Day 244: I feel justified in posting another photo of the progress I'm making on the McLeod shawl because it's been quite a struggle to get to this point. The weaving is going much better, with only one shed (1/4) giving me any trouble. I've also discovered that if I feed my Helper before allowing him into the Loom Room, he goes right to his little weaver's box and curls up for a post-prandial nap. When I'm done with my session at the loom, I say, "I'm going OUT. Are you coming with me? Come on, let's go have some sprinkles!" (In case you're wondering, sprinkles are a small, crunchy cat food...not a treat, mind you...which he just loves.) So, thus far, I have six inches done on the shawl. I have planned it to be 72" long, not counting fringe. It measures 32" wide under tension. My squares are a little taller than they are wide, but I think that will work out when I wet-finish it. Will I waulk it? Possibly, and yes, I heard that "WTF is waulking?" from the back row. Traditionally, tartan fabric is put through a process of pounding as the wet cloth is passed from hand to hand through a succession of people gathered around a long table. The task is generally accompanied by rhythmic singing of "waulking songs," and is a time of socializing. The beating of the fibers felts them together somewhat to form a firmer, warmer, and nearly water-resistant cloth.
