Planning a Project
I love exploring all the possibilities and combinations of threads to projects, choosing colors and drafts. I could spend hours making my selections and setting up future projects in a notebook (or more particularly on Ravelry).
In fact, when I am in one of those moods, I put a wish list together and set up a queue of six or more projects at a time. I set forth the specific weight of threads for the warp and weft, anticipate which loom is best suited for each project, then find a pattern draft (or three), work out the numbers to ensure I have enough heddles for the design on the loom I am considering, and basically do everything EXCEPT pull the yarn and prepare the warp.
As the looms become free, I check that queue first to see which of the several projects waiting to be launched tickle my fancy and proceed.
However, there are occasions where none of them speak to me, and I start something completely fresh and new with a dyed warp, etc.
The first blush of dyeing has begun to fade a bit, and I decided it was time for me to work through some of my stash.
I bought a couple of 2# cones of cottolin in 11/2 from R&M Yarns a few years ago (scroll down, it is the second entry on that link). I used them for tea towels while sampling the draft I ultimately used in my coverlet.
I did a 13-yard warp in the 11/2 cottolin (45% cotton and 55% linen) and used 8/2 and 5/2 as warp, not including some sport weight hemp. Everything I used came out beautifully! In this photo, the blue on top was 8/2 cotton and the white underneath was the hemp.
I wanted to use the cottolin again. At 4,620 yards a pound, it is finer than the 10/2 cotton at 4,200 yards a pound I have been using. My sett for both is the same 24 epi (ends per inch).
As I have woven with this before, I know how well this sett works for this thread.
Instead of using this draft again, I thought I would mix things up slightly.
Last fall, I did a 25 yard run of these towels with 10/2 natural cotton as warp:
They were so fun to weave and absolutely gorgeous!
I thought I would use this pattern with the rustic natural 11/2 cottolin this time and use the pattern I used in the coverlet/duvet above with 10/2 cotton in white to dress them up a bit, at a later time. Subtle changes, yes, but change nonetheless.
I pulled out what I had left from the previous project (one skinny partial cone) and the two new cones I bought immediately after finishing the other project. I know what I like and usually want more of it.
According to R&M, these cones are "approximately" 2 pounds each when full.
I weighed each one, and they were 7.78 oz, 34.07 oz, and 33.99 oz, including their cones.
As I had already long recycled the cones from the original project, I had no idea how much the cones weighed, but remembered Jane Stafford sent an email out regarding this very issue, at one time.
A quick search, and I found her blog post from which I am borrowing these photos:
Brilliant, no?
This is one we should all save somewhere for ease of access.
Now, she did not include measurements of the height or diameter of the bottom of each cone, but I am guessing, these cottolin cones are the second from the left and weigh in at 1.5 grams each.
The total of my three cones was 75.84 ounces or 7.74 pounds.
Each of my cones should weigh 1.5 oz for a total of 4.5 oz.
75.84 minus 4.5 equals 71.34 oz or 4.375 pounds.
At 4,620 yards per pound, I estimate I have 20,212 yards of this thread.
Normally, I like to weave my towels up to 24" in width.
24" multiplied by a sett of 24 gives me a total of 576 ends.
If I divided the total number of yards (20,212) by the total number of ends (576), I would get a 35 yard warp 24" wide.
That works for me.
Looking at the project page I created on Ravelry on January 19, 2020, I see I already worked out the numbers for a balanced weave using a specific draft, which I originally found on Pinterest, but also appears in the Strickler book.
Here are my notes and calculations as they were originally done back in January:
11/2 Cottolin for warp
30 yard warp
Pattern repeat of 42
42 x 13 = 546
546/24 = 22.75
To balance pattern, add 21
546 + 21 = 567
567 + 2 FS = 569
569/24= 23.71” wide
17,745 yards or 61.5 oz (3.8475 #)
Heddle count:
8 - 54 (including 2 to balance left side)
7 - 80 (2)
6 - 80 (2)
5 - 67 (2)
4 - 68 (3)
3 - 82 (4)
2 - 82 (4)
1 - 54 (1)
7 - 80 (2)
6 - 80 (2)
5 - 67 (2)
4 - 68 (3)
3 - 82 (4)
2 - 82 (4)
1 - 54 (1)
Note: I originally planned a 30 yard warp.
However, I know I have enough to do a 35 yard warp with 576 ends. This means I know I will have plenty for a 569 end warp based on the above numbers for a balanced pattern.
Thus, I am going with 569 ends for a 35 yard warp.
I know this will leave me leftover 11/2 cottolin, but I would prefer to do this conservatively and not take a chance on running completely out.
The next step is to load my spools for sectional warping; however, my weaving width is now 23.71", instead of 24".
With a sett of 24, I need to load 24 spools.
If my weaving width were 24" wide, each of the 24 spools would have to have 840 yards (35 yards times 24).
I could do that, but that would waste thread.
My total ends are 569.
569 ends multiplied by 35 yards for each end is a total of 19,915 yards.
569 divided by 24 is 23.7.
23 times 24 is 552.
569 minus 552 is 17.
17 of the spools will be loaded with 840 yards because these 17 spools will be used 24 times. Each time one of these spools is used, it will load 35 yards onto the warp beam.
24 minus 17 is 7.
7 spools will be used 23 times to load 35 yards onto the warp beam. So, those 7 spools will be loaded with 805 yards.
Otherwise, I would waste 245 (7 x 35 = 245) yards.
In reality, I hedge my bet a little and add a couple or three more yards to each spool, in case I get carried away a time or two and load an extra yard in one of my sections. This reveals how there is more waste in sectional warping than in plain warping; however, when using a solid warp, IT IS SO MUCH FASTER!
Now, to check my numbers, I simply do the following:
7 spools with 805 yards each equals 5,635.
17 spools with 840 yards each equals 14,280.
5,635 plus 14,280 equals 19,915 yards.
As I did above: 569 ends multiplied by 35 yards for each end is a total of 19,915 yards.
Dang.
I am good!
Now, I am off to wind spools!
If anyone is interested, I may give updates on the progress of this project.
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