Sing.

 So often in my weaving practice, I sing. Whether it's winding the yarn into cones for warping or the trance like state when it's all step, throw, beat, sing. 

This blanket project was an adventure. I used a familiar weaving draft in a completely new to me way. And the result was a wonderful, long length of beautiful fabric. But I didn't stop there. 

I was asked to run our local Provincial Championship event: Harvest Moon. And it seemed a good excuse to bring out an idea I've been wanting to try for years: waulking wool. Originally, I had wanted to do this at GNEW, but life and other things took priority so I waited. The original plan was to work with a few bards to waulk and sing together. But once again, life intervened. I had found a spotify playlist called "13 hours of waulking songs..." that was enjoyable, so it would do in a pinch. 

So we did it! I did a first wash of the fabric to let it dry to relax a bit from being on the loom. Then the day of the event, I soaked it. We used cool water for this waulking do to limiting factors on site. But the effect is still dramatic even with the cooler temperature water. 

Measurement changes were as follows:

Width in the reed on the loom: 36"

Off the loom after first wash: 32"

After waulking: 27"

So we have a significant change in the density of the fabric. It is much thicker and I can't wait to use it! This was a very successful proof of concept and encouraging enough that I'm already planning the next one!