Reeled Silk!

I’ve been reeling, throwing, dyeing, and weaving – the result:


These are bobbins of tram; they are the untwisted silk that I’m using for the brocade. Tram is best for applications where its shine will be appreciated, but it won’t be abraded or under tension. The golden bobbin is organzine.

These are the spools of various threads for the project. The large roll spools are organzine for the warp and weft; the small spools are the tram for the brocade. The colors are all Jacquard acid dyes, from Dharma Trading.

This oak leaf is brocaded in; it really doesn’t want its picture taken! The light keeps catching in the thread, and making it hard to see.

This is a sample of the text that I’m going to use in the ribbon. It’s for a friend’s SCA laurel medallion, and will eventually have his motto “From the foot to the head” and his SCA name “Philip White,” along with his initial W brocaded in Japan gold, and oak leaves and a laurel wreath.

26 replies
  1. fiberaddict
    fiberaddict says:

    Ooooooooooooh, I’m envious! That is absolutely scruptious!

    Lucky friend!

    Think I need to go dig out some of my silk bricks and play (looks at wheels; none are “available”…..hrumph! Need another wheel! *g*)

  2. admin
    admin says:

    Hee hee… yeah, I’m the Micro-Master of Tiny Town. There’s not a reed involved, but I’m guessing that the sett of this ends up at about 250 – 265 threads to the inch.

  3. greyfortholly
    greyfortholly says:

    Wow!
    The sheen on those threads is spectacular! You have achieved clear colors, makes my eyes thirsty for more.

    Thankyou for posting the photos of your weaving too! I love to look at other peoples work like that. I tend to work with sead beads on fabric and I love to work with jewel tones too. That is an amazing piece you are working on.

  4. s2go
    s2go says:

    I promise not to tell Phillip about it. He’s just going to shit!! Are you actually going to be at the event? I’d love to meet you in person finally.

  5. admin
    admin says:

    Oh, no worries about telling him… we’ve been consulting every step of the way, and he’s already seen the photos. It’s not a surprise, it’s a commission.

    I’m planning to be there. I won’t be there early – I have to work Saturday, but hopefully will be able to get away around 3 or so, should be there before most of the evening to-do.

    See you there!

  6. admin
    admin says:

    :chuckle: I’m glad to hear my legend still lives on.

    I wonder how many folks that I remember from Way Back When, will be there!

  7. fieryredhead
    fieryredhead says:

    *bouces about*

    So excited to meet you! You better find me and say hello; I’ll be the autocrat with the red hair running around crazily. 😉

    Thoise threads are gorgeous. And I’m so jealous of Philips pressie!

  8. darthcynthia
    darthcynthia says:

    The threads are all so SHINY! It looks awesome 😀

    Sure wish I could go to 12th night, but there’re a few things keeping me from attending…darnit 🙁 Ah well… Have fun!

  9. admin
    admin says:

    Re: *bouces about*

    I’ll definitely try! What’s your SCA name? I’m Colin Severne. I’m not sure how many people will recognize me, because it’s been seven or eight years for most of them, and I cut off my waist-length hair.

  10. admin
    admin says:

    Re: *bouces about*

    I’m not sure yet what I’ll be wearing… a lot of it will depend on what I can find all the pieces of, and pour my fat arse into. It’s likely to be 1510 Italian, though, because that’s what I’ve got. Squeezing Day is going to have to be mid-week, because I’ve got to finish the ribbon first!

  11. admin
    admin says:

    I was *so* happy to find the little bobbins! I’m guessing they’re at least 100 to 150 years old – they’re clearly hand-whittled, rather than machined.

    And Rosemarie Miller, a friend of mine from the Catherders list (silkmoth folks) made the little shuttles – they’re perfect for brocade.

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Security Code:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.