-
False damask 8 shaft table runner
I began to work on a concept for a Christmas table runner – blue with a few white highlights to honor snow in the season. Elegance is the key theme for this runner. I love the concept of simple damask napkins with square blocks which I think show an alternating nap pattern. I do not have a 10 shaft loom to weave a true damask and found the following pattern in Handweaving.net.
My question is this: what kind of thread should I use to produce the shiniest satin blocks which will alternate with the non-satin style block? Would a mercerized cotton provide enough shine or should I consider using a Tencel or even silk? Does thread grist affect the “shine”?
I hope this makes sense. If not, I can always more to one of the video calls.
-
2 Replies
-
If you want to really highlight one design element, you can do that by using an unmerc cotton for warp, say, and merc. cotton for weft.
I’m doing tea towels right now with 2/16 unmerc cotton for warp at 36 epi and 2/20 merc cotton for weft. If you are doing false satin blocks (turned twill) I might suggest 40 epi. Sample to see which density is ‘best’. Not sure I have a photo that shows the effect off – it can be pretty subtle…
-
You could use something matte (unmerc cotton, cottolin, etc.) for the blue and something shiny for the white – tencel, merc cotton, something with a little sparkle right in, a super shiny viscose, etc. You could also use the same thing for blue and white and then add a second verrrrry fine thread (sewing thread) of something very sparkly in with the white — but do keep in mind that the other thread might not stretch/shrink/take-up/draw-in the same way as the rest. I did a runner once with a very sparkly mylar sewing thread on alternate picks and the other fibers pulled up so much that the sewing thread looped out. The person who eventually got the runner actually loved that effect, but it wasn’t what I’d intended at all!
Log in to reply.