Winding bobbins

Oct 10, 2023 | Diary

winding bobbins Loading the first bobbins with silk. As the time to start weaving the first sample of velvet inches closer, all 150 of the initial bobbins are being wound with silk. calculating velvet The test velvet will measure 10cm in width, with 15 silk bobbins...

Refining rods

Sep 26, 2023 | Diary, Making

refining rods Collaborating with goldsmiths to craft velvet rods. The 0,5mm bit I ordered didn’t give me the precision and control I was looking for in the velvet rods, so I turned to colleagues at the Goldschmiede department of the Deutsches Technikmuseum. The...

Historic velvet

Sep 19, 2023 | Diary, Textile

historic velvet Gathering clues from 15th century velvet. When in London for the 2023 Textile Intersections conference, I had the chance to visit Cosprop, the historic costumier, to have an up-close look at their remarkable collection of historic hand-woven velvets....

Rough rods

Aug 23, 2023 | Diary

rough rods First forays into recreating velvet weaving rods. Rods are one of the most important elements to weaving consistent, high-density velvet, but they are also one of the more elusive and complex tools to recreate. There has been enough conversation in the...

Preliminary pompom

Aug 10, 2023 | Diary, Textile

preliminary pompom Testing the velvet-suitability of a mystery silk. As I reach my first goal of having enough bobbins to weave a small test of velvet, it’s time to look up from the lathe and consider the other elements still needed to weave velvet, starting...