Using a Dyed Warp
You have purchased your beautiful hand dyed warp, now you are wondering how you’re going to use it. There are many things that you can do in order to show off your one of a kind warp:
Use a closer sett
Use finer weft
Choose a warp faced pattern
Color choice
Use a Closer Sett
I went through a sampler to show off different aspects to take into account in order to show off your painted warp. I used a 6/2 rayon which typically has a sett of 18 for plain weave and 24 for twills. I dented this warp at a sett of 30 ends per inch.
Figure 1: 6/2 warp dented at 30 ends per inch.
Use a Finer Weft
In order to emphasize the warp, it is beneficial to choose a weft that will essentially disappear into the weave structure.
Figure 2: The warp before and after weaving plain weave using 10/2 white cotton
Figure 3: The warp before and after weaving plain weave using 20/2 white cotton
Comparing the change in warp color between Figures 2 and Figures 3, you can see there is less of a fading in the brightness of the warp. In addition, the 20/2 weft seems to just disappear from notice, unlike the 10/2 cotton which you can still easily see the weave structure.
Choose a Warp Faced Pattern
Figure 4: The warp before and after weaving a 2/2 twill
The balanced nature of a 2/2 twill lends itself to seeing as much of the warp as you do of the weft. That feature (while beneficial in some projects) washes out the vibrant color of the painted warp. Instead, you can choose to weave a 3/1 twill.
Figure 5: The warp before and after weaving a 3/1 twill.
As seen in Figure 5, having the warp faced weave structure allows for the color to really shine in the warp. The draw back to this will be that the underside of the project will be 1/3 twill, leaving it very much a weft faced side.
Color Choice
Selection of color is one of a weaver’s greatest challenges. The right color weft can enhance the project and make it something truly unique, whereas the wrong color weft can leave a project muddy looking.
Figure 6: The warp before and after weaving plain weave using a yellow weft
Comparing Figure 6, above, to that of Figure 2, you can see that color can really affect the brightness of the project. The yellow weft in Figure 6 enhances the yellow in the warp, and the white weft in Figure 2 washes it out a little.
Either way, you are sure to love your hand dyed warp and it will make your next project one of a kind.
