Finished my second weaving project! It's the one on the left, my first weaving project is the one on the right. Turned out much better this time!
It's another plaid scarf, this time using worsted #4 weight yarn instead of #2 weight yarn.
I wouldn't be completely embarrassed to wear this new one out in public like I would be with my first attempt. The first one makes you think "Oh, you tried to make a scarf, that's nice!" while the second one actually looks like a somewhat decent scarf IMO!
I experimented with a different way of approaching selvedges, where I wrap the "carried" color underneath the weave of the "active" color, rather than letting it run loose up to the next stripe like I did in my first attempt. I think I achieved a much cleaner looking result with the new method. (New method on left, old method on right)
One big lesson-learned was that I need to leave myself enough unwoven warp on both ends to form proper-length tassels/tie-offs. I didn't give myself enough warp on the beginning-end of the weave, so the tie-offs were way too short. (Beginning-end on the right, finish-end on the left)
The weave is still pretty loose, and I think it's because my beater has 2mm thick plastic reeds. I'm pretty sure the reed thickness is preventing me from getting a tight weave.
I just whipped up a new beater design in Fusion 360, and I'm printing a prototype now. This one doesn't have any plastic reeds at all, and instead has notches that I can wind string around. Hopefully I'll be able to wind it tightly enough with thin nylon thread to make a beater with very thin reeds, similar to a metal reed beater, without having to go and buy one. If the basic idea ends up working, I'll do a second design pass at the new beater. (Left is the new reedless threaded beater, right is the original beater)
