Welcome to the TSWG website

If you are visiting our website for the first time, welcome!  Please take some time to look around at who we are, what we do and how we try to share our love of fiber arts.  We hope you will find inspiration, support and a place to connect with like-minded artisans.  If you would like to join us at our guild studio, check out the About page for information on our hours and ways to connect.  If you need resources to help you in your own fiber endeavors or education, check out our Resources & Links page.  No matter your level of knowledge or expertise, we hope you will find joy in the creativity and work of your hands.  

President’s Corner

Weavers, let’s talk about SETT.  For years after I learned to weave, I struggled with the question, “What exactly is this thing they all talk about — sett?”  Experienced weavers all seemed to know what it was, but no one could define it for me very exactly.  Part of the reason that the concept is challenging is that for every weaving book or website you review, there might be a slightly different definition or terminology.  But, after 7 years of weaving, I think I now have a pretty good idea what it is.  I know there are probably a lot of technical definitions out there, but to me, sett is simply — the density of your warp threads in the reed which affects the subsequent density of the fabric.  

 Sett is usually expressed as EPI (ends per inch), but it is so much more than that.  When we factor in the type of yarn used, sett, weave structure and beat, the result is the hand or drape of the fabric.  In order to determine an appropriate sett for any project, the weaver must first consider the purpose of the fabric and the hand/drape you want for your fabric.  For example, our towels are usually woven with 8/2 cotton, using a sett of 20 or 24 EPI.  We can compare that to the fabric our students weave in the beginning weaving class.  In their samples, students use 3/2 mercerized cotton at a sett of 12 EPI.  The first three samples they weave show students the difference it makes to alter the beat, from balanced (12 PPI-picks per inch) compared to a hard or soft beat.  Using the same sett of 12 EPI, those three samples will feel very differently.  If we were to use a 3/2 cotton for a towel using a sett of 20 EPI, the hand of that towel would feel a lot thicker and stiffer/denser than our normal towels.

 While there are no hard and fast rules about sett, there are guidelines and sources to guide you in determining the best sett for your desired cloth.  First, The Weaver’s Companion.  This little purple and red spiral-bound book, is full of great information for weavers.  On pages 36-37 you will find a formula and chart for suggested setts for different yarns and structures.  The second place you can look for advice on setts is on many of the websites that sell weaving yarn.  When you go to a particular type of yarn, they will show recommendations for Lace, Plain weave and Twill.  It’s a really good starting place.  The third resource is Handwoven’s Master Yarn Chart which can be found on our website under Links and Resources.  It is a pretty comprehensive list of yarns in many fibers and thicknesses.  With a little practice, it is a great place to start when determining sett.  Of course, you are always free to experiment with sett as you “color outside the lines.”

 For our purposes, we in the TSWG have established standards that we would like our members to follow when weaving dish towels for sale.  Here they are:

 Yarn:  8/2 Cotton
Sett:  20 EPI – 2 ends per dent in a 10-dent reed or equivalent
Towel dimensions:
20 inches wide in the loom
Each Towel: 28 inches long with 1 1/4 inch hems on each end = 30 ½” Total
Hem yarn: 10/2 cotton
400 ends (adjusted for pattern)
Warp length: 7 or 8 yards
Yarn Requirements:
Warp – 1 pound total and Weft – 1 pound total
 

As always, Happy Threads! ~ Jan