EVEN A LABOR OF LOVE DESERVES SOME COMPENSATION-Another Towel Project
I would like to take you on a little adventure with me. People often wonder why hand crafted items cost so much. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you what it takes to weave hand towels. Yes, I know that you can go to a store and buy half a dozen of then for what one hand woven towel costs. However you will be back in a year buying another half dozen, while the hand woven ones keep working for nine more years,
This summer, I have chosen to dye 15 yards of warp for a run of towels. They will be woven in the shop. Generally there are 15 or 16 towels when the work is completed. The yarn used is a high quality unmercerized cotton. By the way, the warp threads weighed 2 1/2 pounds when dry.
I dyed the warp in the back room of the shop. That is a standard 6 foot table. The plan is for each towel to have at least 2 colors in the warp so that there are no two exactly alike when all is said and done. The painting took about and hour and a half.
The dyed warp then had to rest for a couple of days for the yarn to to take on the color. There is a bunch of chemistry involved. I just trust the process and know that the color will not be as intense after rinsing.
Rinsing:Do you have any idea how heaving a soaking wet, 15 yard warp chain can be? It really helps to have a large sink.
Drying: Hoping that the wind doesn't start up.
And finally,winding on to the warp beam!
This is going to take more than one shift.
To be continued...