Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Math Class

 Day four of Staycation 2012, and it's way too cold to do my outside projects!  I've been inside, plotting new weaving projects, or trying to.  Jenny is bare naked, needing a project, and I want to make lace curtains for the living room.  To the right is Davison, open to page 96, Lace Stripes, treadling number one.  I believe it will be 519 ends, including 4 floating selvedge threads for edge stability.  That's 34.5 inches wide, not counting shrinkage, but I think that will be wide enough.  The windows are 28 inches wide, and I'd like the lace to show.  I'll need enough for two windows and two doors.  For the two little windows on either side of the fireplace, I'm crazy enough to attempt the pattern on the next page that has 72 threads per repeat!  It's Johann D's No.32.  I've done another pattern by Johann D.  He must have been insane.  Or had lots of time on his hands.
And then there's the other brain teaser I've  been working on today.  I'd like to do an eight shaft huck lace next, once I get the shag rug warp done.  But I've been going through Carol Strickler's book, and I just don't get Profile Drafts!  I finally figured out the threading--Thanks, LouAnn!--but I simply cannot understand the treadling.  I've read it about 327 times today, and it just isn't sinking in.  I downloaded an essay on the subject from that great website from the University of Arizona, but I cannot grasp what it's saying.
  In the fine print at the bottom of the page in the Strickler book, she says that each square in the treadling sequence represents "one five pick half unit."  I beg your pardon?  I hope LouAnn is right, that as I start to weave, it will make sense!
 
So I read and take breaks.  Once to go to the Three Rivers Coop, which is amazing in their new location.  If you haven't been, you must go!  It's at 1100 N. Central, and they're open 9 am to 10 pm, so no excuses!  It's so much nicer than their old place!
  Next, I wove on the shag rug, which you can see has made some progress.  The edge has rolled under the apron beam, and the anchor is nearing completion.  The beige is an anchor.  It's for Matt's and Dana's nautical themed bathroom.  It is crazy soft and fluffy!  Unfortunately, the strips of fleece are making me sneeze like crazy!  I can only weave on it a little at a time.
  I've also worked on the mittens, which are showing progress.  One more bunch of bobbles and they're ready for decreases.  And then I can start some crazy socks I've been dying to try, joining Noro sock yarn with solid sock yarn, in a faux-Fair Isle kind of pattern.  Can't wait!
  Gotta get back to it!  If you have any brilliant insights into Profile Drafts and their treadlings, please let me know!
Happy Weaving!
Maggie

3 comments:

LA said...

I love going to the Three Rivers Co-Op!!! It's an amazing place to shop. Now, as for that treadling profile draft....I'm still working on that!

Bonnie said...

I hope you figure it out. I can't wait to see you mittens.

Anonymous said...

There are so many patterns in the books and the magazines that I just pass right over as I am not yet ready to expend the brain cells required to understand them. Last night I looked at a clothing book. The descriptions of how necklines and cut away parts made no sense. My guess is that it would all make more sense in the doing - just like LouAnn says. Now I just need courage.

Ann