PROJECT 1: An Ambitious Introduction

I know theoretically how ikat is made.  I have seen many artists use it on a small to medium scale, or use it to create a single large pattern or image.  I am not interested in creating a single piece of ikat, but a repeat pattern on yardage...which I will then do...who knows what(!)...with.  Therefore my very first foray into warp ikat will be 15 yards long.  The goal of this first "sample" will be to discover how my tension and the amount of threads bound together will affect the consistency of a simple collection of stripes over approximately 8 repeats.  Hopefully, whatever happens, the resulting cloth will be dynamic.

TENSION.

A tension device for warping

I have an interesting relationship with this highly important weaving variable.  I'm sure all weavers do.  Since I started my small handwoven scarf business, I purchased a warping paddle, and have through trial and error been learning how to best use it.  My biggest problem has been a high variance of tension between the 6-10 warp threads I would warp together.  I would usually fix this on the loom, but when I am attempting to create an ikat pattern before the warp gets to the loom, this becomes a big concern.  My first order of business has been to create a little tension device to help regulate the warp threads as I warp.  We will see how it goes.

My warping system (it's mobile!): I use an easel to hold my warping board, and over time it has gained more and more attachments.  An old reed keeps the threads from tangling as they come off each cone, then they travel up through the warping device together, and through the paddle.  The objective is a nice, smooth bunch of threads.