Kyle Rankin @kyle@librem.one

I'm halfway through the second doubleweave overshot towel, and so far things are going smoothly and mistake-free! I probably won't do another update on this project until they are off the loom and hemmed, unless a fun disaster strikes.

#weaving

@z3r0fox @purism Thank you for your support!

In both The Happening, and California, wind creates this unsettling feeling like something bad is about to happen.

@jzb I don't personally understand it, but I also:

1. Don't suffer from screen-induced insomnia.
2. If I did, I'd likely do some other activity instead of being on my computer right before bed.

I guess if I were someone who had to use their computer right before bed and it caused them insomnia, I'd want that sort of feature.

@apples_and_pears Thank you! This has been really fun to work on. It combines so many of my side interests and hobbies into a single project, plus I've learned a lot of new skills such as how to control stepper motors with a Raspberry Pi and a crash course in 3D modeling.

More progress on my @hackaday -inspired knitting machine clock (code name Tempus Nectit)!

The bottom case printed successfully and I have mounted all of the major components: the Sentro 22-hook knitting machine, the stepper motor, power and the Raspberry Pi + Motor Hat.

I also wired two push buttons to what will be the bottom of the case that let you manually advance the knitting machine in each direction.

Next I design the front cover.

#3dprinting #knitting #electronics

My son completed his first weaving project (he's 10). This white and red striped wool scarf was woven on a rigid heddle loom.

#weaving

@apples_and_pears Thanks!

One towel down, two to go! From this angle you can see both sides and the reversible nature of this doubleweave pattern.

#weaving

@apples_and_pears It's a good point. It has worked up to this point based on the projects I've worked on. I can imagine it wouldn't map well to more complicated or non-repeating weaving projects (such as draw loom weaving).

@Kymberly I *count* by 10/12 but most of my books suggest *crossing* single threads and I do. I use a warping paddle to save time when measuring hundreds of threads, and in that case I cross after however many threads are in the paddle. If you look closely at my picture of the lease sticks, you will see I'm crossing every 2 threads because I measured the yellow and brown threads on the warping board at the same time.

10. Don't Be Afraid to Talk to Yourself

OK so for the most part I am talking to myself only in my head, or an inaudible whisper, but even when I only am remembering a four-number sequence for treadling or threading I still repeat it like a mantra while I'm doing it. I've caught many mistakes by noticing what I'm saying and doing don't match.

I think a "top 10 list" is a good place to stop. If you made it this far, thanks!

#weaving

9. Always Stop at a Stopping Point

You can't always predict how long it will be between weaving sessions. The worst is to sit back down, wonder where you were, and guess wrong. I never stop weaving in the middle of a pattern, I always go all the way to the end (whatever that means for a repeating pattern). If I have to get up briefly, I weave at least to the end of a logical block and move my magnet.

#weaving

8. Use Magnets to Track Pattern

The bottom of my beater bar is metal, so I attach my treadling pattern to it with magnets. Instead of marking off where I am, I group blocks (typically 4 picks) and then slide the magnet to the next block when I complete one.

This is faster than pulling out a pencil and makes it easy to visually see where I am and what's next.

#weaving

7. Throwing Side Matches Treadling Side

Whenever the pattern allows a walking pattern, I also make a point to throw my shuttle from the *same* side as I'm treadling. That way if I ever lose track of where I am, I can look at the combination of shuttle location and foot position and figure it out.

It also means if I ever depress a treadle on the right side, but the shuttle is on the left, something is wrong.

#weaving

6. Use "Walking" Tie-Ups

My center treadles are always tied up for tabby. The rest, whenever the pattern allows, instead of 1-2-3-4, I tie up in a "walking" pattern where I always move from left-side treadles to right side, and back again.

This isn't just better for ergonomics, it helps catch mistakes when you lose track of where you were. If my foot was on a left treadle, I know the next treadle must be on the right.

#weaving

5. Tying Threaded Groups Together

After threading a "round" number of heddles based on WPI or natural end of a pattern, I tie them with a temporary knot to separate from other groups.

This protects me against losing track of where I am in my threading, as I can always count the number of tied bundles.

This also protects against mistakes when sleying the reed, as I only deal with "round" numbers of threads at a time.

#weaving

4. Staggered Heddles When Threading

I, at most, separate only four heddles at a time from the rest when threading, and I stagger them in the order they are to be threaded so there is visible distance between them.

This not prevents threading mistakes, I can visually see the current 4-thread pattern in order and confirm where I am when threading a long complicated pattern.

#weaving