Weaving Made Easy

weaving made easy 17 Projects Using a Simple Loom

Liz Gipson

two-skein scarf the trick to weaving with variegated yarns is use them in such a way as to bring out their beauty without combining too many colors so that end up looking muddy. One trick is to grab a skein of beautifully variegated yarn and find a coordinating solid that will complement the variegated colorway, as in this scarf of subtle beauty. For a different look, use the solid color in the warp and weave with the variegated. Simple hemstitching allows beauty of the variegated yarn to show in the fringe. Finished Dimensions About 9˝ wide by 58 ½˝ long, plus 6” fringe at each end.

Weave Structure Balanced plain weave.

Equipment 10-dent rigid heddle with 10˝ weaving width; 1 stick shuttle. Sett (epi) 10. Weaving Width 10˝. Picks per inch (ppi) 8. Warp Length 90˝ (includes 20˝ for loom waste and take up) Number of Warp Ends 100.

Yarns Warp 4-ply wool/silk blend (1,150 yd/lb): 250 yd variegated. Shown here: Mountain Colors Twizzle (85% merino, 15% silk; 1,142 yd/lb): Indian Corn. Weft 2-ply alpaca/wool/metallic blend (1,250 yd/lb): 135 yd teal. Shown here: Nashua Handknits Ivy (50% alpaca, 45% merino, 5% estellina; 1,252 yd/lb): Blue Teal.

Warping Warp the loom (see page 00), following the specifications at left.

Weaving Weave an inch or two of header to spread the warp ends (see page 00). Leave a 30” weft tail at the selvedge to use for hemstitching later, then using a soft beat, weave a few inches with weft yarn. Thread the weft tail on a tapestry needle and use it to hemstitch (see page 00) around two warps and weft at the starting end of the scarf. Continue to weave until the scarf measures 60”. Cut the weft, leaving a 30” tail. Thread the tail on a tapestry needle and use it to hemstitch as before.

Finishing Remove the fabric from the loom (see page 00), preserving the loom waste for fringe. Remove the scrap yarn in the header. Handwash in lukewarm water with mild soap, rinse. Roll in a towel and squeeze out excess water. Lay flat to dry. Trim the fringe to 6” using a rotary cutter on a self-healing mat.

weaving made easy

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simply striped rug simple stripes

in rich colors create a floor covering that’s perfect for any room. With colored pencils, sketch your stripe sizes and color on paper until you find an arrangement that works for you. A tapestry beater—a large hand-held “fork”—will come in handy when weaving this cloth. You can press the weft into place with the rigid heddle, but the tapestry beater will help pack the weft further to create a dense, sturdy fabric. Lattice knotting finishes the warp ends and add a decorative touch.

Finished Dimensions About 19 ½˝ by 36˝ long, with 1” fringe at each end.

Number of Warp Ends 105.

Yarns Weave Structure Weft-faced plain weave.

Equipment 12-dent reed with 21˝ weaving width; 3 stick shuttles; tapestry beater (optional).

Warp and Weft Specifications Sett (epi) 5 (using a 12-dent reed). Weaving Width 21˝. Picks per Inch (ppi) 21. Warp Length 68˝ (includes 30” for loom waste and take up).

Warp 4-ply 8/4 fingering-weight unmercerized cotton (1,600 yd/lb): 198 yd dusty pink. Shown here: Mayville Carpet Warp (100% cotton; 800 yd/8 oz): fill in color. Weft 2-ply very bulky wool (260 yd/lb): 53 yd maroon, 202 yd dusty pink, and 216 yd rust. Shown here: Halcyon Yarn Rug Wool (100% wool): #?? Maroon, #?? dusty pink, and #?? Rust..

Warping Warp the loom (see page 00) following the specifications left. To space the warp in the reed, *thread a slit, skip the next hole and slot, then thread a hole, skip the next slot and hole, and repeat from * across the width. Every threaded slot must be followed by a threaded hole in order to form plain-weave sheds. Wind one shuttle each with rust, dusty pink, maroon, and pink.

Weaving Weave about 3” of firmly packed header to spread the warp ends (see page 00) and provide a solid ground for beating the weft (see Getting a Firm Beat, page 00). Using a firm beat to ensure that the warp ends are completely covered with the weft, weave 3” with rust, 2” with dusty pink, 1” with maroon, then 2” of pink. Repeat this sequence three more times, then weave 3” with rust. Weave 2” of firmly packed header to keep the last weft pick in place.

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Bobble Slippers

project gallery

Bamboo Obi

Space Saving Mats

table of contents Introduction The Basics Warping and Weaving Getting Up to Warp Speed Fully Loaded Scarf Cozy Coasters Bobble Slippers Color Play Plaid Two-Skein Scarf Piping Hot Pillows Layered Cravat Tweed So Fine Grab it and Go Bag Pleasing Proportions Bag Bamboo Obi Loopy Mats Simply Striped Rug Pick-Up Belt Space Saving Mats Leno Runner Brooks Bouquet Shawl

Brooks Bouquet Shawl

Problem Solving Terms to Knot Illustrated Glossary Warping Checklist Project Planning Sheet Sources for Supplies Index weaving made easy

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transform yarn into cloth with just a simple loom Weaving Made Easy shows how to make sinuous, drapey fabrics; sturdy, practical fabrics; and fun, funky fabrics on just two shafts—no expensive, large looms here! Anyone can learn, using nothing more than their hands, their imagination, and their third-grade math skills.

Inside, crafters will learn how to: » Work the easiest of looms through clear, step-by-step photographs and detailed instructions » Use color, differential shrinkage, and hand-manipulated techniques to create stunning fabrics » Create 18 inspirational projects including scarves, bags, belts, tops, and a bevy of household goodies such as pillows, placemats, rugs, and blankets in a wide array of yarns from beautiful wools to silken bamboo

Paperbound, 8½ x 9, 128 pages

About the author Liz Gipson, former managing editor of Spin-Off

150 photographs

magazine and the current managing editor of Handwoven magazine,

ISBN 978-1-59668-075-3

learned to weave at age five. Liz has made appearances on the DIY

$24.95

and HGTV programs Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads and is a

November 2008

co-host of public television’s Knitting Daily TV. She is the president of the Spinning and Weaving Association and lives in Loveland, Colorado.