Contemporary Handweavers of Houston

Color Gamp Project: The CHH New Weavers Study Group (CHHNWSG) was started by Lisa S. to answer a need for a study group focused on loom-controlled weaving that would undertake some of the projects that the long-standing study groups have already done. The first weaving project for the group was a color gamp study. In this study, 5 participants explored 15 colors in Turned Twill, Waffle Weave, 3/1 Twill, Summer and Winter, Huck Lace, and Plain Weave. Each member was assigned one weave structure plus their own plain weave.

Yarns: Yarns used were 10/2 cotton used in this order (all yarns Lunatic Fringe unless otherwise noted): UKI #31 Brown, 5 red, 10 red, 5 yellow red, 5 yellow, 10 green yellow, 10 green, 10 blue green, 10 blue, UKI Nassau #23, 10 purple blue, 5 red purple, white, middle gray, and black. The number of ends varied by weave structure (see more detail with each gamp draft.). The color decision took a good part of one group meeting. One of the weavers uses a lot of brown and made that request - but it could be left out for a more "pure" color gamp.

Gamp Structures:

• Turned Twill - Gina
• Waffle Weave - Bethe
• 3/1 Twill - Lisa
• Summer and Winter - Lou
• Huck Lace - Amber
• Plain Weave - All

What we learned - caveat: these are hints from beginning weavers (with a sense of humor)

• 5 colors requires 15 pirns if you are making multiple items. Don't even think of doing it with fewer.
• Place cardboard around the fabric beam over the tie-on knots to avoid tension problems from knots.
• Use same type of shuttles for most consistent results.
• Those who had them preferred end-feed shuttles.
• When possible, get all yarns from same source for consistency. One of the yarns had noticeably less twist.
• If using a temple, move it often.
• Weavers still not consistently happy with medium used between gamps to save fringe area. Cardboard used by one weaver happily, but another reported tension problems as it went over the breast beam. Toilet tissue used by another weaver happily, another felt it did not offer a firm enough fell line.Thick yarn was fuzzy and got caught in hemstitch.
• Many had challenges with sett and beat.
• One had tangled fringe after laundering - ok after steam ironing.
• Rotary cutter method great for fringe cutting.
• One weaver reported fewer treadling errors while listening to Willie Nelson.