Project notes: Bridesmaids' wraps

Yarns used: Basketweave variation in multiple novelty yarns. Plainweave in black chenille and black wool yarn with black sparkles. Weft is Jaggerspun Zephyr in burgundy, adminal and emerald.

Pattern: Basketweave variations with plain weave stripes, based on "Designing with Novelty Yarns" by Barbara Herbster, Handwoven Jan/Feb 05, Issue 123. Both shawls were woven on the same warp with weft variations.

Sett: 8 epi, 26" in reed

Warp color: black/multi
Weft color: Burgundy, Admiral (blue), Emerald (green), plied together in progression. No same yarns together, when at the end of one bobbin, pick one of the two colors and combine it with the third for next bobbin.

Length: 193 inches, including fringe.

Notes: Getting this project on the loom was by far the most time consuming part of the process, and I had to redo the tension towards the end when the chenille began sagging. The color progression worked very well, producing a gradual shading rather than "grotty stripes". I was very pleased with the results, but I'm unlikely to do it again, unless I decide that I need to use up the vast piles of leftover novelty yarn - there's a lot more plain weave and a lot less novelty yarn than I bought for originally. Also, too expensive for most items, given the cost of novelty yarn in typical weaving quantities. If doing it again, I'd made them somewhat smaller as they are really larger than they need to be.

I got scolded and accused of causing rioting when I took them off to loom, so I've borrowed one of them back and hope to make amends by showing it around at the next guild meeting