I've truly been stuck on that darling scrap of fabric for months, and I've finally solidified my plans on how to use it as inspiration: I'm going to weave a blanket using natural light and dark wools. I will weave this on my floor loom as a 2/2 twill in herringbone pattern.
I just led a class over the weekend that focused on choices when working on an A&S project. When you can work a project from sheep to shawl, it's so hard to determine the focus of the project. For this, I have determined to source already spun yarn. I plan to make a blanket, and the idea of spinning enough, consistently enough would steal my enjoyment in the task. Spinning is definitely my weakest skill in the process. I will continue to work at it to improve, but this isn't the goal of this project.
One of the things that I will need to focus on for this blanket is keeping my stripes even. I have a loom big enough to make this blanket in one piece, but that would require a technique that we don't have any evidence of in period. We tend to see strips of fabric sewn together to make blankets - likely a result of the limitation of the size of the looms of the day. Since this pattern is so distinct, it will be critical that I keep my beat even throughout the entirety of this project so that the stripes will match at the center seam.
Another area of focus is related to the stripes and carrying the non-active weft along one side of the project to reduce the number of ends to weave in. I got to practice this on this beautiful green and gold twill wrap I just completed. I'm pleased with my method, and will employ that through this blanket.
This wrap was completed using 100% wool, sport weight at a 12 EPI sett. It is solid, but still has a nice drape to it and should be incredibly wearable.
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