These colours are so much fun. I am planning the next length of echo weave fabric for Oscha. It is dance-inspired again, and it is going to be packed with Bright.
I posted some photos of samples on Facebook a while back, but I don’t think they reached my blog. What with the on-off status of the various technologies around here, I have rather lost the plot. (I’d mention that, after 10 hours of hard labour yesterday, we do have a working PC again, but that would be tempting fate.)
I tried out two warp combinations and lots of wefts. The red/purple looks rather muted on the loom, but in fact it is very lively when it is moving.
I have the scallop shape progressing across the warp in the threading and a simple advancing point treadling. This makes sense for me when I am weaving on the Delta: I need a treadling I can reliably repeat for several hours without making hideous mistakes! Point treadlings are my favourites, because adjacent treadles are the easiest to find. I started with a larger point (shown in the sample on the loom) but prefer the smaller (shown above), as it gives the scallops more pleasing proportions overall. Pleasing to me, anyway. I think we are going to go for the red option rather than the yellow, but I plan to liven it up with some brighter shades as well as the deep red seen here. Bit more thinking required.
Speaking of echo weave, I have just received my copy of Weaving with Echo and Iris. It is written by Marian Stubenitsky and translated by none other than Margreet Ward. Huge congratulations to them and to the rest of the team for such a lovely, colourful volume – I have now managed to open the package (yay!) but need to find time to sit down and absorb the ideas.
“Shades of Bright” was posted by Cally on 10 May 2014 at http://callybooker.co.uk
marlene toerien
Sorry I may sound stupid, but what is echo weave, and what is the difference between it and Shadow weave
Cally
It’s not stupid at all – it’s a very good question. They have characteristics in common although structurally they are quite different.
Shadow weave is a colour-and-weave technique which uses the same pair of alternating colours in the warp and the weft. The interlacement is basically plain weave.
Echo weave is not, as I understand it, limited to a single structure but is usually woven with a twill tie-up. The warp consists of two layers threaded in parallel in alternating colours, but there is only one weft. If you have ever woven a double-faced twill, imagine that turned so that the interlocking wefts are now in the warp where they are very densely set: sometimes you see one on the surface, sometimes the other.
Other people do a much better job of explaining this than I do. Perhaps you need Marian’s book! I am determined to open it this evening, even if it is only to enjoy the pictures.
Cally
By the way, I have seen some very specific definitions of echo weave – long lists of things which must be included, even down to the colour choices, for it to be ‘really’ echo – but I prefer a much more flexible interpretation. One threading line echoed by a second line (and possibly a third or even a fourth) and woven with a single weft on a twill tie-up seems to be enough to get started. I learned about it through Bonnie Inouye’s article in the Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers a few years ago, and she is not overly prescriptive!
Sandra Rude
Oh, the red and purple are wonderful! I always like that combo, whether brights or darks.
neki rivera
nice yarn 10/2 cotton?
i received my copy too. great book!
Cally
It’s this 16/2 cotton from Venne, Neki. The colours are lovely and it comes up very soft too.