Weaving a filled tubular cord with a weaving disc. This blog accompanies two articles in the Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. https://journalwsd.org.uk/ Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, 285 Spring 2023 A Weaving Disc - an exploration of history and uses. Part 1, and 285 2023, Summer, A Weaving Disc - part 2. What is disc weaving? I have been exploring a little known weaving implement: a weaving disc. The disc seems to have originated in Indonesia but also appears in Lithuania and Russia. These weaving discs are be made with a odd number of holes around the edge and a central hole for the filling material. I have used discs with 13, 15, 19, 21 and 25 holes. A filled tubular cord can be woven using a disc with a circular arrangement of holes and a central hole for the core thread. It produces a cord with a firm structure and the angle of twist can be altered whilst weaving. However a tubular cord can also be woven on an inkle loom. It is useful to examine this type tubular cord before examining the filled tubular cord. Weaving a tubular cord on an inkle loom Inkle Loom. Weave drawdown for 13 threads There are thirteen warp ends alternately threaded across the loom either through a heddle or over the top of the bar. There are two sheds so the weave structure is plain weave. The weft pulls the warp threads close together so the band itself is warp faced plain weave. The warp threads are in a single horizontal layer across the inkle loom. Weaving a flat band The band loom cord was first woven as a flat band. The shuttle was entered first from one side then the shed was changed and the shuttle entered from the other side. Weaving a tubular band To weave a tubular cord the weft was continually entered from the same side and pulled tight. This pulls the flat band around on itself so that the tube is formed. The twist in the pattern occurs because the weft spirals whilst weaving even though the warp threads are in a horizontal line. This twist is permanent and cannot be varied. Weaving a filled tubular cord with a weaving disc. What is disc weaving? With the warp ends arranged in a circle and a central core thread, a patterned cord can be woven in warp-faced plain weave. The weft is not visible as the warp ends are pulled tightly together. The central core thread makes the cord strong. The weft is entered from the same side for the whole of the weaving. The disc is rotated. This means that unlike other weaving methods, the warp is not in a static horizontal plane but moves around as the weft is entered. As there are no books about this technique I had to experiment to find out the most efficient and effective way of weaving. I discovered that the disc itself does not need to be circular. It is the pattern of holes that need to be arranged in a circle. A disc with 13 holes and a central hole A cardboard square with 13 warp holes Visualising the spiral pattern. The SeiZenn - Band Weaving Pattern Editor. This is an amazing resource. This can be found at: https://www.raktres.net/seizenn/#/ The software now includes a disc option which you can access from the home page. Here is a quick link. https://www.raktres.net/seizenn/#/disk This means that you can design a pattern for your tubular cord using this software. It is a great addition to a weavers box of tools. Here is a 13 thread pattern using this software. Here is the same 13 warp thread pattern as shown in the drawdown for the inkle loom but here you can see it as a spiral woven tube. close up of the filled tubular cord. I also made a YouTube video to accompany the two articles : Disc Weaving: making a tubular filled cord https://youtu.be/W7miDg2bix4 The video demonstrates how to start weaving; how to find the point of weaving and how to weave. The thickness of the core threads alters the feel and flexibility of the cord. These cords are flexible and have many uses. They can be made in a variety of threads: cotton, silk, wool and with a variety of core materials. I have woven cotton cords with raffia, jute and rattan as the core thread. Susan J Foulkes May 2023
Recreating the Cambridge Diamonds with woad dyed linen and learning to weave cloth on a floor loom
I watch many new weavers who are anxious to weave beautiful and complex patterns like the ones they see others posting photos of, maybe not even realizing that there are so many levels of pattern and designs, even to narrow warp-faced bands. While the various pickup patterns are beautiful, I sincerely believe that the place to start is with plain weave. And plain weave has endless pattern possibilities! You don't have to do pickup to have a good time! FOR SIMPLICITY OF USE, CONSIDER THE TOP ROW TO BE HEDDLED THREADS AND THE BOTTOM ROW TO BE OPEN THREADS ON ALL OF THE DRAFTS. This pattern, over time, has proven to be the most popular one posted on my blog. I've seen so many iterations of it in various color combinations. It works well with lots of color combinations! It is pattern #179 in my book, In Celebration of Plain Weave: Color & Design Inspiration for Inkle Weavers. For this band, two types of pattern drafts are shown below. Then a link is given to the Band Weaving Pattern Editor where you can call it up yourself and edit as you wish. This type of pattern draft closely represents the threads as they show in a woven band. This type of pattern draft shows the warp threads as squares with blank spaces in between them, making it easier to read at a glance. If you'd like to redesign it in your own colorway, you can start with the pattern here and switch up the colors to suit you. http://www.raktres.net/l/K0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My inkle weaving is at a production level. I make and sell hundreds of pieces each year; about 90% of these are plain weave. Since I state that "each one is one-of-a-kind", there need to be new and creative combinations of color and pattern each time I set up my loom. I've been weaving for years and keep inventing something new each time. Plain weave is never boring to me! In this post are an assortment of straps woven in 2013 each illustrated with a photo and pattern draft so that you can create your own versions if you wish, or use them as a jumping off point to draft your own patterns. These are all combinations of a few pattern elements like stripes, chains and "teeth". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here on my Flickr page, there is an album devoted just to plain weave patterns if you'd like to browse. http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspinnerweaver/sets/72157626855413579/
After reading Ruth Woods' new book, Finding Form With Fibre, which profiles the work of 14 talented Australian artists and offers different techniques for
I like to think that the colors in latest piece on which I am working were inspired by early morning and late evening skies that I have been lucky to see in my travels. Maybe last year while I sat …
Despite being a craft dating back over 30,000 years, fiber work only started to get sculpturally experimental in a serious way in the 1960s and 70s.
It is easy to limit your record keeping to numbers. But it is when you keep physical records – samples and swatches – that the real fun begins.
Celebration time – January is National Hobby Month! Really, there’s a month for that? How cool, a month dedicated to exploring one’s hobby. My hobby (a.k.a. passion) and reason d&…
Learn how to read an inkle draft, choose an inkle loom, and where to find more information about this weaving method.
If you’re hooked on inkle weaving and wondering what to do with all your new bands, here are a few clever ideas—from tried-and-true to mind-blowingly creative.
Thanks to Jeen on Ravelry, I found a "recipe" for 8-shaft weaving on a rigid heddle loom. This is Pinwheel Weave. Yes, it is very cool. It is also somewhat time consuming (with 6 pick-up rows out of every 8 weft throws), so if you like rigid heddle to be a quick weave, this is not the draft for you! It is possible to get a nice rhythm going with it though, and the pick-up pattern is not hard to memorize, so if you do not have access to an 8-shaft loom, give this a try! I used a merino sock yarn and a 12 dent reed (wanted more wheels across the width) but I think I should have followed Jeen's advice and started out with chunky on a 5 dent, or maybe worsted on an 8 dent. This would give fewer pinwheels in a row, but also fewer threads to pick up, which would make a significant difference in the time and difficulty of the pattern. So here's how it goes (though I do recommend going to Ravelry for Jeen's step-by-step instructions and many examples of this pattern in different color combinations plus other variations and other weaving patterns). (OK, I like Jeen - she's bold and experimental and likes to try out lots of crazy ideas.) Directions: A. Warp your loom with 8 threads of each color, alternating 8 thread colors blocks all the way across. B. With your darker color, weave a plain border of some kind, at least 2 rows (more, if you like). C. Starting with your darker color, begin the pattern. You'll do all 8 rows of the pattern with this color. Pattern: row 1 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, from right to left, go over 4 threads and pick up 4 threads. Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. row 2 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, go over 3 threads, pick up 1, over 1, pick up 3 threads. Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. row 3 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, from right to left, go over 2 threads, pick up 1, over 1, pick up 1, over 1, and pick up 2 threads. Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. row 4 - no pick-up (take a breath) Heddle down, plain weave shot. row 5 - no pick-up (take a breath) Heddle up, plain weave shot. row 6 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, from right to left, pick up 2 threads, over 1, pick up 1, over 1, pick up 1, and go over 2 threads. (for those who think analytically, this is the opposite of row 3) Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. (this shows the pick up stick making the shed) row 7 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, from right to left, pick up 3 threads, over 1, pick up 1, and go over 3 threads. (opposite of row 2) (sorry, apparently I neglected to take a picture of this one) Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. row 8 - Heddle in neutral. In each 8 thread color section all the way across the row, from right to left, pick up 4 threads and go over 4 threads. Turn the pick up stick on its side to create a shed and weave your color through. Repeat this pattern (rows 1 through 8) with your second color. And that's it, alternating colors to the end of your project. D. End with the 8 row pattern in your darker color. E. Put in your plain weave border. F. Finish fringes as desired (I twisted mine in solid color 8 thread units) And voila, a pinwheel scarf (or dishtowel, or whatever project you choose) So even though it's pretty slow going, it's actually fun! Really! And it's pretty flash, oh yes it is! (edited post on March 19 - so sorry, I was in a hurry when I first did this, and put all the process photos in upside down! All better now.)
176 threads. 176 feinste Seidenfäden, zum Größenvergleich ein 1-Cent-Stück.
During our residency we accumulated invaluable insights about Latvian belt making from two very nice people and experienced weavers, Lilija and Laima, who taught us two different techniques of belt…
This little loom with a partially completed belt was made in Chinchero, Peru.
How do I get the instruction again? Sign up for a cease fire in Gaza at Amnesty.org, recieve their confirmation Email, open it, and enter the first word in
Learn to weave and you’ll never put down the yarn again!
スウェーデン織のアトリエからの画像
If I want to try out a band pattern or just weave something quickly I usually set up the warp and thread it onto my heddle at the same time. This isn’t the
Explore Brettchenweberin's 227 photos on Flickr!
She who dies with the most looms wins. At this point I think I have 5 looms. The simplest looms I have is this board loom. Aside from the backstrap method I believe it’s probably the simplest loom to build at home. My husband made my board loom from a 1×6 of quilted birch. The base is 5.5″ x 18″.…Continue Reading→
We have recently been sent the following, lovely post, from long-term Woodlorean Bosco Li. Bosco has successfully tried his hand at making a pair of beautiful Sami shoe bands, after seeing them on …
I’ve recently been interested in learning more about weaving, and last month my mom helped that interest along by giving me a rigid heddle weaving loom as a birthday gift. I’ve enjoye…
Basketry, art and craft of making interwoven objects, usually containers, from flexible vegetable fibres, such as twigs, grasses, osiers, bamboo, and rushes, or from plastic or other synthetic materials. The containers made by this method are called baskets. The Babylonian god Marduk “plaited a
A blog about Saori hand weaving,sewing clothing from hand wovens and many fiber arts from felting to hand spinning to fiber dyeing.
Our state standardized testing is over for the year, so the kids are returning to some fun projects in their curriculum. Third graders have a very big unit on the Oklahoma Land Run. There are several "hands-on" activities sprinkled throughout and yesterday I was able to be a part of one of them, basket-weaving. We made "Cherokee Single Wall" baskets, and learned that there are still two living native indian basket weavers in the state. Their baskets are sold and may earn several hundred dollars each. A group of parents met before hand to get the baskets started. They form from the bottom up so we got all of the bases started and ready for the children to have a good starting place. The strips of reeds were soaked in buckets of water so they stayed flexible. Once the children began their part, all they had to do was weave their long reed under/over/under/over the side spokes of the basket. As they worked it began to form a bowl shape. When there was about 3-4 inches of the "spokes" left at the top, the children stopped weaving and the instructors folded them over and tucked them in to form loops along the edge. It's amazing how differently they all turned out, even though everyone used the same technique and supplies. Some were small and really tight, some were large and had a looser weave. Some had large stripes, some small. Some sat flat, some didn't :) All are beautiful and unique, just like the little hands that made them! Of course, this one was my favorite. Playing around with PicMonkey effects...I like it! (No lack of personality with this one!)
Exhibiotion of Öterlen textiles in Ystad
Explore how artisans are blending tradition with modern techniques to craft beautiful brooms in this What's New in Craft.
Remember those simple little diamond shaped yarn weavings we all made at summer camp with just two popsicle sticks and a some colorful yarn? Who knew that god’s eyes, which originated from Mexico’s Huichol Indians, can be so beautifully…
This morning Bob and I left New Mexico and drove almost four hours to the little town of Van Horn, Texas. Van Horn is a town that has little to offer except a place to get off the road when you’re on the way to someplace else. We leave tomorrow morning for Fort Stockton, Texas. I wanted to share about my new loom that Bob made for me. On Ravelry, the inkle weaving group has been discussing Keel Looms, which are built using the plans found in the book “Small Looms in Action,” by Elizabeth Jensen. The “keel” refers to the way the loom’s base hangs down, allowing the weaver to hold it between their thighs to weave. Before we left Mesa I asked Bob to build me one, which he did. The book calls for 1/2” furniture grade plywood to be used, but Bob instead took scraps of wood in different varieties to build it, along with 3/8” dowels. Isn’t it sweet? I modified the plans to include a tension peg rather than use moveable dowel pegs to tension the warp. And it weaves very well! I am able to get almost a yard of finished inkle band from it. I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little loom.
La costura a mano es un arte universal con más de 20.000 años de antigüedad. Nació con los primeros humanos. Yo diría más, coser, la costura ha ayudado a crear civilización. Las primeras agujas d…
様々な太さや種類の毛糸、小石やビーズ、木の枝などを個性豊かに織り上げてみませんか？新しい手芸のかたち《weaving/手織物》。個性的で素敵なインテリアを手作りしましょう。
Remember my latch hook weaving tutorial? Well, take that and times it by a thousand and you’ll find yourself oohing and aahing over the work of Portuguese textile artist Vanessa Barragao. Inspired by the ocean and the…
Images via Koron007 Centuries ago, fabric was a rare and precious commodity only the wealthy could afford. So people treasured old and worn-out pieces of clothing to recycle and reuse in order to make new clothes. Thus the sakiori was born. Sakiori comes from the word "saki" which means to tear up or rip and "ori" which means weave. Recycling old fabric remnants into sakiori weavings follows the Japanese indispensable concept of “mottainai” or not wasting precious cloth that can prolong the fabric’s useful life through recycling and reuse. Weaving all these remnants of fabric was immensely hard work back then, however very rewarding and worth the effort as clothing made from repurposed cotton was vastly warmer, softer, and more durable than the rough linens that could be made from Japan’s natural fibers. Sakiori was mostly used to make rugs and covers, but also clothes - mostly jackets and vests. Today, the technique is experiencing a resurgence as a "green", ethical and economical art form. Image via Sources I used to write this post: Sakiori History, Sakiori Weaving, Sakiori Bag.
Explore alh1's 66053 photos on Flickr!
Inkle loom weaving is easier than you think and is a great way to start weaving for beginners especially with this FREE guide and 5 free weaving projects.
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/
Learn to weave and you’ll never put down the yarn again!
