it!
If a single soul says this is ugly I want to know because I will have to contact them to confirm it. I just wouldn’t believe it. But of course “ugly” is in the eye of the beholder. ha Lovely, of course. You made it.
but i love it, love it, love it!
I love it. The colous are gorgeous.
I expect you’re right that it’d be easier on your eyes if you’d used a plain weft, but it’s really, really pretty the way it is.
Hmmmmm, I like it! I relate to the whole thing - weaving is so, um, immediately satisfying and gives the yarn such a different feel…..I am always planning new ways to do my basic scarves on my Knitters Loom.
I haven’t visited your blog for awhile…got too cought up in the real world…I forgot just how beautiful your knitting is! You really are quite talented! Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful creations!
I like that a lot. But I like pink so there’s that. Plus I don’t have to look at it while trying to weave.
Better than not trying it because you’re afraid of failure. It’s great that you’re trying all these different things.
Wow, it’s just beautiful (and I’m a sucker for pink)…but I can see where you might want to mellow it out for next time.
Your weaving is very even, and the selvages so neat-good job! I like the weave on the picture, but it can of course be more too much in real life. Anyway, I think it was a good choice to continue. You make me long for my loom, for which I right now don’t have space to keep (of some reason do kids insist on it being more important for them to have an own room than for me to have a craft room ;-)so the loom is in stored away, waiting for spacier times.
But… so beautiful! If you don’t like it, may I recommend selling it in your shop?
But it’s so gorgeous!
Well, from the photo it looks absolutely lovely, but you are right no craft is worth your eyesite. Your selvages are so nice and neat - good job.
Your selvedges are incredible. You haven’t been weaving for that long, right? Very very impressive!
I really love the variagated yarn with the twill pattern… I’m a sucker for twill, and I really like the subtlety that the yarn adds. At a quick glance you almost can’t tell what’s going on. I love it.
OMG… now you are WEAVING!?
Wow, pretty. You must love wine color a lot. The previous sweater that you knitted is gorgeous and the weaving project is coming up nicely. I am weaving a lot these days as well. Wish I could find more time between preparing wool and weaving. Actually I think I will be abandoning my Supercard because I am weaving full time more than before. Have you been to the weaving podcast site. There is a link on my site if you’re interested. The group is very supportive in fact there is a frappr weavecast group where every weaver in the globe is being mapped. Just google weavecast or syne mitchell… it’ll take you there.
Arianie
it is still amazing!
I’ll just throw in my two cents too - I love it. I think it’s absolutely beautiful and I’m sure someone would pay a lot for it (me, if I had the money). I’m sure it’s hard to work on but it’s fabulous.
Personally, I like the twill effect.
Weaving Ikat is so much fun! I look forward to seeing your creations.
Being a non-weaver, I really don’t see what’s wrong with it. I think it looks great! I like the colours and the pattern.
You’ve got a bit of vibrancy from the colors, true. If you’re feeling brave, you could try overdying it to mellow the color differential a bit.
As others have said, though, a beautiful piece of cloth. I am so enjoying having a weaving blog to read. ;>