A new year, a new craft!
I've finally gotten a chance to take a photo of my Christmas present....
It's a loom! A 24" Kromski Rigid Heddle Harp, to be exact. I chose this loom because it's on the less expensive side of looms and it came with everything I needed to start right away. I'm already on my third (gasp!) project.
All of my projects have been made with sock yarn, here's the first one, a scarf, made of Sundara Sock yarn in Hydrangea and Lenten Rose. It's not very exciting...
... and it's too short! I thought I would make a table runner, but it's too long for a table runner and too short for a wraparound scarf. I will keep it as a memento of my first weaving project! I was so proud of it I put in on my nightstand to sleep next to the first night I made it.
A detail shot, you can see my messy selvedges.
My second scarf was made out of more Sundara Scarf yarn in Dahlia. I made the warp too long (the yarn that makes up the length of the scarf) so I had to Frankenstein it with some random sock yarn...
I'm still learning about what lengths will work! Here's the scarf with just the Dahlia yarn:
and here's the Dahlia with the solid yarn
The current project on the loom is some Koigu with some solid unknown yarn I had wound up, I think it's some blend but I'm not sure.
So, do I like weaving? For the most part, I really, really do. The most tedious part is setting up the warp yarn. I need a good couple of hours to do it and Rob's help. But once the warp yarn is set up, weaving itself is very meditative and it goes by fast! I only started last week (maybe on Tuesday?) and I've accomplished a lot! I'm still working on getting really neat selvedges (if any of you have any tips, they'd be much appreciated!). With this type of loom, one is limited to pretty much a standard weave, I can't make any neat herringbone weaves or other patterns. So, I think I'll be working with color and texture and I'm looking forward to using yarns that I don't really like to knit with, like silk and linen - they seem like they'd be great on the loom. And Rob is super happy that I'm using lots of stash yarn... :)
Jan 4, 2009
Reader Comments (16)
What a fun new toy! I love the look of the woven fabric, but I'm refusing to become anything other than mildly interested in weaving (I need another hobby like a need a hole in the head). I'll just have to admire your projects from afar!
Oooh, lovely! I've been dying to learn to weave too. Your first attempts look great to me :)
Beautiful! You are doing so well so quickly!
wow! how exciting!! i love what you made so far - bring them to work so i can see in person!!
xo
jen
Fascinating! We've recently hired a dye assistant who weaves and it's been really interesting to see the yarn woven instead of knit and with your projects, even more interesting to see it in some of my old colorways. Good luck with your new hobby!
how awesome! so pretty... ooh... I can picture a woven spring scarf around my neck :)
I had a feeling that weaving might be your new craft! :) Your first projects look AMAZING! Great job, Mari!
sounds exciting! i love the fact that you can use up stash yarns! have fun!
That looks lovely. A new craft and using up stash yarn! what a great idea. I know nothing about weaving but all three scarves look lovely. My heart fluttered when I saw the Koigu! It looks divine.
Wow you are so productive and I believe you are enjoying it much huh? What a coincidence Mari!! I got a Schacht rigid heddle loom from my husband for christmas as well!!! I am having some difficulty warping the loom. sigh.
OMG!!! Those are so lovely!! I'm so excited that you started weaving!
Awesome, Mari-
I think all of your projects look beautiful! I'd love a loom- I'll be eagerly anticipating more weaving posts.
If you ever make it out to the Highland Park area- there is a weaving studio/ store called Pets with Fez. Baba, the gentleman who owns the store along with his wife is a master weaver and offers classes. They have the most amazing weaving fibers/ yarns for sale.
You can do more than you think with a rigid heddle. Do a search on www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/index.html and handweaving.net. I saw a book called Weaving Made Easy (no affiliation, just saw it in Borders the other day) that had some interesting weaves also. Have fun with your new loom!
What an awesome Christmas gift!!!
You've caught on so quickly to weaving that I'm tempted to try for myself now too! ha
OMG!! I'm so jealous!
incredible for a first start! i've never woven or used a loom before but would really, really, really like to give it a try. do you think this is something I could teach myself if i had this loom...how hard is it?