Warped

I’m trying something a little different this year, and making a few woven scarves. I’ve written before about the appeal that weaving holds for me, and it’s still true.  I’m never going to be someone who forsakes knitting for weaving, and there’s still the little issue of not being able to tuck my loom in my purse to have something to do while I’m out of the house – and actually, square-footage wise, a loom does eat up a little real estate, which is a pretty big disadvantage for me. (The irony that I’m actually saying that while knitting takes up so much of my home is hysterical, but let’s overlook it for now.)  I do have room for my little Cricket loom though, and it’s perfect for wee weaving projects, especially since I got my hands on this really neat book, Weaving Made Easy: 17 Projects Using a Simple Loom .  In it is a pattern (is it a pattern if it’s weaving?) for a plaid scarf, and yesterday I went on a hunt for yarn to make one – thinking that it would make a good present if I could pin down some manly colours.

A couple of years ago I made the Sunrise Circle Jacket, and I used a great coned tweed yarn from WEBS. For knitting, I skeined and  washed the yarn first to get an accurate knitting gauge ( you can see the difference in that old blog entry if you click, coned yarns usually are quite compressed and have spinning oil on them) but for weaving that’s apparently pretty great, since you weave first, then wash out the oils in the finished project, and the yarn blooms then and fills in all the weaving holes.  (Technical term.)   Steve had given me the test cone, which had small amounts of several colours on it, plus I had the leftovers from the jacket, so I chose three I thought would look very manly together, and I warped the loom in what I hoped would be a really funky plaid.

Actually, I warped it three times. The first time, as I pulled the warp yarn through I totally missed a slot, so had to pull back and start again. (I’m sure the experienced weavers would have a better solution, but right now I’m new, so I can only do it the way that Denny taught me and no other way.) The second time I got it through all the slots, and actually got so far as to wind the warp on, and pull the warp through the heddles… (one yarn goes in the slot, and then the next one goes through the hole) and had the whole thing done and tied off before I saw that I had missed a hole.  I untied half of the warp then (all the while considering my premise that weaving is faster than knitting) and rethreaded it properly, then promptly discovered that I had been totally screwed from the get go, because the hole was empty because the slot next to it had two threads in it, which means that I had to do the whole thing over again, when really – if I had demonstrated any sort of attention to detail in the first place, would have meant that really, I just needed to move one thread rather than half the whole warp twice.  That was when I got a beer.

This morning I started weaving.  I put the three colours on shuttles, and I wove the weft to match the warp – with the same numbers of the colours.  My warp went: 2 charcoal, 4 mustard, 4 grey, 2 charcoal, 10 mustard….

So my weft went the same – 2 charcoal, 4 mustard, 4 grey, 2 charcoal, 10 mustard… etc. I followed the pattern until I was out of room to weave, and then cut it off the loom and tied the fringe, 4 strands in each overhand knot.

All that took – at most, with time out for coffee, work, email and the phone, about 3 hours.  With the 2 hours for warping last night (which really could have been an hour if I was smarter more experienced) that’s a men’s scarf, about 18cm/7′ wide and about 150cm/60′ long, in five hours.  Five.  Totally just five.
(If you can’t see what implications that would have for your Christmas list, I can’t help you.)

I took it upstairs and gave it a good rough wash to get the spinning oils out and to fluff up the yarn, and then dried it in the oven.  (Sometimes I can’t wait. 30 minutes at 225F got it bone dry,  if you’re going to try it.)

I love the result.  It’s soft, funky,  has a really cool 70’s feel, and looks to me like I snagged it out of a vintage shop rather than made it in just five hours.  (I feel compelled to keep saying that.) I love the really obvious difference between the unwashed fabric and the post bath one – everything about this project worked. (Except for having to re-warp the loom, but I’m thinking about that the same way I would ripping out something that had a mistake.) It’s got that great handmade vs homemade look, and I considered keeping it before checking the date.

I’m feeling pretty keen to make another one – maybe using the other yarns in the same family in another combination. For the time being though, it was so much fun so fast, and made such a good gift so quickly, that it’s influenced today’s Gifts for Knitters.

Day 9:  A simple rigid heddle loom, like a Cricket or the Ashford Knitters Loom.  (Mine is a Cricket and came from The Spinning Loft). While you’re at it, maybe send your knitter to Syne Mitchell’s WeaveGeek blog. Looms are fun, funky and don’t take up much space, and really don’t take a skill set that your knitter can’t manage. Promise. (I’m not sure the same can be said of a big loom, but the weavers will chime in, I’m sure.)

Just to sweeten the pot?  If you’re one of those non-knitters who wishes there were less yarn in your house? Weaving uses a lot of yarn, really fast. That closet space you had before knitting? This could really help you get some space back.*

*Weavers, just shut it.

190 thoughts on “Warped

  1. Yep. Weaving’s great for getting a quick little thing going. Lovely scarf. Lovely plaid.

  2. As a knitter/spinner who has recently been introduced to the joys of weaving, what you said in spades. The agonizingly slow warping is made up for with the warp speed (pun intentional) of the actual weaving. Wowzers. Love the colors you chose.

  3. I’ve wanted to try weaving for a long time, but haven’t been sure how to start inexpensively. Thanks! This is going on my Christmas list.

  4. I’ve got a rigid heddle loom. I love my rigid heddle loom. Must go find my rigid heddle loom and get back to weaving things.
    Thanks for the reminder. (And my loom thanks you too, I’m sure.)

  5. Shut what? All the stash closets and bins are closed; ditto for the doors to the (snowy) out-of-doors. Whatever could you mean?
    Lemme think a sec – yep, I’m pretty sure the weaving stuff in this house takes up more space than the knitting stuff. Spinning’s somewhere in the middle.
    Self-control: I do not have it.

  6. I love that scarf. I’m prepared to move to Toronto and become your friend for a scarf like that. My weaving friends (friends who do other stuff but for whom weaving is like knitting is for me) keep trying to entice me with a Kromski Harp and I have to admit, I’m closer than I’ve ever been. P.S. I got that book, too, which has helped stoke the fire. It’s going to have a lot to answer for.

  7. Beautiful!! The woven fabric is lovely, but the washed scarf is scrumptious! I do have a LOT of yarn, but I simply knit. SIMPLY???

  8. I will not weave I will not weave I will not weave… I am not giving in to the temptation I am not giving in to the temptation…

  9. love it! would love to learn to spin and weave also, but with 6 children and an addiction to bejeweled blitz…

  10. Stephanie. That wasn’t nice. Like a new type of manipulating fiber is anything other than an excuse for more stash. Really…should you be misleading people like that?
    What you should be doing is hooking the non-knitting partners into weaving 😉 DH has a loom…taking up space, but no WAY would I consider complaining. Although I do wish he’d use it 😉

  11. OOOOOOH very cool! Please! I can hear my hubby now, you want a what? Don’t you have enough, yarn, needles, pattern books, pottery wheels, kilns, yarn, (more yarn)…Now you want a loom to weave?
    Still…only 5 hours? mmmmmmm

  12. I love my Cricket as it lets me use up all sorts of random leftover yarn in cool scarves. We won’t discuss some of the rewarping I’ve had to do, as it does matter where you loop your warps.

  13. What a lot of others said: I need another hobby like I need third boob. Thanks, Steph. Thanks. (slamming door as I head out to buy a loom)

  14. Hooray for weaving! I discovered it this year as well and I’m hoping it makes a hugeHugeHUGE dent in my stash. It’s also the only way I’m gonna stay ahead of the homespun.
    Oh, and as for the space thing, I was able to pick up a second-hand 4-harness collapsible floor loom for the same price as my 20″ Flip.
    I’m screwed.

  15. I think I’ll skip the weaving for now. it’s bad enough that I got addicted to spinning….
    Altho’ 5 hours? That’s 2.5 train rides for me versus the 4-10 train rides to get a small knitting project done (my train commute is where I get a lot of knitting done…)

  16. I know it’s just a typo and I know what you meant (7″ x 60″), but the mental image of a 7 foot by 60 foot scarf is still cracking me up, even if you could manage it in just 5 hours!! 😉

  17. Wow. I want a loom now but I can’t quickly locate pricing on either web site. Darn. My sis in law asked if I wanted any craft stuff for Christmas and my hsband answered fast “No, she has EVERYTHING already. There is not one more craft item she needs, For any craft!”
    Thankfully the kids chimed in that they had searched through all my craft stuff and that I do not, in fact, have items to let them make stuffed animals, so fake fur was on their wish lists.I was happy to announce that I do not own all the craft items in the world. (For the time being the kids are making sock creatures.)

  18. Oh I have done the weaving thing and enjoy the speed. I have found that I need to be totally alone to warp, it’s an agonizing process. Of course my total lack of time did nothing to discourage me when I found a 48 inch Macomber for 100 bucks. (I have dispensed with the husband and have a huge house- loom now justifies big house) Haven’t woven a thing on it yet. Waiting for time…

  19. I have my Great-grandmothers loom. She used it to make throw rugs and such. It hasn’t been out of it’s box for years, so I’m sure it needs to be re-warped before I try it out. I suspect the thread on it now is very brittle. Maybe a project for Christmas break…if all the knitting gets done in time…

  20. If I wasn’t getting a new roof for Christmas (seriously, a new roof) then this would be on my list for sure. Maybe for my borthday…oh wait, the roof has to count for that and my husband’s birthday and maybe next Christmas…too.

  21. Man, you are killing my Christmas tradition!!! (if I’m not earlier than last year).
    I was waiting for the Christmas project countdown you have every year where you make this list of gifts you’re getting done for the holidays, start freaking out, get the “how to make it work” list from Lene and get the majority of them ready by the deadline, cutting it really, really close.
    It makes my blog reading to see everything you accomplish during that time. With the weaving, it looks like you’re totally going to pull it off this year.

  22. Hooray for you! The scarf looks great. I was planning on weaving some placemats for my MIL on my LeClerc rigid heddle, but I am too lazy to clean the craft room table for loom space. Next year.

  23. Like a siren, I can always hear the call, but I’m still pretty good at sticking my fingers in my ears *la la la la, I can’t hear you*

  24. That looks wonderful and weaving is fascinating, I almost went down that road but my house is just not big enough for another hobby. Each time I see a demonstration I want to weave too but somehow I’m all thumbs and then there is the equipment!
    Good Luck!

  25. Do not have a dryer and I will never forget the great drying recipe—much better than my occasional hair dryer approach.
    I have been weaving on a rigid heddle loom for about 6 months. It will not replace knitting but is magical as a companion project. Also some of those beautiful yarns that never looked good knitted really want to be woven.

  26. I have a Cricket loom and am embarrassed to confess it is still in the box! But, my intentions are to break it out–as soon as my holiday knitting is done–well, maybe after the holidays.

  27. I can’t really see in your picture if you had any issues and you may already know this, but I thought I’d share a nifty trick I recently learned about tying the fringe. If you just take four strands in a row and tie them off across, sometimes they pull in toward the knot, and leave a little gap where you see the weft thread. To prevent that little gap (and make things generally more secure), you switch the last of the bundle of four with the first of the next bundle. If that doesn’t make sense, you might grab a weaver somewhere and have them show you. I made probably a dozen scarves and shawls before someone told me about this trick.

  28. I bought a small tabletop loom at Rhinebeck in 2008 and have been slow to get started with it. However, my DH thinks it is great fun and did virtually all the weaving on the piece we did. A spouse who will share the yarn addiction – is that good news or bad news? Now I am anxious to try more stuff! You always inspire me.

  29. I’m a weaver, and secondarily a knitter. I welcome you to the wonderful world of other weavers!!
    I have three floor looms, and a rigid heddle loom (like yours with the holes and the slots) and a couple of handheld vintage Weavettes. It is addicting, and I know about stash-busting. It does take a bit of house room, but when my DH complains, I point to his band equipment, computers, ham radio, etc, etc. He also has enjoyed the weaverly fruits of my looms so to speak.
    enjoy. Welcome
    Nancy

  30. Funny enough,it was weaving that got me into knitting in the first place. I learned to weave in college, but I don’t have my own loom, and the start-up costs for knitting are much lower. I’m still hoping to buy my dream loom someday, but in the meantime, I’ve got the knitting bug bad.

  31. Just read yesterday’s post. So sorry about your stress & the HOLE!! Also cannot fathom how to fit a major holiday & trimmings (literal) into already jam-packed life.

  32. I have a Kromski Harp, which is great because it folds up so it takes up less of a footprint in my craft closet. If I had been smart I would have pulled out the loom last week and actually made more of the projects I wanted to get done. I might still have time (after Sunday).

  33. Very manly. I haven’t been near a loom in years but used to love it (yeah–I was that kid who actually took weaving in college).

  34. ooooooooooh… I wonder if I can make my husband’s head explode if I ask for loom for Christmas. Maybe if I tell him I can weave pretty mediveal-style linen cloths for him… hmmmm….

  35. I swear I have a skirt with the exact same plaid. Are you sure you didn’t steal my skirt? Must go find skirt now.

  36. Hurray to you for doing some weaving. The scarf is cool! and yes, I like the way weaving drains the storage cupboard more than knitting!
    Good luck with the “hole”.

  37. I live in Arizona. I do not need a faster way to make more scarfs. I live in Arizona. I live in Arizona. yeah, trying to convince myself I don’t need to go out and buy a loom.

  38. Last month you finally sucked me back into spinning. Now you’re seriously tempting me to dust off the loom. What’s next? Tatting? Sprang? Naalbinding? Bobbin lace? I already don’t have time for sleeping. Is there any way you could block me from your blog? Please? 😉
    btw — the scarf looks great.

  39. Lovely scarf, my husband would drool over something like that! I had a small toy loom when I was a kid, I LOVED it, I’ve been thinking about asking my parents if it’s still lying around, I think it only did 4″ wide fabric.
    Funny that I didn’t get into knitting until I was 26, I was a bit obsessed with wool textiles, tweeds & plaids and weaving (can you tell I grew up in Scotland?). When I was 6 or 7 I made an absolute mess pretending a bag of cotton balls was a sheep fleece, I ‘carded’ it with two cat brushes and pretended an upturned wooden chair was a spinning wheel, though I was clearly not up on the mechanics & thought of it as a Rumplestiltskin thingy. A drop spindle would probably have been a really good thing for me as a kid!

  40. OK, the rest of you don’t throw things at me but I honestly and sincerely would have to buy yarn to start weaving in addition to knitting and crocheting. I have some stash but not remotely like what everyone talks about all the time, and my stash would not, I repeat would NOT, make a gorgeous scarf like that. But… how much did you say a Cricket is?

  41. This post comes at just the right time for me… based on an earlier post of yours about the Cricket, I signed up for a weaving class in January. It’s a simple class on how to make a scarf; the warping will already be done for us when we walk in. My only concern about learning weaving was the warping setup — but you saying it was only two hours with a bunch of mistakes makes me feel better about it. Now I can’t wait for my little class and maybe investing in a Cricket!

  42. Hey, I’ve been weaving for almost 40 years (!) and I still making threading errors. Moreover, I just started knitting last year, and until then I never thought of weaving as fast. But now I do….

  43. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. I have resisted weaving: takes too much space; it’s difficult; it’s too complicated for an old knitter to learn.
    But rats. You make it sound do-able.
    Rats, rats, rats. Can I afford another craft?

  44. They certainly eat yarn… by the tub-full. I have 2 rigid heddle looms (18 inch and 26 inch), 2 frame looms (a 6 foot and an 8 foot triangle) and a 45 inch floor loom. I have enough patience to warp the rigid heddle looms, and LOVE the frame looms (which warp themselves, search on Triloom for more info) but the big loom is in the attic. I’ve warped it twice. It drives me CRAZY. I do not have the patience for warping that sucker. (Just FYI? I’ve done an 8 foot shawl in 7 hours, a king sized blanket in 12.)

  45. Congrats!
    I don’t know if all weavers do this, but here’s how I learned how to thread my warp through heddles and dents (although they are combined in your rigid heddle loom) – it’s especially useful if you have a super-complicated threading or color pattern.
    Every 12-20 threads stop the threading. Go back to the beginning of the group and make sure you have done everything correctly. When you’re satisfied that grouping is correct, tie it together in a very loose knot so those end don’t get mixed in with the other warp ends. Move on to the next group and repeat until you’ve threaded all the warp ends.
    You USUALLY catch your mistakes this way, and don’t have to undo a lot of work in order to fix a mistake.
    I usually do it in inch groupings, so depending on the ends per inch, my groupings vary…
    Happy weaving!!

  46. I have to say I will not be joining the ranks of weavers, beautiful and quick as that scarf is. I had a Fisher Price loom as a kid and made a couple hourglass-shaped scarves and lumpy placemats before I got tired of crappy outcomes, mom’s criticism and lectures, and broke the loom on purpose. On the other hand, my knitting has been pretty much perfectly even since my first acrylic swatch. Gotta go with what’s na’chal.

  47. Wow. Five hours? Wow.
    I’ve actually been thinking about a little table-top loom. Damn! I think I left it too late to put one on my christmas list. I hear they’re really good for using up sock yarn, too…

  48. YAY! You are weaver! Think about this, if you had a 4 shaft table loom (or better yet a floor loom) you could tie a new warp to the old warp and just pull it thru the reed and heddles, over and over — cutting way down on your warping time. You may be able to do that on your Cricket, I’ve never used on. You can burn through a whole lot of stash weaving. I use lots of knitting yarns to weave…however sock yarn, for me is a little too stretchy for warp but makes wonderful weft.

  49. Nope! You haven’t sold me on weaving-speed isn’t everything. I still like hand knitted scarves better. Perhaps I’m just being demonstrably loyal to my primary addiction(well, actually, reading probably is first). I might be persuaded AFTER Christmas. Cheers and red wine, Hazel.

  50. The scarf looks great.I wish you hadn’t mentioned the Sunrise Circle Jacket because I have had it on the go for at least a year. The really long front curves were just doing me in and now I am onto other projects while it sits in a nice bag in the kitchen, making me feel guilty!

  51. This time try putting on enough warp for two scarves. You thread once, but get two scarves. You can even get two different scarves by changing up what you are weaving with. Make sure to leave enough space in between the two for two fringes (use a piece of softer cardboard to take up the slack halfway through about a foot wide)

  52. OK, I have to put in my two sense here! I am a handweaver. I do know how to knit, but I never took to it because it is, well, so slow… I adore your blog Stephanie because you are the funniest fiber blogger on the planet! But if you want to knock out a lot of fiber in a short time, weaving is for you! You buy yarns by the pound not by the ball, and actually, I would never set up my loom for less than three scarves at a time. Warp once and weave multiple things!

  53. I’m so impressed you only went for a beer! Warping usually drives me straight to the scotch (which, actually, could explain why it takes so long to get it right…)

  54. Love the scarf! It is making it difficult to avoid the call of the dark side. I was going to try and master spinning before taking up any new hobbies (thanks for that new interest too btw). Now I have to go look up weaving and investigate looms. My fiance will be upset about yet another hobby, but will be thrilled if the yarn volume diminishes even a little. Ooooh, and I could do a table runner that would actually match my house….hmmm. Thanks for the bad influence

  55. OOOH, I’m just starting some knitted-to-be-felted alpine boots. Do you think a 325 degree oven would dry them quickly when the time comes?
    As to “the dark side”–one day you’ll laugh that you took a whole 5 hours for a scarf…

  56. I got the cricket at SS as my reward for surviving the show. I went to the local weaving studio and got an amazing lesson for $10. Love it!

  57. My Thurs knitting group is pulling me into spinning….now you’re showing me weaving. You’re both pulling me to new dark sides….. 😉

  58. Speaking as someone with a big loom: warping it takes longer than an hour. And I need a minion … I mean, apprentice … I mean … helper … that’s it, helper, to wind long warps onto the beam.
    On the other hand, it’s a really good excuse to have a good friend over for food / drinks / convincing to help wind warp.

  59. I’ve been planning to get a 24″ Kromski Harp. My head has been swimming with weaving ideas. Soon. Soon.
    And as far as minions go, I totally want a minion to clean my house.

  60. I’ve resisted spinnning. But there is a loom that belonged to my sister-in-law’s family, that my daughter never quite got to using. Maybe that’s my reward for when I finish with the 10 (large) boxes of family photos etc. Maybe I should just make sure the pieces are safe, and find someone who can replace/repair/refinish.
    By the way, we have enough snow down here (US Midwest) to fill the hole in your foundation and last way into spring, let you do other stuff. Just let us know, we’ll send it.

  61. You could have added how that loom just rips through left over sock yarn and just think how much more space we’d all have without those bags of left over sock yarn. (Or is that just me?)

  62. Weaving does not cut down on stash. It just makes it bigger and heavier because it comes tightly wound on cones.

  63. I have an Ashford Knitters Loom and am ordering a larger Kromski Harp after Christmas. They both fold up so you can take them with you. Can’t wait!

  64. Nice scarf! And you got it done…how fast? Wow. That weaving thing sure sounds cool. (Come on, I had to say something, yes?)
    As for the threading errors, there are ways to fix them faster than undoing the whole thing. The beauty (and pain) of weaving is that the warp threads are each separate entities.
    So if after you thread the loom you notice you’re missing a warp, you can measure off a new thread the right length, thread it through the hole, tie it on to the front, tie a weight the other end of the thread, and let it dangle off the back of the loom. (This also works if you happen to break a warp thread while weaving. No, don’t contemplate that now.)
    And if after you’ve done all the above you discover an extra warp thread in a slot. Just cut that sucker and throw him backwards off your loom, continuing to ignore him as you weave along. The other warp threads won’t even care.
    What I love about weaving is that there’s usually a MacGyver fix to any problem, without having to un-do a bunch of work.
    And just to be fair, what I love about knitting is the near infinite number of do-overs.
    Happy Knitting and Weaving!

  65. Welcome to the Dark Side Yarn Harlot!
    Weaving is my passion and I must confess that I’m totally lame in the knitting dept. My daughter has the knitting gene and has picked up the torch!
    I lurk at your blog for your sense of humour in the never ending enslaught of Life being thrown at you and surviving. (You’re my heroine… you give me Hope…oh,bollocks… you make me LAUGH 🙂
    Now about this stash clearing you dangle out there… shall I show you my 14′ x 26’studio and yarn storage?? The box load of cones that just arrived and more on the way??
    Maybe, just maybe you could ‘borrow’ a floor loom and give it a real try? Your girls may just like to weave too. That might cut into your stash! But disappearing yarn becomes this black hole that sucks in MORE yarn to replace it! ( ask my husband!)
    I’m ‘weever’ at Ravelry… check my projects out!
    🙂 Susan

  66. Love the scarf! It is making it difficult to avoid the call of the dark side. I was going to try and master spinning before taking up any new hobbies (thanks for that new interest too btw). Now I have to go look up weaving and investigate looms. My fiance will be upset about yet another hobby, but will be thrilled if the yarn volume diminishes even a little. Ooooh, and I could do a table runner that would actually match my house….hmmm. Thanks for the bad influence

  67. I love, love, love the Spinning Loft. Beth is having a new rigid heddle weaving class in January or February and I’m totally going to get a Cricket and learn.

  68. Just saying, in case anyone is interested – LionBrandYarn has the Cricket on sale on their website at the moment for a mere 97 US Dollars (their regular price is $128)…..and I got the shipping free when I didn’t order it for myself for Christmas, oh, wait a minute…. yes I DID order it for myself for Christmas! Oops! I won’t try it til Christmas, but the ‘using up a bunch of yarn fast’ is absolutely the reason I wanted it! Just do NOT tell me if there are different places to buy yarn that is especially for weaving, I don’t want to know!!!

  69. Wow! That’s great! The scarf is beautiful. And you’re right, that is a great help to the Christmas list. Now I want to weave… and I have enough hobbies! Damn you Harlot! *shakes fist*

  70. I have an antique four-harness table loom in my garage waiting for me to figure out how to use it. A Cricket loom sounds like the perfect gateway drug. Coming up with enough yarn to weave with would also help me figure out what on earth to spin next. (I need a reason or I feel guilty. I’m sure I’ll get over this in time; I’ve only had the wheel since late September.)
    My granddad was a weaver. He had a huge floor loom that took up an entire bedroom of his house in the Eastern Townships. Cones of yarn everywhere, skeins hanging from the ceiling… I wish I’d been old enough to pay attention and learn. As it is I have a pair of his handwoven curtains in my office, and a matching pillow, and I think of him all the time.

  71. HAHAHAHAHA. You know, I had been wondering if you wove at all. Weaving ROCKS. However it does nothing for your stash. Well, maybe briefly. Very briefly. It leads to loomenvy as well. I have a 24″ Ashford Rigid Heddle which is Full Of Win and heartily recommended, and now I want a floor loom. However I need a job first. (and for those wanting larger looms? eBay. Just sayin’.)

  72. I have a rigid heddle loom, and have woven exactly two projects. I have fear of warping. I make my husband do the math and help me warp the loom. I’m hoping that after a few more projects, I won’t so intimidated by it. but when i’m done?? OH THE JOY!!!

  73. I don’t even know what most of the words you used in this post mean. But I am almost positive (to the point that I just about have my credit card out of my billfold) that I must get a Cricket loom and make scarves. Tonight!

  74. If it’s weaving, it’s called a “draft.” And welcome to the dark side… my hubby bought (and assembled) a 4 shsft loom for me 2 years ago, and it’s been busy ever since. My stash does double-duty these days!

  75. As a weaver who uses BIG looms, I’m going to follow directions and “shut it.” I do have to admit that you can turn out some pretty fast scarves though. If you had a big loom, you could warp it for 20 scarves and make enough for Christmas for the next 5 years! And no, Elizabeth, you can’t weave socks. 🙂 I weave complicated things and knit easy things, so for me, the time factor is often flipped.

  76. Love it!! I guess I will be dusting off the Cricket loom for the holiday season-thanks for the idea:)

  77. I have a “4-harness” (is that the right term?) Leclerc. I know so little that I have no idea how to warp it; found it at a yard sale. Learning is on my long list of things to do!

  78. Great scarf…you’ve got me interested. I looked up the Cricket loom. Did you build it from a kit?

  79. I bought a Cricket loom several months ago. I didn’t find it too hard to get set up but I couldn’t get comfortable weaving – I always felt like I needed one more arm to hold everything still. The first scarf (using the yarns that came in the kit) is still in it, half done and completely dusting.
    Maybe I need to give it another try. Once I get co-ordinated (ha!) I can see how it would fly.

  80. I took a weaving course at the local arts center and loved it. At the time, it seemed like an expensive hobby to begin, but a loom on sale? Hmmmm, maybe I will pitch the idea a little harder at Hubby.
    Beautiful Scarf! I love the fabric looms produce – so soft and flowy.

  81. I had a date with my Kromski Harp this weekend already, but now I definitely need to do this. I don’t think I have such awesome colors, but may have to drag out some stash to check it out. 😀

  82. I have been seriously considering buying my mom a small lap-sized loom. She loves yarn crafting, but the inflammatory arthritis in her hands is getting worse and it is getting harder and harder for her to hold a crochet hook. Do you think weaving would be good for someone like that?

  83. Been there… many long years ago. Never gave up knitting–it is portable, after all–but there are two looms in my studio that take up all the space, one still in pieces from moving, and I haven’t used them in at least 10 years, though there is a tablecloth warp all measured out and waiting. I keep thinking “Someday…” Meanwhile, I knit socks. And sweaters. And mittens. Etc. There’s quilting stuff around here, too, and an unfinished quilt or two…

  84. My Hubby and children gave me a Structo Artcraft loom for my last birthday. It is warped so I can pull through more I guess. The last time I wove (weaved) was junior high school.

  85. Now that my knitting has led to seriously pursuing spinning, my husband asked me the other day if spinning would lead to weaving. I assured him that spinning was a craft to itself. Under my breath, I answered “gateway drug” and “beads on a string” and “inevitably”…..

  86. I’ve got the Ashford Knitters and absolutely love it. But it’s currently back home in Aus and I’m here in the US. But I have bought a small tapestry loom to play with while here. Cause I’m into researching how they made tapestries back in medieval times.

  87. >That closet space you had before knitting? This could really help you get some space back …<
    That sentence? I’m a weaver. I about peed my pants laughing when I read it. What space?

  88. New in weaving, and have used kids’ little plastic
    weaving loom, made some “no pattern” pieces, just to see if I like weaving, and I love it. I bought
    a weaving loom in Argentina, and have some other looms, but Christmas is nearing and my knitting is taking up all my time.
    Love your scarf!

  89. Thanks for the link to the WeaveGeek blog! There was an article on there that solved a problem I’ve had on a project. I started a place mat on a rigid heddle loom this summer, based on a partially skimmed book/pattern (why should I read directions thoroughly? 😉 that was not turning out as envisioned. It has been in time-out for months, and now I think I can pick it up again and fix it. You have made me very happy this evening, knowing that I can actually save *mumble* nights of effort warping the thing.
    Your Scarf is beautiful, too.
    Facts to file and forget…rigid heddle floor looms do fold up and fit under beds when you’re not using them…not that I have 3 or 4 of them in my house or anything…

  90. You know, weaving had never really interested me. Now I feel an overwhelming urge to do it. So, you know, thanks for that.

  91. Someone may have mentioned it already, but you COULD save yourself a lot of time if you just make your warp in a neutral color and 2 or even 3 times as long as a scarf. Then you run a few rows (enough to tie off or create fringe) of scrap fabric between the scarves as you are weaving and change the weft yarn to create different scarves. From your description, it sounds like it would cut about 4 hours of warping time out of your weaving process.

  92. I keep insisting that I Must Stay Away From The Weavers, since I know I could get sucked in to yet another new hobby in a heartbeat. Then again, your cricket and the slightly larger Schaat loom at Paradise Fibers are very tempting. ACK! (nice scarf, BTW!)

  93. I had a fisher price loom given to me when I was 7. I adored that thing. Even took it to uni. Square after square turned into a funky lap blanket for my grandmother, who helped me with the first scarf. I keep telling myself someday I’m going to get a “real” loom…but it will have to be on the modestly sized. We move too much. Needles do travel well.

  94. I guess I’m just a fiberholic…first spinning, then knitting, and most recently weaving. I even have two looms, but have to wait until there is room somewhere to set up the second one. I am learning that practice does really cut the time involved in warping. Which means I just have to do more weaving, doesn’t it?

  95. Oh, I’ve been thinking about getting a loom ever since I read your first post about it. That scarf is so cool, not to mention it was done so quickly, that I’m leaning hard toward requesting one for my birthday.
    Good job on the innovative drying method, by the way.

  96. Not wanting to repeat what the others say, but let me just share that I felt greatly relieved when you did NOT say, “I could have so knitted this scarf in less than 5 hours!” 🙂

  97. I showed my husband the loom, thinking that perhaps he would file it away as a potential birthday present. (I’m getting a new stovetop for Christmas.) He cracked up and said, “I think this whole craft thing may officially be getting out of hand.” Good thing I didn’t show him the spinning wheel I am coveting.
    The scarf looks great – love the colors.

  98. Thankyou for being so funny…..especially when your house is in such turmoil!!! I have been laughing – again – for the last five minutes and just had to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog over here on the other side of the world.
    Cheers from New Zealand 🙂

  99. Ha space saver/maker!!! I can keep all my knitting stuff in a carry on bag, yet my yarn for weaving takes a closet!
    I’m at the point that I’m making socks from some of my weaving yarn… They are damn uxgxlxyx spiffy too… Green and eye smarting yellow

  100. Warp speed is slow. Weft speed is fast.
    After you’ve warped, weaving is what’s weft…
    Happy Festivus!

  101. Welcome to the wonderful world of weaving! Sorry about the warping thing, it happens to all of us, well, at least most of us. You scarf is wonderful and your selvages look very nice. (That’s a weaving compliment.) I hate to burst your bubble though, weaving does not contribute to total stash reduction, it just seems that way at first. As your weaving addiction grows so does your equipment, yarn, and loom stashes. I started out with a antique table loom (1926) that my friend gave me. My husband and I then set out to rehabilitate it. We gave it some TLC, got rid of all the rust and repainted all the harnesses. I bought some new heddles and with help from a dear weaving friend, I started weaving. It’s great fun and very, very addictive. Now I have 4 looms, a 60″ Glimakra, a 48″ Macomber, my antique table loom and an open heddle table loom, tons of equipment, and an even larger stash! So, you’ve been warned, but you might find that weaving is so much fun you don’t care! At least now you know the dangers involved! Just wait until you start weaving towels, talk about addictive! Great scarf. Happy weaving!

  102. I was so tickled to see a weaving post on your blog. I feel the same. Weaving has a special allure, but will forever be second rate next to knitting (for me). I have an 8 shaft table loom that needs more of my attention. Maybe in the new year. Keep forgetting that it can be a gift machine too.

  103. No worries, it gets easier. Once you have ´that floor loom you’ll be tickled how fast warping a RH really is (from transferring the wound warp to the loom, rolled on and ready to weave in 30min). Sigh, which reminds me that I still have to sley the rest of the blanket warp for my granny’s 90th birthday. But see? I can totally tie on the warp today and start weaving. Then I’ll have a blanket 1,5 x 2m hemmed, sewn up, washed and pressed by the 18th when I need it. Knitting will never be that fast for me. I’d need that long for a hat and a scarf :-/

  104. Your woven scarf is loverly! I’m definitely in trouble. I’ve never woven anything (other than pot holders with those springy loops) but I’m off to check out table looms…

  105. Sorry, weavers can’t shut it any more then knitters, and in this case a lot of us are both! Scarf is darn handsome! But where as your yarn inventory MIGHT go down, you will at sometime start finding additional looms in and around your home. Then people actually start giving them to you because someone in the family no longer wants it or what ever…you can’t have a loom homeless! I now have 4 floor looms in my garage and one in the house and the yarn continues to grow!!! If this is my biggest problem in life I am one lucky woman.

  106. Dude… After reading about your spinning over the last few years, and being totally inspired to spin, I just bit the bullet and bought myself a wheel. (and was then gifted another one but that’s another story). I’m finally getting good at spinning and loving getting closer to the yarn and was totally satisfied with knitting and spinning. Now you go ahead and start a new yarny hobby and get the rest of us obsessing about that too.
    It’s a gorgeous scarf. What other things can you make with an 11″ wide piece of fabric?

  107. For a beginning weaver your selvedge edge looks really straight and even! That’s definitely something to be proud of! Beautiful, manly scarf!

  108. Wait a minute here…everything seems a little off…weaving? Where are the needles,the socks, the next KNITTING project we all try to emulate? Now weaving? Resistance….is……………futile….

  109. Your blog really got me back into knitting, but weaving is my first love. I’ve worked at two different places as a weaver (And let me tell you I miss it, fiber at work and at home? Let me in on that!). I have two floor looms at home (32″ Macomber and a 34″ or so LeClerc) and sure they are faster than knitting… but I desperately miss the flyshuttle looms I used at work. In a 9 hour day, I could make up to 20 couch throws, 30 baby blankets, 40… yes 40 plaid scarves. IN ONE DAY. And still have time to go home and knit. Sigh. Of course my right shoulder still kills me from using those looms for so long…
    Oh! And for warping multiple items (anything over 5 or 6 yards) I recommend a warping wheel (warping mill some call it). I have a small one made by LeClerc, and it is so much easier and faster than a warping board. I’d imagine it would be pretty easy to make one.

  110. I received a beautiful Ashford Knitters Loom last Christmas and it is still in the box. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about it. Guess what I will be doing over the next few days?

  111. Hmm. Adding another ‘hobby’ — weaving — to an already busy schedule. Probably crazy, but the loom might help clear out some of the stash. On the other hand, I won’t get it before the holidays, which doesn’t help with the backlog of scarf presents. Oh well!

  112. Hmm. Adding another ‘hobby’ — weaving — to an already busy schedule. Probably crazy, but the loom might help clear out some of the stash. On the other hand, I won’t get it before the holidays, which doesn’t help with the backlog of scarf presents. Oh well!

  113. Ooooohhhhh….that is a beautiful vintage-y scarf! Hhhhhmmmm….I will be in Toronto for the Holidays…..are there breadcrumbs leading to your door??

  114. Wow! Color me stupid. I know I read the posts regarding the Sunrise jacket but I guess I didn’t read them carefully. Since that time I’ve been under the impression you washed ALL your yarn before knitting. Glad to have that cleared up.

  115. I just took a class at SOAR with Joan Sheridan, Spin to Weave. I just loved it. Since I’ve been home I’ve gotten two lovely scarves off my loom and have warped on a third one that should be done by Christmas. (Fingers crossed)
    Happy Weaving.

  116. freakin gorgeous! i love it, and i want to make one too! i wonder if i showed this to my boyfriend if he would get me a loom…thanks for putting up such wonderful photos to tempt him with! 🙂

  117. I also meant to say I’m using hand painted yarns like Blue Moon Medium weight with much sucess. A 400 yard skein makes a scarf 5.5 ft long 6″ wide.

  118. At the tender age of 9, I innocently made a little loom from a shoebox and wove bookmarks for Xmas presents. Today…53 years later…I have 20 acres, 35 sheep, and a big old farmhouse full of stash, looms, wheels, stuff for dyeing, felting and knitting. Oh yes, and a husband who says he does not live in a house, he lives in a textile museum/gallery.
    Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

  119. I can take instruction so I will NOT comment what-so-ever about weaving space, or the acquisition of weaving stash or weaving implements–not a word from me. shhhhhhhh.
    What I will say, though, is I have seen and even touched (!!!) the amazing scarf you made for the spinner-of-SOAR-fame, Jeannine. That scarf has had members of both the spinning guild and the weaving guild in Tulsa lusting after the gorgeous colors you used.

  120. Somewhere in my storage locker there is a box containing a rigid heddle table loom… do I dare try to find it and bring home. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

  121. (fingers in ears, eyes tightly shut) lalalalalalalalalalalala! I don’t see the pretty loom! lalalalalalalalalalalalala.
    I need another fiber addiction like a need a hole in my head!

  122. Weavers everywhere rejoice. We have another acolyte. Who is also proselytizing all across the net.
    One thing to be aware of when pulling yarn from your knitting stash to use for a weaving project is that knitting yarns are not always strong enough to take the stress of being used for warp. Unfortunately they could break in the middle of a project and cause a nervous breakdown.
    To Lisa in Arizona, visit the Fiber Factory in Mesa if you can (http://fiberfactory.com). I just checked the website and they have a beginning four harness loom weaving class starting in January.
    Thanks Stephanie for spreading the work about weaving!

  123. I’ve got the itch to try weaving, but don’t want to limit myself to scarves. Any suggestions for looms that offer wider widths without costing TOO very much or taking up a whole room in the house?
    joan

  124. Now, that scarf looks magnificent. Oh dear. Should I take up weaving as well? Let’s see. . . if I spent less time eating and sleeping I could probably fit it in.

  125. Nice manly plaid scarf! And good for you for whipping up a nice gift gift so quickly. I think weaving in art class was the beginning of my love for the fiber arts. I started out with the plastic square pegged loom and many cotton loops. 🙂 I used to crank out lots of pot holders back in the day.

  126. I bought a 25″ Flip at SOAR. which was not that long ago. And for all of November, I had H1N1 which pretty much destroyed me. And yet? I am now running out of handspun yarn, so rapidly does weaving consume it.
    Quoth my husband: “Awesome.”

  127. I put everything away last night except some odd balls of yarn, and am doing little sweaters as ornaments – this and socks are going to be ALL that I think about for the next 3 weeks.
    Although, I did do some simple weaving as a kid, and it was fun. I think we did blankets for our trolls. Tempting…

  128. I started weaving some 40 years ago, and put it on hold about 15 years ago. About four years ago a dear friend keeps sheep and said “One of us had better learn to spin” and I knew she meant me…. I figured I’d be more likely to knit with my handspun than to weave with it, which brought me back to knitting. I have a 36″ 4-harness floor loom, which folds so it hasn’t taken too much space while it’s resting. I wondered if I’d ever want to weave again — and your post made me realize that I will! (thanks a lot…..)

  129. Oh my. Lovely and fun! I am getting an expensive new bike for Christmas, but I now want a loom too! Shame on you for putting ideas in my head. I absolutely don’t have time to do anything else. If I didn’t have to work full time, things would be different. I envy you your natural ability to manipulate fiber in a seemingly effortless manner (despite the 3 warpings. that could happen to anyone).

  130. wow, that’s a great gift!! i’m very tempted to add a few woven scarves to my holiday knit list but i think the learning curve might be steeper for me than 5 hours. but maybe next year…

  131. Seriously, you never cease to amaze me. If I dared bring another hobby into the house, I think my husband would kill me…
    The yarn is taking over the bedroom. The paint and wood is taking over the basement.
    Maybe spinning next?

  132. I love making scarves on my heddle loom but hate setting the warp. Wish there was a “rent a warpper” service available.

  133. That’s a beautiful scarf. I learned to knit in grade school (a long time ago). Six years ago I learned to weave and put my needles away because it was so much easier and more fun. Three years ago I learned to spin, so then I took my needles out and am knitting again with my handspun. Yours was the first knitting book that got me interested in it again. And you should check out Weavolution (www.weavolution.com). It’s a great place for weavers to chat and record projects.

  134. ok this is totally crazy. My mom and sister are quilting fanatics and took me to the quilt conference in Houston…..where i found weaving(though with fabric). I sent the directions along with my mom to have my dad make the looms. I get them at christmas…..I can’t wait! BTW I am glad your hole has been filled. Did some remodeling (18 months) the stress is incredible. Knitting helps-knitting away from home helps more:)

  135. This is totally dorky but I am so excited that I beat you to finding the pattern and whipping it up!
    They are really addictive and the combos of yarn and button options almost make the pattern.

  136. I know Joe’s a big guy…but a 7 foot by 60 foot scarf? Wow, impressive, haha. Typo’s are great aren’t they? Lovely job BTW.

  137. For all of you who say you love weaving but hate warping, I suggest a change in mindset. Weaving is the whole process, from selecting the item and the yarns and the draft to setting up the loom, throwing the shuttle and finishing. Put on short warps frequently so you get lots of practice. Have other weavers show you how they warp. Read weaving books and try out various methods, tricks, gimmicks and gadgets until you put together what works for you best. Getting good at it will take out a lot of the pain.

  138. Ha! Finally a topic on which I know something!
    I actually began my Big Yarn Adventure many years ago, with weaving. Then tried drop spindles, but never really progressed to wheels. Only later did I learn to crochet and finally to knit.
    Yes, you’re entirely right that weaving takes *lots* of yarn! And goes fairly quickly, once it’s set up. I’m not familiar with your particular loom and its yardage capacity, but some weavers set up the loom, weave one scarf/blanket/runner/etc. with a group of colors and then leave some space (maybe 6″? it’s been a long time) unwoven, and then start another, using different colors. That way you’re not spending all your time warping the loom when time is short …
    Or, as Leslie mentions, put on short warps frequently so you get good at it, and then it embeds itself in your muscle memory.
    Enjoy!

  139. I had one small bedroom for my stash and equipment when I was a knitter and spinner. Now that I weave as well I have had to commandeer a second small bedroom.
    Just sayin’.

  140. You are turning out some really gorgeous and amazing stuff these days! Just scroll down through the last set of entries and be impressed with yourself!
    I used to adore watching Quechua women weave on backstrap looms when I was a kid growing up in Peru. It’s like magic.

  141. You are turning out some really gorgeous and amazing stuff these days! Just scroll down through the last set of entries and be impressed with yourself!
    I used to adore watching Quechua women weave on backstrap looms when I was a kid growing up in Peru. It’s like magic.

  142. Good for you, lovely scarf! But if you like the warping part (which I do, very much, but also know that lots of folks don’t), it’s all downhill on a very slippery slope. I went from one floor loom to two and now three (of varying sizes and # of harnesses), and now have outside studio space for the two larger looms and my gargantuan stash. 🙂 I gotta say, though, I do still knit – I like that it’s portable!

  143. Oops, oops, my mistake – I meant to say, outside studio space for the two larger looms and my itsy bitsy tiny stash, because, you know, I used it all up weaving….

  144. You say stash like it’s a bad thing! Don’t you remember, she who dies with the most yarn wins?
    My friends tell me that seeing my stash makes them feel better (less guilty) about their own. It’s become invisible to my family. My kids and DH occasionally ask me if I have any “string” they could use.

  145. I was a weaver before I was a knitter. I actually learned to knit so I could have something to tote around with me. Weaving is fun and wonderful but so is knitting.

  146. Oh no, this is dangerous. I have a Cricket Loom that has been floating around the house since I put it together 2 mo ago – and tried to warp it. 😛 I’m inspired again!

  147. Yeah, I bought a loom to use up my stash, and now I look at wool in my LYS in a completely different way. Now I’m stashing fibre for future weaving as well as future knitting. Only, because weaving goes faster, I buy more yarn more often. My own little economic stimulus initiative, I guess.

  148. Thanks to this post (and an interest in a loom about 5 years ago) I now have a mystery loom heading my way for Christmas. I narrowed it down to 3 different 16″ Rigid Heddles, and am letting the gifter decide.
    I decided to go a little bigger than the cricket. Hopefully this will help me USE yarn, not aquire more…

  149. ooooo….., i hear my 45″ Gilmore floor loom calling me. it’s been too too too long since we played together. warping’s a pain (much too mild a word) on a big floor loom (well, with my back it is), but the yards and yards you can put on the warp and the hours and hours you can dance on the treadles will totally make up for it!

  150. Late on this input…but I adore inkle looms! They are awesome, and there is almost no wastage because you have a continuous warp. And its small and goes everywhere. I can even weave in the car on it. And I did. And you can do card weaving on it *drool*, something which I admit to never having done myself. Have fun with the weaving!

  151. I’m late to this one but just had to comment. I got interested in weaving when I was around 9 years old. My dad made me this great little loom (which I still have but the heddles need replacing.) I ordered a bunch of yarn from Parkspin and made dozens of scarves – houndstooth check in two colours mostly. Gave a few as gifts, sold a few and I think one or two might still be lurking in my dad’s closet 45 years later! I’m mostly a knitter now and I haven’t touched a loom in years but I love the idea of finishing a project quickly (warping took most of the time.) I just might have to look into this again.

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