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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Tarp Clamp Temple

A couple of posts ago I mentioned that I was using "crocodile clips" and weights to serve as a temple. I think that strictly speaking the device that I am using is a "tarp clamp".

I have used then for one scarf and they are fine but I found that I was getting a bit of distortion of the cloth when the clamps were advanced (every inch) to keep up with the fell. This happens because of the increasing angle between the clamps and the pivot points that  leads the cords to the weights. The mechanics of the whole thing are shown here and the picture below shows angle of the cord and the cloth distortion.












                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

I have a solution which I think will resolve most of the problems. I have taken a couple of blocks of wood and attached screw eyes and four "legs" made from old Venetian blind slats (ideal for packing the warp when beaming).

The blocks sit on the side rails and are held in position by their legs. The cord from the clamp goes through the screw eye and the down to the weight.

The blocks can be moved back and forth on the side rail which means that pivot point, the screw eye, can be kept almost level with the fell.

It is all a little bit Heath Robinson at this stage but I'll weave off the current scarf and see how I go - I am sure that other refinements will occur to me!












 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 I have just noticed that comments on this blog are not working correctly. An initial comment can be made but the subsequent thread doesn't seem to be working. If you have posted a comment and not received a response from me please accept my apologies; I will resolve the problem as soon as I can./

Tarp Clamps can be bought in Australia from Bunnings and they are also stocked by several camping shops.


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Scarf Colours

This picture of the yarns that I am using for the scarf gives a better idea of the colours - something along the lines of a old copper pot encrusted with verdigris!




Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Differential Shrinkage Scarf

I put on the warp for this scarf a couple of weeks ago but I have been hit by the lurgy (flu/cold) so until today I had done nothing. Today I wove for three hours and the scarf is about half done.

The design is taken directly from Evening Sunset Scarf by Stefanie Meisel in Handwoven Sept/Oct 2004. I have changed one of the yarns (18/2 Merino replaced with 20/2) which should make little difference. This scarf will differ from the last one I did in that there are ruffles on the outer edge of the scarf.

The photo below doesn't do justice to the colours. The merino is a vibrant turquoise green and the non-shrinking tencel is two shades of copper. I will pay more attention to my lighting when I next take a picture.



This is the first time that I have used a "crocodile clip" temple and it is working very nicely. I have used a couple of sawn down  wood working clamps to to hold the cord between the clips and the weights. The trick is to make sure that the arrangement clears the beater and doesn't get in the way when throwing the shuttle