Remember the Monk’s Bag? That was my muslin for a handwoven version. The draft is called Floral Dance from Anne Dixon’s The Handweaver’s Pattern Directory.
I put on 7 yards of unbleached cottolin, which should be enough to make 2 bags plus lots of sampling.
Believe it or not, I got the 30 end per repeat threading correct on the first try. I’m really really happy about that. What I’m not happy about is the sett. I started with 20 epi and it’s just too dense. My pattern isn’t coming out square unless I use a cobweb tabby weft (the top half of the top repeat). So, I have cut the sample off the loom and will be re-sleying it at 18 and see how that works.
I’m also not happy with my pattern weft. I just grabbed a partial bobbin of leftover yarn from another weaving project that approximates my hand spun yarn. In fact, I used it as a spinning guide. You know what? It’s gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. So much so that I’m tempted to buy more of this yarn to make a bag out of it. Why am I unhappy? It’s Handmaiden’s Sea Silk. Outrageously expensive for a bag that has an alternate name of “Beggar’s Bag.” Who uses hand painted silk for a Beggar’s Bag?