Today’s Focus
– Re-thread the warp to remove the gap.
– Tie on the warp to the front beam and improve the tension.
A day in the studio with the rigid heddle to reset the loom for the next project. I am glad I removed the previous work, so I could look at it and hang it. I am not very pleased with some elements of the work, namely the smudge marks around the ring motif and the gap in the warp. I decided to persevere with the gap and keep it as part of the story of the piece, but I am clear that I want to try and rectify this for the next piece on the loom.
Cutting the first piece from the loom means I am able to re-thread the warp and remove the gap, improve the tension slightly, and of course I can see the first piece clearly in order to make decisions about next steps.
My plan this time is to paint the warp in as I go along, so that it looks less blocky and more continuous throughout the piece. I think I want to use knopper gall ink this time as well. I have enjoyed the rich brown colour that it has displayed on the screen printed items so far.
Threading just under half the warp and tying on the warp to the front beam took the best part of all day! It is a slow and methodical process, but well worth getting right, and I hope this will make a difference to the next piece.