Third Thursday Spinners

I mentioned some time back that the 'project' we decided on for our monthly spinning group (sub-group of the Fiber Guild) was to 'spin' paper.  Some are doing better than others.

In Japan it is customary to spin a particular type of rice paper into quite strong strands that can in turn be woven - and they use these as work clothes (in the field I am guessing). Two of the members are doing this, another spun some newspaper (hard), another spun and created a small bowl (crochet). I started with varying thicknesses of brown paper - first on the wheel - disaster: it just wouldn't get through the orifice and onto the hooks/bobbin, just too twisted, and once jammed it then spun tighter and broke.  I tried some on the drop spindle with only a little more success.

I then found out that coffee filters (used or new) could be spun as they have some form of plant fiber in them.  Voila - combine the two and away I went; still using the drop spindle.  The process involves cutting long strips of both materials and then. effectively, spinning/twisting them together.

'Spun' paper on the drop spindle and the frame loom in front

I built a small frame loom (on a wooden chopping block) with nails and foam board so that I could hand weave the 'yarn' into coffee cup coasters.

Weaving with the shed open (knitting needle)

The paper yarn retained quite a twist - making it tricky to pull through the warp without catching, but a little bit of tension on both ends while doing the threading seemed to work.

The finished coaster

I now need to make at least 3 more to make a 'set' ready to display on our group table at the Guild Christmas meeting in a few weeks.

Reedy to go

Well I will be 'ready' to go once the reed arrives - all other repairs/fixes and cleaning now done.

I removed any broken or frayed strings from the sectional beam and replaced those bits with the string removed from the front

Broken strings to the left, good ones to the right.

Once the strings were fixed I attached the metal rod that the weaving will be tied to.

Strings attached to rod (and draped over back beam)

With that job out of the way I only had to finish wiping down the wood work with wax and giving it a polish.

Almost ready to go

New apron

As mentioned - one task was to remove the old string from the cloth beam (some broken strands) to re-use in fixing the couple of broken strings on the sectional warp beam (at the back).  I had bought a new cloth apron from Macomber - which comes complete with new staples and everything ready to fit, so the string had to go anyway.

I took my time carefully removing the old string in one piece so that I can re-use it on the back.  I also also managed to save most of the old staples (is that my Father coming out in me :-)  for re-attaching the back strings.

The apron went on easily and is now all set up for the first 'tie-up' when I dress the loom.

Removing string from cloth (front) beam

String and staples removed

Apron (unwound and in position over breast beam)

Comfortable weaving

Another part 'missing' from the Macomber was a foot rail - a length of wood that runs across the front of the loom, just in front of the treadles, and allow the weaver to rest one or the other foot on it while not actually pushing down on a treadle.

The loom itself is, I believe, made of maple, so I will eventually get a piece of maple cut to size and length but in the meantime we were in a hardware store getting some chain (to make part of a 'temple' - that'll be a blog entry once I get weaving), so I checked to see if there was any suitable lumber to make into a foot rail.  Sure enough there was a length of pine (fairly knotty), that would do.

I had to cut some slots to make it fit into the slightly smaller 'rail holders' but that didn't take long.  A quick sand and then coat of wax and it is good to go.

'New' footrail - not quite matching the 'age' of the loom

Chilli break

In between some cleaning/repairs I finally got around to making up some harissa and some chilli sauce.

The harissa recipe has evolved from one given to me by my brother Graeme, way back when he had a Mediterranean/North African item or two at his restaurant.  Basically the same roasted pepper, chilli, cumin, coriander, olive oil mix with  a couple of extras to preserve that I've been making for quite a few years.  It keeps well in the fridge.

And the chilli sauce is a similar base, with some tomato, vinegar, salt, and just a hint of 'smoke'  - usually from smoked paprika powder, but couldn't get any this time so had to resort to a few drops of 'liquid smoke'!  Not ideal but does the trick.

Harissa to the left, chilli sauce behind [some of the] the ingredients

More loom cleaning

The process of getting the loom clean and repaired is drawing to a close.  All heddle frames are now de-rusted and back on the loom, all the spare parts are fitted.  Just awaiting the reed.  In the meantime I can clean up a couple of little bits of the woodwork, attach the cloth beam apron, and repair a couple of strings on the warp beam.

It was nice to finally finish the frames and reclaim the dining room table!

Comparison of the orginal (left) and cleaned (right)