I decided to make two colors – one a deep but rich red that I developed over the summer and the other a magenta/wine color. In either case, I wanted something that would be rich and appealing in the colder months. I’ve been thinking of this as a “Spring” vest, but since the last day of winter was only yesterday, I’ve reverted to winter colors. And now, the result:
Yeah. Wow. Really, really wow. There’s now a lovely texture to the fabric that didn’t exist before and the size of the medallion is, in my opinion, no longer an issue. Both colors are absolutely amazing, but that red keeps calling to me.
And here you can see the different yarns/weaves interacting. The color looks quite true on my monitor (even the magenta in the corner) and I really love the texture. I’m happy enough with this that I’ll go ahead and measure/wind off a warp and weave off enough fabric to make the vest. That really puts the hammer down on making the sample as I’m not sure that I’m happy with how high it rides in the back. It stops at my actual waist, but I think I’m going to nudge it down just a bit so that it extends slightly below my waist. Easy enough to do and that won’t hold up the weaving.
I love that red! Now, why do you think the texture changed – just from the washing/dyeing? But didn’t you wash it after weaving and before dyeing?
Here’s a scenario for you: You weave and sew a red vest, I weave and sew a red jacket. Deadline TBA.
I think the texture was always there – but now it looks much richer somehow. The medallions almost whirl on the fabric. It makes me think of op-art!
As for your scenario, that’s already happening on my end. My personal deadline is to finish the vest by the end of the month, but I think that’s going to be tight. I’ll get the fabric threaded this weekend and start weaving (now super-fast since I won’t be using two shuttles) and it should be done in no time. It’s not entirely insane that it gets done in nine days.
And hey, you’ve already got the fabric done. Can you get the fabric done that quickly? (BTW – this will be a fully-lined vest. I think)
Well, first I’d need to make a muslin and alter that to fit. Certainly do-able, but perhaps not even the muslin finished by the end of this month. But the end of April, though – that’s a possibility. The jacket I have in mind is lined, but I don’t think I’d be using handwoven lining – maybe I could/should?
I’m not going to force myself to use handwoven lining. Thai Silks is just down the road and there’s lots of commercial stuff that is more than suitable for my handwovens.
Go ahead and weave a lining if you like – but, I’d rather you got the jacket done sooner rather than later. It’ll help you decide what to do next!
I like it :)!
And the fabric looks fabulous, I so prefer the color. It allows me to actually look at the structure (which is nice!). I like the bottom or top weft, over the middle weft, whatever they may be, for looks. The hand might tell you something different.
It’s all the same thread, so the hand is the same throughout – it’s simply a matter of which warp is being crossed by which weft.
Middle section is dark weft, against dark (left) and medium (right) warp. Upper section is medium weft against dark and medium warps, bottom panel the light pink weft against dark and medium warps. I’ll look again in the sunshine and decide once the fabric is woven.
The bigger question is whether or not I have sufficient of the dark or medium yarns to do exactly what I want. I think I can do monochromatic warp, but I may not be able to match warp and weft. The yarn may decide for me. :-)