Natural color Rigid heddle board and shuttle for hand weaving, backstrap weaving or table looms. Heddle board is cut of decorative and hard elm plywood. With oaken handle! There are no sharp edges or corners - every slot edge is blunt - thread will not be damaged. Shuttle on one side has a beveled edge - for pushing threads tight. Heddle board and shuttle are handsanded smooth, finished with linseed oil and bees wax mixture. Heddle board size: length 17 mm, width 12 cm, thickness: 3 mm Number of holes: 18 Number of slots: 17 Hole size: 4mmx2mm Slot size: 10,5 cm x 2 mm You can choose to buy with or without shuttle! Shuttle length 15,5 cm, width 2,5 cm, thickness ~3 mm. More our heddle boards you can find here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VytuVatu?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=26143228 If you need special size heddle board - write me.
Glitz MetaWeave Cotton, metallic yarn, linen upholstered board 23” x 8.5” 2022 This series is comprised of individual woven tape using inkle looms, rigid heddle and tablet weaving to create interwoven masses that are mounted on upholstered amorphous shapes. The tape are organically woven together in plain weave and expand beyond the traditional grid composition. Their asymmetry grows and evolves with each under-over motion. The structured nature of weaving is pushed beyond regular limitations and creates a sense of chaos and randomness when order is the norm. Bishop uses joyful and contrasting color and pattern relationships of each band to direct which way the weaving will grow. With every added band, a new pathway is formed.
Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom Learners KitThe ultimate learners weaving kit is here. This exclusive kit has everything you need to get started weaving with the popular Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom40cm Rigid Heddle Weaving Loom - including 2nd heddle kitAshford Book of Rigid Heddle WeavingTwo Rigid Heddle ReedsFour Yarn colours for your first projectTwo ShuttlesAccessories including Scissors, Measuring Tape, Threading hook, Warping peg and clampStep-by-step instruction bookletWarping sticks (cardboard)Fringe Twister
Years ago I found a crude paddle tape loom in my attic. It is just a plank of wood with holes and slots cut in for the heddle and indentations to set between your knees. It has holes and slots enough for 42 threads total. Then I met Roger about 8 years ago. Roger is Norwegian and lives in Minnesota where a lot of Scandinavians settled in the 1800s. After seeing all his books on Scandinavian folk art, visiting the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah IA and meeting lots of other Scandinavian folk artists, I wanted to try out the elaborate patterns they wove. Here in New England, we made simple practical bands to use as ties and trim. The Scandinavians love bright colors and took the patience to make elaborate bands. It would seem all women were weavers, knitters and sewers. A girl learned these skills at a young age. So a young Scandinavian man trained at a young age to carve wood and looking to please a sweet young girl, would carve an elaborate mangle board or tape loom for a chosen girl. He would sometimes carve her name and date or a little saying into the loom. On presenting the loom to the girl, and if she accepted the loom, she accepted him and the courtship would begin. However, if the girl refused the young man and his present, he would have to carve another one for the next girl. Thereby the saying, "Beware of the man with too many mangle boards." So, all you reenactors, weavers, crafters and romantics out there, why not carve a simple tape loom for your sweetie this Christmas, (or girls, get your sweetie to make one for you) there is still time! If you google tape loom images you will find many ideas. None of them are perfect, none precise, all are beautiful and a cherished gift to hang on your wall when you are not weaving. Utstilt på Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo. Norway And if you are still not sure how to weave on it, you can check out my new instruction book, "Tape Loom Weaving... simplified", on Amazon or www.eastknollpottery.com Life can be fun... go make it so!
Rigid heddle board and shuttle for hand weaving, backstrap weaving or table looms. Heddle board is cut of decorative and hard elm plywood. With oaken handle (oak on both heddle sides), and oak strap Heddle board is sanded smooth and finished with linseed oil and bees wax mixture. There are no sharp edges or corners - every slot edge is blunt - thread will not be damaged. Shuttle on one side has a beveled edge - for pushing threads tight. Heddle board size: length 17 mm, width 12 cm, thickness: 3 mm Number of holes: 18 Number of slots: 17 Hole size: 4mmx2mm Slot size: 10,5 cm x 2 mm Shuttle length 15,5 cm, width 2,5 cm, thickness ~3 mm. More our heddle boards you can find here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VytuVatu?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=26143228 If you need special size heddle board - write me.
I have updated this popular pattern to include more sizes and 2 length options. This simple 4 piece overtop has centre front and back seams, no side shaping, side and back vents at the hem (View A) and a neckline finished with bias tape. https://youtu.be/lvOyFGwxRj4 shows an alternative version, cut sideways, for very narrow fabrics pieced together with ribbon. See YouTube "Wear Your Weaving" www.youtube.com/@getweaving8459 for lots of helpful tips. I'm including the information sheet for this Get Weaving- original sewing patterns for your hand woven fabrics, by Sarah Howard (author "Simply Woven" 1986, "Creative Weaving" 2007, "Get Weaving" 2014). The designs are suitable for a variety of loom widths so if you can weave a scarf they will help you move on to weaving a complete wardrobe. See my booklet "Cutting Without Fear" for ways to prevent your cut fabric from unravelling Full size pattern (S- 5XL), cutting and sewing instructions included. Published April 2024 Sarah has been a teacher for over 30 years and has inspired and helped many people to begin weaving and making clothes. The patterns are all tried and tested
double slotted rigid heddle for band weaving with shuttle o 5 pattern threads o heddle 13cm x 9 cm (5in x 3.5in) o baltic birch plywood lasercut o finished with linseed oil o center marked download the pattern drafts: https://www.etsy.com/listing/661877564/pattern-drafts-double-slotted-rigid?ref=shop_home_active_1 is this a new looking heddle to you? if so check this site out to find more information http://www.allfiberarts.com/2011/double-slot-weaving-reed.htm this kinda heddle design is my favorite for making designs! it is the easiest and fastest! Here Susan Foukles, a very pedagogic band weaver, weaving with similar style but much larger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx-HzxW6t-s
Charming small folk art tape loom with deep carvings, original paint and some unclear text.
Heddle and Shuttle Pouch. I made some small pouches to hold a rigid heddle and shuttle. To fasten the bags, I used a narrow woven band. This is looped around the pouch and tucked under. The idea is not mine. My friend Tamaki made me a beautiful pouch for a heddle and used this simple system for fastening. The Pouch Here is the finished pouch. The material is handwoven cotton. I made some cushion covers and overestimated how much material I would need. The extra material was in my sewing box and I thought that it would be ideal for a pouch. I lined the pouch with a pink cotton material which I had bought in a sale. Weaving the narrow band for the ties. I wove the band on my Swedish band loom. My Swedish band loom The first length was 4.4 m which was enough for 6 ties. The band is woven using 162 Swedish cotton. 4.4 m of narrow band There are 33 warp ends using five colours. The weft is burgundy and the same shade as the selvedge. Here is the drawdown and warp chart. Drawdown for the band Warp chart for the woven band for fastening the bag. There are 33 warp ends in total. I used 16/2 cotton in five colours. These colours match the handwoven material for the bag. The finished pouch. Heddle and shuttle A new use for woven bands. It was my birthday recently and a friend gave me a present which came in a lovely paper carrier bag. A lovely carrier bag. It was too good to throw away. The present was lovely as well! close up of the band The band is a simple vertical stripe in two colours, white and pink in cotton. Each stripe has 12 warp ends. close up of the fastenings The ends of the bands has been finished with plastic tubes. A very neat way of ending the band. The plastic tubes are called aglets and are used for shoe laces. STOP PRESS! The Braid Society has my 24 page colour booklet for sale. It is an A4 size. Weaving Hearts and Flowers using the double slotted heddle to weave patterned bands with 11 and 13 pattern threads. This book contains designs for 11 and 13 thread heart patterns, heart meanders, joining motifs and also 11 and 13 thread flower patterns. To order check the Braid Society web page. https://thebraidsociety.wildapricot.org/ The Braid Society sells a number of publications on aspects of band-weaving and braid making. The books all authored by members of the Braid Society are listed below. They are available for purchase by members and non-members alike and can be dispatched anywhere in the world. Prices are in British Pounds Sterling (GBP). The Braid Society does not yet have a full online shop so please email [email protected] stating: Which book(s) you require Where in the world the package should be sent Whether you will pay by Paypal (preferred) or alternatively by cheque or direct bank transfer. The Braid Society will respond by email as soon as possible stating the total cost (to cover the book(s), postage and charges) and payment details (usually a PayPal invoice). Books are normally sent by UK 2nd class Standard post unless otherwise requested. Books sent abroad will be sent by the lowest International Rate. The postage is given before payment is requested. On receipt of payment your book(s) will be dispatched. Happy Weaving Susan J Foulkes July 2019
Save when you buy the set! This 3pc weaving set includes two of our 10" Stick Shuttles/Flat Shuttles and one 10" Pick Up Stick. The double pointed Pick Up Stick also features beveled edges which can be used for beating those threads in nice and tight. Great for rigid heddle looms, inkle looms, inkle weaving, belt weaving, strap weaving, tablet weaving, card weaving, tape looms and most any other small hand looms. Handcrafted from solid Red Oak. Carefully hand sanded and finished with a combination of oil and wax for a natural smooth satin finish. A must have addition to any collection of weaving tools. Measurements: Weaving Shuttles (2) - approximately 10" long x 1 1/4" wide x 1/8" thick Pick Up Stick (1) - approximately 10" long x 1" wide x 1/8" thick Material: Red Oak Other Available Sizes: 6" Set: https://www.etsy.com/listing/495342780 8" Set: https://www.etsy.com/listing/495359112 10" Set: https://www.etsy.com/listing/508853063 Other handcrafted items you may be interested in... Weaving Looms 15" Inkle Loom: https://www.etsy.com/listing/163510805 15" Inkle Loom (Left-Handed): https://www.etsy.com/listing/197252011 30” Inkle Loom: https://www.etsy.com/listing/197969660 Floor Inkle Loom: https://www.etsy.com/listing/209384190 Weaving Shuttles 8” Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/195445830 8” Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Mahogany): https://www.etsy.com/listing/208553287 4.5” Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/208037460 4.5” Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Mahogany): https://www.etsy.com/listing/162713687 3" Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/516043874 3" Beveled Weaving Shuttle (Poplar): https://www.etsy.com/listing/694637595 Wiener Dog/Dachshund Weaving Shuttle (Red Oak): http://www.etsy.com/listing/178134231 Wiener Dog/Dachshund Weaving Shuttle (Mahogany): https://www.etsy.com/listing/208541044 Cat Shuttle (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/245578438 Cat Shuttle (Mahogany): https://www.etsy.com/listing/245298628 Weaving Shuttle (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/208047699 Weaving Shuttle (Mahogany): http://www.etsy.com/listing/162585644 2" Weaving Shuttle (Mahogany): https://www.etsy.com/listing/516133598 Pick Up Sticks / Weaving Swords 18" Pick Up Stick/Weaving Sward (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/495128472 10" Pick Up Stick/Weaving Sward (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/453554868 8" Pick Up Stick/Weaving Sward (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/453322660 6" Pick Up Stick/Weaving Sward (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/465478591 Weaving Tablets / Weaving Cards 4 Hole Weaving Cards, 24pc Set (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/162670066 4 Hole Weaving Cards, 24pc Set (Maple): https://www.etsy.com/listing/385216916 4 Hole Weaving Cards, 10pc Set (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/195964546 4 Hole Weaving Cards, 10pc Set (Maple): https://www.etsy.com/listing/456897796 5 Hole Weaving Cards, 24pc Set (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/230152352 5 Hole Weaving Cards, 24pc Set (Maple): https://www.etsy.com/listing/398714503 Yarn Swifts Floor Standing Yarn Swift (Red Oak): https://www.etsy.com/listing/465560953 30" Amish Style (Table Top) Yarn Swift: https://www.etsy.com/listing/185594043 24" Amish Style (Table Top) Yarn Swift: https://www.etsy.com/listing/181034478 Sewing & Embroidery Tools Singer Featherweight Foot Pedal Adapter: https://www.etsy.com/listing/539630571 Sewing & Embroidery Thread Stand: https://www.etsy.com/listing/491034943 Tall Sewing & Embroidery Thread Stand: https://www.etsy.com/listing/694687111 Crochet Hooks & Locker Hooks Giant Crochet Hook Size U 25mm: https://www.etsy.com/listing/289102195 Giant Locker Hook Size U 25mm: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247960569
A rigid heddle scarf project using gradient yarn featuring a video on how to use gradient yarn in your weaving.
Rigid heddles are wonderful tools for bandweaving, once you know how to use them. Watch an exclusive video featuring Spin Off’s Kate Larson to learn how to warp and weave on a rigid heddle, no loom required!
View pattern details. Handwoven Apron and Towel Designed by Melissa Hankens A matching apron and towel set that pairs an elegant Twill draft with crisp Duet Cotton/Linen. Order a kit. Equipment 4-shaft loom 96 heddles per shaft 8-dent reed 1 boat shuttle + 2 bobbins Ribbon Yarn Warp & Weft: Duet Cotton/Linen, 4 cones Dune, 1 cone Santorini. Specifications 24" weaving width 16 EPI 10 PPI One apron, 37" L x 20" W and one towel, 30" L x 21" W Skill level: Intermediate
Something I wish to share with you all is a small and simple rigid heddle that I recently made. It is extremely portable and easy to use...
[No: XXX | October 20, 2014 | By Viveka Hansen] This second observation from North America includes a portrait from 1773, a box tape loom dated 1794, weaving from Philadelphia in July 2014 and some…
Double hole rigid heddle board and shuttle. for hand weaving, backstrap weaving or table looms. Heddle board dimensions: length 17 cm, width 12,5 cm, thickness: 3 mm Number of holes: 18x2 Number of slots: 17 Hole size: 4mmx2mm Slot size: 10,5 cm x 2 mm Heddle board is cut of decorative and hard elm plywood. Sanded smooth and finished with absolutely natural linseed oil and bees wax. You can choose to buy with or without shuttle! Shuttle is made of hornbeam hardwood,. length 15,5 cm, width 2,5 cm, thickness ~3 mm. Shuttle has beveled edges - for pushing threads tight. Our rigid heddles and shuttles are marked with engraved VytuVatu logo! More our heddle boards you can find here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VytuVatu?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=26143228 Shuttle on one side has a beveled edge - for pushing threads tight. Heddle board and shuttle are handsanded smooth, painted with absolutely natural linseed oil and red color sulfite mixture. Finished with linseed oil and bees wax mixture.
Something I wish to share with you all is a small and simple rigid heddle that I recently made. It is extremely portable and easy to use, especially when you wish to weave a band of just one or two metres. This sturdy little heddle has been carved from a slice of boxwood and given a couple of coats of hemp seed oil. I have to thank sculptor and good friend Ben for sending me several slices of this wood, which is really easy to work with, but has a fine grain and nice strength. Ben works with many mediums other than wood to produce his pieces of fine sculpture. To view his work please check out his website! This style of rigid heddle dates back to at least the viking period when it was used for weaving narrow bands for straps and decorations on clothing. It saves time by allowing the weft threads to pass quickly through without manually weaving in and out of each warp thread. I figured such a simple idea with a deep history couldn't be too difficult to use and I was pleasantly surprised by my first result with this heddle. In rigid heddle looms, the warp threads pass alternately through the heddle's slots and holes. When raising the heddle, half of the threads will raise (those passing through the holes), and lowering the heddle will lower the same threads. The threads passing through the heddle's slots will always remain in the same place. You have to have your warp threads secured firmly before starting to weave. Tension is of great importance and the same tension must be applied to each of the warp threads running through the heddle. The easiest thing to do is to tie both ends of the warp threads to stakes, you could just as easily use any firm fixing to tie to. My heddle can take a maximum of 17 warp threads. For the trial (pictured above!), the warp consists of 15 threads of Wild Himalayan Nettle with a thread of Belgian Flax at either side. The weft is Hemp. The image below shows the simple weave. You can easily see that the weft alternates over and under the warp threads. The heddle makes the passing of the weft much quicker and easier. Natural fibres, Natural dyes and Original designs http://www.sorazora.com/
One of my first YouTube videos showed how to thread a heddle: Threading the rigid heddle for narrow band weaving. I like to have the heddle upright as it makes threading easier. My heddle stand was very crude - just a square piece of wood with four screws in it. The stand is not elegant but it works. My husband and I are not woodworkers and it shows! It was a great pleasure to meet Gunnar Karro in Estonia. He has a love of wood and woodworking which shows in the quality of the weaving implements that he makes. When I spoke to Gunnar, he had seen our rather primitive design. His craft knowledge immediately set to work to design a better version. This is the result. I will show you his stylish heddle stand in action. Threading a standard heddle for a simple warp faced band. 1. First make the warp according to your warp plan. I always use a singles cross to separate the threads. cross sticks in place. 2. Place cross sticks through the singles cross. The cross sticks are two strips of wood with holes at either end. I use treasury tags to hold them together but a length of yarn will do. 3. Weight the end of the warp with a heavy book. This stops the warp ends moving when you are threading. Spread the warp so that you can find the centre threads. Reed hook and two examples of threaders. 4. Here are examples of threaders. I use the left one for threading through the slots in the heddle. Threading through the holes can be tricky. In the centre is a needle threader and on the right are the simple plastic threaders from Stoorstalka. Either will do. Setting up to thread the heddle. 5. Here is the set up. The heddle is in the stand and the warp is spread. The threaders are ready. Sit facing the side edge of the heddle so that you can use both hands. The heddle stand is lined so that the heddle fits snugly. The extra slot in front is for the shuttle. Threading the warp ends through a hole. 6. I always start threading in the centre and work out towards the edge. Return to the centre and start on the other side. Here I am threading a white warp end through a hole. It is easy to have your hands on both sides of the upright heddle. Here is another photograph. Hold the thread on one side of the heddle and pull the threader on the other side. Threading through the slots. 7. I am using the reed hook to thread the warp end through a slot. When you sit facing the edge of the heddle, your hands can easily manipulate the threads on either side. The threading is complete. 8 The threading is completed. The cross sticks can be removed. The heddle is ready for use. Use a slip knot for the ends of the warp. The stand holds the heddle in exactly the right position to make threading easy. Gunnar sells his work at https://www.etsy.com/uk/people/Ampstrike This band is woven like the bands on my YouTube video: Five Ways of Weaving Narrow Bands at https://youtu.be/ZzhuDomPtxE Threading the standard heddle for a patterned band. This warp is for a patterned warp faced band. The pattern threads are always at least double the thickness of the background threads. Look at this threading diagram for a patterned band. It shows what colour thread needs to be in each long slot, hole and short pattern slot. A Threading Diagram Here is an example of a threading diagram for a patterned band with 13 pattern threads. There are 10 border threads on each side. Only half the threading is given as M indicates the centre pattern thread. Key W = white, B = blue, R = red Rd = red doubled thread for the pattern. 1. Look at the standard heddle and find the hole which is nearest to the centre. Divide the warp in two as shown above. Take the centre pattern thread (which may be two strands) through this centre hole in the heddle. 2. Start threading in the centre and work out towards the edge. Return to the centre and start on the other side. Happy threading! Susan J Foulkes 2015
8 Shaft Table Weaving Loom Kit - 41cm Included in the kit: Ashford Book of 4 & 8 Shaft Weaving Ashford scissors and tape measure 4 x 200gm weaving threads 10dpi (40/10) stainless steel reed Raddle Kit 2 x lacquered shuttles: es410: 46cm (18") threading hook cross and warp sticks 320 swedish texsolv heddles step-by-step instruction booklet
It’s been a frustrating and busy year with no weaving progress. So even the tiny cradle loom piece (pictured in my previous post) brought satisfaction. It started in May, when our Scandinavi…
Lately I have been receiving questions about which way to use my heddles. Turned upright or upside down? To an inexperienced band weaver this might seem like
Although I have enjoyed strap weaving with a mini rigid heddle, until now all of my straps became much narrower than the heddle as all the warp threads were staked to a single point at each end. The concept of incorporating a beam on which to load the warp and another beam to hold the woven fabric is not new and basic horizontal looms have been in use since at least the later medieval period. One clear advantage to beam looms is that the warp threads can be kept evenly spaced out during the weave, this will help weave as wide a fabric as the heddle allows. Having all the warp loaded also requires less work space. The mini loom frame above has been designed to work comfortably with our mini rigid heddles. I cut the two side frames from two old larch panels that still had a little life left in them. Larch is very much valued for its tough, waterproof and durable qualities. Attached to the pine dowel beams are lengths of willow, these are for the warp threads to tie to. The beams have 8mm threaded rods inserted at each end. Wingnuts are used to hold the frame together and also to lock the beams firmly whilst weaving. A two ply cotton thread is shown for the warp and a mix of hemp, hemp-cotton and hemp-wool for the weft. All colours are traditional naturals dyes. The frame works well for weaving with a rigid heddle and I'll report at a later date how the frame will fair for tablet weaving. As this frame has been specifically designed for use with our mini rigid heddle, it was important to make this device as compact as possible whilst maintaining ease of use. The frame can be taken down in seconds making it ideal for easy transportation. Measuring 30cm x 19cm x 10cm, it isn't really that difficult to carry around whilst set up with a loaded beam. This prototype will be produced and available through our website during spring 2014. Please follow the link below to view the blog entry regarding use of this frame for my first attempt at tablet weaving: http://sorazora.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/tablet-weaving.html Natural fibres, Natural dyes and Original designs http://www.sorazora.com/
I love the texture of waffle weave, so when I saw "Waffle weave on a rigid-heddle? Yes, you can!" by Kati Reeder Meek (in https://handwovenmagazine.com/free-table-runner-patterns-from-weaving-today/), I had to try it! I made it as dishtowels instead of table runners, and totally messed around with the colors (the pattern is a sweet and simple blue and white) just for fun ('cos that's how I am). It's set on a 12 dent reed, 15" wide in the reed, with 3/2 pearl cotton and 22/2 cottolin (cotton/linen blend) squeezed in with the cotton every 4th thread (which ends up as 18 epi). The waffle cells are created with floats which are made with the good old pick-up stick. These float rows also have a double strand of 22/2 cottolin added. This adds a little more depth and texture to these little waffle cells. I also tried out slim boat shuttles with this, since the yarns were smaller than my usual knitting yarn, and could be easily wound on a bobbin. They really worked just fine (except in that lower float shed where they did have a tendency to dive right down through those big spaces if I wasn't careful). Worth using these again (so much faster to wind than a stick shuttle!). Pick up is with the heddle down, pick up every other slot thread. Then slide the pick up stick back to the back of the loom until you need it. With the heddle up, the stick slides forward flat and a little shed drops down below - making weft floats on the bottom, and warp floats on the top. (notice the 3 threads coming through the shed - one 3/2 cotton and two 22/2 cottolin) Then 2 shots of plain old plain weave with the 3/2 cotton alone. With the heddle down (or in neutral- either one seems to work for this), the stick pops up on its edge and sits right behind the heddle - making the float shed on top. Two more shots of plain weave with plain cotton, then back to the other float! Be aware of the shrinkage on this weave structure - mine drew in a bit, and shrunk quite a bit. Here's the stats - 15 by 27 on the loom, 13 and 1/2 by 25 right off the loom, and down to 12 by 24 after washing - mostly due to the amazing yarn shrinkage as the cells relax. Here's a closeup so you can really see the weave structure with it's triple thread floats, and the amazing difference in size and texture between the washed (on top) and unwashed (on bottom) towels. The pattern is not too difficult - I'd even say it was lots of fun! And it comes out looking really fine, and now I have 2 really fun and functional dish towels! Oh yes, and 2 washcloths (had a bit of warp left to play with).
By Constance Hall Krokbragd, meaning “crooked path”, is a Norwegian word for a particular weft-faced weaving technique. This technique is perfect for making a thick and warm woven fabric that would keep out drafts when used as a wall or window hanging and be very warm as a bed covering or lap blanket in cold Scandinavian climates. The colorful yarns traditionally used would brighten up a long dark winter day both while weaving and when using the finished item. Krokbragd is a weft-faced weave, which means you only see the weft yarn in the woven fabric. No warp yarns show. Traditionally, krokbragd is woven on a floor loom using three shafts, but we rigid heddle weavers can also weave it, with just a bit of pick-up magic. Try krokbragd for rugs, tote bags, upholstery, mats or wall hangings. The color combinations and design possibilities are amazing and endless—and the back of the weaving looks as interesting as the front. The ten tips below will start you on your own crooked path. The journey can be endless. Download the PDF for the sheep coaster shown here. In krokbragd, one row of pattern is actually 3 weft rows: Pick-up row A Pick-up row B Down shed plain weave row. A good way to think about weaving krokbragd is to imagine the weft yarn traveling on the surface as a row of pixels. Each pixel is a dot of yarn. The first pick, pick-up stick A, lays down 25% of the pixels. The second pick, pick-up stick B (the string heddle row), lays down the next 25% of the pixels. The third and final pick, plain weave in the down shed, lays down the last 50% of the pixels. These three picks equal one row of pattern. (Note: where a warp thread is down, the yarn pixel on top will show on the surface. Where the warp threads are up the yarn goes under the warp threads and will be hidden.) Top Ten Krokbragd Tips 1. Choosing the correct yarn for warp and weft is critical for krokbragd success. The warp yarn needs to be thinner than the weft yarn. An 8/4 cotton rug warp is a good combo with a worsted weight wool yarn. 2. Sett is important. A wider sett allows the weft yarn to pack down to fill in the row. An 8-dent heddle works well with 8/4 cotton rug warp. 3. Using string heddles speeds weaving tremendously. To save your pick-up pattern for the second pick-up stick, you can put these yarns on a dowel with string heddles. Use the same 8/4 cotton rug warp yarn to make the string heddles (or use 5 7/8” Texsolv-red tie-folded in half). Measure 6” of yarn and cut and tie into a loop with a square knot. To make all of the heddles the same size, tie them around a template the correct diameter for your loop. 4. Pick up for row A. Put the heddle into the down position and use a pick-up stick to pick up every other slot thread, excluding the outside threads. Push the pick-up stick to the back of the loom. Pick up for row B. With the heddle still in down position, and using the string heddles, pick up the slot threads that aren’t on the first pick-up stick. Place a string heddle under each of these warp threads to be picked up. Bring the loops up and over the dowel rod. When all of the heddles are installed, secure them with masking tape. 5. Set up a table or surface on each side of the loom to help manage the shuttles. You will be working with multiple shuttles, one for each color, so you’ll need a place to put them. 6. The sequence never changes. The colors change, but never the weaving sequence. The first pick is heddle up with the pick-up stick slid forward. The second pick is heddle up and string heddle pulled up. The third pick is heddle down. ALWAYS the same sequence, three picks to make a row of pattern. To make the three picks look like one row, they need to be pressed down firmly. 7. Beat with the heddle every pick. Every three picks, use the hand held tapestry beater to compress the three picks into one row. 8. The pattern chart reads from the top down. Each three-block row is three picks. A row that reads G, G, G is three picks of green following the weaving sequence. A row that reads G, W, W is one pick of green with heddle up and pick-up stick forward. One pick of white with heddle up and string heddles up, and the last pick of the three is heddle down and white. 9. Three colors is the maximum that can be used in one row. One color for all three picks in a row makes a straight line of color as all the pixels are the same. Two colors per row can make a dotted line or the beginning of stripes. If you stack the same colors on top of each other row after row, you have vertical stripes. To start a new color, use a new shuttle and leave a tail hanging off the side to be woven in with a needle 10. Making a nice edge is a challenge in krokbragd. If the color will be needed again on the next row, run the color up the side, hidden under the yarn you are using. If it won’t be needed for a few rows, cut it, leaving a 6
