Almost ready

[altivo]

Had today off to prepare for the trip to OH and the weaving class next Mon-Tues. Of course there were other distractions. We had to take the dogs and cats to the vet for their annual checkup, shots, etc. Ouch. It was more than we can afford, but they deserve their care. Our farrier friend was here yesterday to trim the horses' feet, too. Fortunately he's not as expensive as the vets are. He gave all the feet a good grade, too. Tess is finally back in shape after her near miss with founder two years ago. Now he (and the vet) say I need to start riding her again.

First oriole arrived yesterday. Today we heard and saw another (they are easy to distinguish because the pattern of black markings varies so much between individuals) and then just at dusk, we saw a hummingbird. That's a marker of the shift from spring to summer, I think. After all, it *is* May. Only two birds who are here briefly most years, have yet to put in an appearance: the red headed woodpecker, and the indigo bunting.

The loom is threaded, still needs to be sleyed, but that shouldn't take long. There are 288 warp threads but they get sleyed four to a dent in an 8 dent reed, so it will only take 72 pulls. I should be able to get that done Sunday evening. I found working with such a densely packed warp rather frustrating, because the threads tend to tangle and cling to one another. But it's done anyway.

Just have to pack up in the morning. Fortunately not a lot, one little bag and a few tools and things, in the morning. Now, to bed.

Comments

[schnee.livejournal.com]

There are 288 warp threads but they get sleyed four to a dent in an 8 dent reed, so it will only take 72 pulls.

You know, I have no idea what you just said. ^^

[soanos.livejournal.com]

My parents have a loom, too, but I think my sister has hot them at her place atm. Yes, putting the threads trough those loops and the bar thingy... I remember it was a nightmarish thing to do. :D

I am glad Tess and the others are fine, too :)

Funny lingo explained

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Here it is in photos.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well usually not so much a nightmare as it is just tedious. I rather enjoy it most of the time (see photos linked in comment to schnee above for an explanation of the weaver's terminology as used in English.) This particular job was done under time pressure, which isn't so good, and involved a method of warp construction I've not tried before. The math is different, and it kept twisting my head inside out like a tesseract. The end result though will be the ability to weave two layers of cloth simultaneously, altering the ways in which they are joined (or not joined) and switching which layer is on the top at will. That's what the class next week is about, and this was just the preparation. I'll haul the smaller loom to the workshop location and weave with a group for a couple of days.

Re: Funny lingo explained

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Sounds nice. So how manty pedals will you be using? :)

Yes, it is tedious, and tediousness makes a zebra unhappy. :P

Out of the loop

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Huh, what? Clearly I've gotten out of the loop >_>

Ah horseriding- there's something I haven't done in a very long time. When I was a little colt- once upon a time- I did all sorts of fun activities... dancing, aikido, fencing, horseriding, archery... then my life life changed and it became more like writing, video gaming, football practice, arguing with people... and eventually degenerated into searching, struggling, sleeping, searching...

*sighs* Last night was the first time I went out somewhere and mingled in almost two years...and 'til 3 AM no less. Fortunatly, it was lighthearted so I didn't get irritated or down, even when things got disinteresting. Coming back from that long, black gap in my life is such an uphill climb...

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I think it'd be nice to snooze to the clack clack of a loom :)
*watches the hummingbird with interest as he's never seen one in the feathers*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*watches the hummingbird dive bomb you with that sharp beak*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Ack but I was behaving myself *scuttles away paws over head*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

This particular threading uses only four harnesses and six treadles on a standard loom. Since the loom is a "studio" loom, though, and designed for portability, it has no treadles. Harnesses are lifted by hand operated levers instead.

Re: Out of the loop

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*winds yarn around you so you will be in a loop*

Re: Out of the loop

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*snickers, then scratches places where yarn touches* Hmm... itches just a little.