More on weaving with handspun in S & Z twist

Last fall, I published some posts describing the process of weaving a fabric with S & Z twist single-ply handspun. I made a warp of merino and silk blend yarns, alternating stripes in S & Z twist, in various shades of green.

The reason: when you weave a fine weft on this kind of warp (using what Kathryn Alexander describes as "energized singles") and then wash your fabric in hot water, the fabric puckers and waves in a random seersucker-like pattern. I love the texture!

Here are more photos, showing what the fabric looks like under tension on the loom, when the tension is released, how to wash it, and what it looks like when drying.

At this point I'm working on a woman's top made of this fabric.

It looks boring, like gauze, on the loom.

This is what happens when you release the loom brake.

I wash it in a bin in my sink, using HOT water and Ivory dish liquid and a bit of agitation.

This is what the fabric looks like as it dries. More to come!

(Note: If you're interested in reading the entire story, please see my previous posts on October 22 and November 21 of 2010.)