Re: Pairs of asmalyks

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Posted by Marla Mallett on April 04, 1999 at 16:56:33:

In Reply to: Re: Pairs of asmalyks posted by Marla Mallett on April 04, 1999 at 16:13:28:

: Michael and others,

: You asked about the differing amounts of time required for weaving a pair of asmalyks sequentially on one warp versus producing them separately on two different warps...And the advantages of one over the other.

: 1. When using a single warp, to insert heavy filler to accomodate the irregular shape, assure even warp take-up and thus ready the warp for beginning a second weaving, would require a total of 3-5 minutes at most.

: 2. To weave the pieces on separate warps, i.e. to wind the second warp, dress the loom, make a new set of heddles, etc. would probably require an additional 2-3 hours. We must also consider that extra warp length is required as there is considerable waste beyond the fell of the cloth and beyond the heddles (the extra length necessary to open a shed). This would be a serious waste of good long-staple wool suitable for warp use. Moreover, this extra wool had to be hand cleaned, combed, spun, and plied, adding a few more hours to the time above. Let's make a wild guess that the total extra time might be 5-6 hours, minimum.

: No, I've never witnessed asmalyks being woven by tribal weavers. Have you? But I've done a good many shaped weavings myself, have had students do so, and am quite familiar with the ways that other contemporary weavers go about it. One need only apply a little logic to devise a workable methodology.

: I've never seen asmalyks that were woven with the pile lying upward, and can't imagine why they would be woven upside down and the designs flipped.

: Best wishes,
: Marla

Sorry...I meant to direct this to Wendal, not Michael.

I've done a quick calculation to see how much EXTRA yarn would be required at a MINIMUM to warp the loom a second time for a second asmalyk, if one chose to weave two pieces separately, rather than sequentially on one warp.

Using as an example the Tekke bird asmalyk in Mackie/Thompson (#43), which has 11 knots horizontally (and thus a warp sett of 22 ends per inch), and a total width of 32 1/2", that makes 715 warps. Figuring on just an extra 12" of warp length for opening a shed--a reasonable minimum--that makes 1430 feet of extra yarn singles to spin and 715 feet of plied yarn to produce. For what purpose???

Regards,
Marla

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: : Michael and others, : : You asked about the differing amounts of time required for weaving a pair of asmalyks sequentially on one warp versus producing them separately on two different warps...And the advantages of one over the other. : : 1. When using a single warp, to insert heavy filler to accomodate the irregular shape, assure even warp take-up and thus ready the warp for beginning a second weaving, would require a total of 3-5 minutes at most. : : 2. To weave the pieces on separate warps, i.e. to wind the second warp, dress the loom, make a new set of heddles, etc. would probably require an additional 2-3 hours. We must also consider that extra warp length is required as there is considerable waste beyond the fell of the cloth and beyond the heddles (the extra length necessary to open a shed). This would be a serious waste of good long-staple wool suitable for warp use. Moreover, this extra wool had to be hand cleaned, combed, spun, and plied, adding a few more hours to the time above. Let's make a wild guess that the total extra time might be 5-6 hours, minimum. : : No, I've never witnessed asmalyks being woven by tribal weavers. Have you? But I've done a good many shaped weavings myself, have had students do so, and am quite familiar with the ways that other contemporary weavers go about it. One need only apply a little logic to devise a workable methodology. : : I've never seen asmalyks that were woven with the pile lying upward, and can't imagine why they would be woven upside down and the designs flipped. : : Best wishes, : : Marla : : Sorry...I meant to direct this to Wendal, not Michael. : I've done a quick calculation to see how much EXTRA yarn would be required at a MINIMUM to warp the loom a second time for a second asmalyk, if one chose to weave two pieces separately, rather than sequentially on one warp. : Using as an example the Tekke bird asmalyk in Mackie/Thompson (#43), which has 11 knots horizontally (and thus a warp sett of 22 ends per inch), and a total width of 32 1/2", that makes 715 warps. Figuring on just an extra 12" of warp length for opening a shed--a reasonable minimum--that makes 1430 feet of extra yarn singles to spin and 715 feet of plied yarn to produce. For what purpose??? : Regards, : Marla

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