The part that makes all the time that goes into getting “warped” worth every second……weaving!  It is a glorious moment when the first inch is woven and it’s a “go”!

The fiber just about didn’t fit on my small Louet’s back beam!  Had to do a little “scrunching” to get it all wrapped and tensioned but we’re finally ready to go!

Ready to wrap all 140 inches of warp for the sash!

Skeins are dry and ready to be wound into balls so it’s easier to measure the fiber for the warping process.

Since sashes were made of a tightly spun, highly textured yarn, handspinning seemed to be the best option. I had quite a stash of singles already spun so started the plying process and soon had enough yardage to weave a 12′ sash.

Spun, plied, and skeined!

Are you familiar with sashes….those worn by voyageurs/fur traders in the 1800’s?  I wasn’t until I was approached about weaving one for an authentic Rendezvous  costume.  It sounds like they were worn to “belt” a capote (outer coat) and also used to hold knives, tobacco pouches and whatever else the owner deemed of importance.  They were made of wool and/or linen during the 1700’s in many frontier homes.  Fancier, multi-colored sashes were kept for special occasions.  Some were worn as “badges” of distinction or wealth.  A “fancy” sash listed in an inventory of the goods of a deceased Fulgencio Roles in Monterey, CA in 1842 has one sash listed as costing Fulgencio “a horse and a mare”.  Now that must have been one “fancy” sash!!!

The scarf is off the loom and wet-finished.  The alpaca handspun measured nine wraps per inch and the finished scarf weighs just under 3 ounces!  We have a perfect morning to test the practicality of this scarf…minus 26 degrees.  I’m not sure I’m up to checking this out today!  Maybe I’ll get Walter to wear it when he goes out to do chores.

Weaving the first few inches of a project is the most exciting part to me.  Finally, you get to see what it is going to look like, how it is going to feel, and check closely for any mistakes!

8/2 bamboo in four colors has been measured and wrapped on my little 8 harness Louet.  It is threaded in a point twill.