There is a noticeable area of completed web visible on the loom now; I've done one-sixteenth of the length. Along the way I've started to develop some rhythms, some ergonomics, what I think of as "the dance." Every different weaving project has its own dance steps, although there are families of projects just as there are families of dance steps.
This weaving project is a little bit more stately and elaborate than some, more a pavane than The Hustle. I'm clocking one pair of wefts (a There and Back Again, if you will) every five minutes. There is a great deal faster and easier than Back Again!
But there is plenty of dance floor left upon which I may become more proficient at these steps, as I hope I will. My speed already seems blindingly fast compared to how I was doing the same things last week.
Is there a reason one direction is faster than the other? And does that apply to the other style of warp-weighted weaving you've done?
ReplyDeleteI'm finding your work on this very interesting; thanks for blogging on it.
A pass of weft can be put in place quicker when the shed is being held open (which enables you to use both hands for weft placement). In a loom with heddle rod supports (Icelandic) or heddle brackets the passes go quickly because the shed is held open for you. On a loom weaving tabby the natural shed goes quickly because the loom holds open the shed for you. The countershed goes slower on a Greek style loom because there are no brackets or heddle rod supports to hold the shed open. You have to do that by holding the heddle rod open, pulling against the weights with your hand(s).
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