Hand purled plaid

[AKScott]

Amen to "time consuming," excellent how-to by BarbT here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...y-plaid-40931/


When I was buying up swatches I found 1/2 meter of double wide in clan Scott modern red from House of Edgar, priced like a swatch; so I bought it.

The first night I finished 7.5" and had a huge wad of thread hanging off the cut edge:



So I got organized, the 2x4 is going to be the main upright for my new stitching horse so I can sew up my sgian sheath, I got interupted.



I found rather quickly I like the "barber pole" effect in the individual purls:



And I found a pretty good way to manage both strands at once. Sorry about the depth of field, notice the three red threads are already twisted, I am ready to twist the black three together:



And I found my nemesis. The vertical green stripe in the middle is ten threads wide. All the other narrow stripes are six threads, the 'other' green stripes are 24 threads and the red fields are 50 threads wide.

For the red fields I am using three from each edge in another barber pole purl. That leaves 44. Instead of 7 purls of 6 threads each with two stragglers, in the middle of the red field I am doing the two middle purls at 3+4 threads. Looks fine even from six inches away.

For the nemesis green if I use three from each edge that leaves 4 in the middle, and a 2+2 purl looks pretty wimpy.



So I have been using three from one edge, leaving seven threads in the nemesis stripe:



And two from the other, leaving a 2+3 purl of solid green in the middle:



So far I am eleven hours in. I bet doing both cut (55") edges is going to take about 30 hours. But I am going to end up with a magnificent scarf.

[rtc872]

You have more patience than me! That looks amazing. It makes me want to get into it but atthe same time shuddering at the work!

[AKScott]

Time check. I just finished the one cut edge.

So about 14 hours in. I am developing a new callous on my right index 'twisting' finger.

Also, work height is critical with this kind of time comittment. Something close enough that you can count the wee tiny threads over and over, but not something so high that your trapezius muscles cramp up.

I decided to purl the two ends as well, another 40 inches on the job. I think I can still finish in 30 hours, I am still picking up speed as I go.

[Downunder Kilt]

If patience is a virtue, you are a very virtuous person and someone with great eyesight Great job you are doing

[Eleazar]

Amazing!

Splendid work!

[AKScott]

A snag. 20.5 hours in I have fringed all 140 inches of edge, and I have 91 inches of that purled.

The bad news is I have worn the fingerprint ridges off the high pressure zone on my twisting finger, so my purling velocity has dropped considerable.

I do have a Chimay Blue waiting at the finish line, so I am likely to soldier on rather than put it aside and wait for my skin to grow back.

On the corners I have been holding the cloth down flat against the 2x4 with my left pinkie while twisting with my right hand, hoping the finished piece will lay flat rather than bunching up at the corners. Might be overkill, but it seemed like the orderly workmanlike thing to do at the time.

[BoldHighlander]

I admire your perseverance!

[thescot]

That looks a little too much like work to me.

[artificer]

Good Grief! You are one seriously patient man! It looks great so far. Soldier on and GET than Chimay Blue- you've certainly earned it.

[mookien]

I have a couple of questions about finishing fringed plaids. Is there any difference between "purled and knotted" and "braided and knotted"?

My plaid has three colors in some of the "tassels" (or purls, or braids, or whatever they're called), but most of them have two. I assume this is because the tartan sett has two red bands that are 10 threads wide. Is there anything "incorrect" or less desirable about having tassels with more than two colors?

mookien