more ways to use up yarn

Sunday, May 25th, 2008 | weaving

I’ve picked up my rigid heddle loom (an Ashford) again, finally! It’s been sitting around for quite awhile, but I think various woven pretties around the web finally gave me the kick I needed!

i'm weaving! i'm weaving!

And damn, is it ever fast. Last night it took about 2 hours to warp up the loom (direct warping with a peg), and it’ll probably take a little less time next time I go at it, because I learned some things (like which way to turn the back dealie to wind on the warp).

Then I got down to the weaving, and after a few more hours today, it was off the loom!

fresh off the loom

Then I needed to finish the ends.

tying fringe

I decided to go with a medium length fringe (about six inches) and two rows of knots.

I used 2 skeins of Fleece Artist Cashlana for this wrap/scarfy thing, every last bit (although there’s quite a fair amount of waste in little pieces that gets cut off). It was a fairly variegated green mix, but I think the weaving shows off the colour variation really well! Last thing was to wet-finish the piece, so it’s hanging to dry now – finished photos soon.

Now I want to weave more stuff, but I can’t decide on what. Another wrap in a different colour? Dishtowels? A blanket? And what yarns shall I use? Decisions, decisions.

28 Comments to more ways to use up yarn

1 luneray
May 25, 2008

What’s the pink yarn at the bottom of the second picture? I obviously don’t know anything about weaving except that one direction is warp and the other is weft but which is which?

I made your Thermal sweater for myself. It was my first adult sized sweater…and I’m a big lady! But I finished it the other day and it is light but warm and I’ve received lots of compliments on it.

2 Jennie
May 26, 2008

Wow! It’s gorgeous!

3 Alice from france
May 26, 2008

This scarf is really pretty! Love the color!
How long did takes to made this?

4 fleur
May 26, 2008

Congratulations! Weaving is such a fun… :-)

5 pixie
May 26, 2008

how do you know which size loom to buy? is the inches for length or width?

6 Jody
May 26, 2008

It’s such a gorgeous shade of green! I love it!

7 Dani
May 26, 2008

It’s very pretty Laura! If you are worried about how much you waste on the front and back of the loom, you can use “waste yarn” – small pieces tied onto each warp strand at the front and back. It allows you to weave right to the edge of your actual warp. And you can leave the waste yarn on the loom, sleyed through the reed, and then just tie your next project to the waste yarn. Keeps you from having to sley again. I hope that is making sense…..here is an example: http://blog.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/2006/06/not-my-loom/

8 Adriana
May 26, 2008

That is gorgeous! I was just yesterday thinking that I’d love to learn how to weave. I’ll add it to the “someday” list.

9 Marie
May 26, 2008

I didn’t know looms came in such small, managable sizes! How much more tempting when I know I don’t have to dedicate a room of the house in order to be able to weave!

10 Stephanie
May 26, 2008

Man, that’s pretty! I used to weave but sold my loom when I moved to New York. I can see myself getting sucked in again sometime soon.

Go for a blanket! Why think small? ;)

11 Knittingarch
May 26, 2008

This is seriously awesome! Let’s see, I started knitting, then learned to cross stitch, then embroider, now crochet, drop spinning, sewing…I have very little time to do any of them on a regular basis, but…I want to learn to weave now…. Nooooooooo!

12 beverly
May 26, 2008

Beautiful!

I’m taking a weaving class at Webs this summer, and I’m so excited to decide on a rigid heddle loom to purchase. What width is yours? Are you happy with that width?

13 Jo
May 26, 2008

It’s absolutely beautiful – I love all those light greens. I can’t wait to see the finished object.

14 allison
May 26, 2008

What a beautiful green, and how fun to have an instant-gratification project :)

15 Jessica K.
May 26, 2008

This is amazing! Now I really want a little loom. I did an apprenticeship with a weaver who had me stuck up in the attic, untangling yarn on these giant looms, all by myself, every Saturday for several months. Then I quit and thought I hated weaving… until this post!

Hmm..

16 Leslie
May 26, 2008

What a beautiful wrap. The color is amazing!

17 Rachel
May 26, 2008

You can weave, too? Goodness, you’re talented!

18 Cirilia
May 26, 2008

Yeah! Up with RH weaving!! I just finished a scarf today, I used Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Wool. Now I’m inspired to blog about it.

Gorgeous scarf/wrap! I think you should do a whole rainbow’s worth, what an awesome accessory. I wear mine ALL the TIME.

19 sari
May 27, 2008

that is really pretty! i was recently given a loom, i think it is called an “inkle” loom. you may have just inspired me to clear out a space for it in my house and do something. thanks! :)

20 Joanne
May 27, 2008

Lovely wrap…You inspire me to try new things. Thanks

21 Steph
May 27, 2008

Woah, that is so pretty! That project made me consider learning to weave for a moment. ;)

22 Dr. Steph
May 27, 2008

It’s beautiful. Weaving is the thing I want to do way more than spinning. This is not helping me avoid that lure.

And the cashlana–purrr.

23 Marie-Michèle
May 27, 2008

sigh…
you have to stop making such beautiful things…
now I want a loom too!
this is just gorgeous!

24 Cirilia
May 29, 2008

WOWZERS. I have gotten more hits from you linking me than I did when I was on Stash and Burn, in the Classic Elite Newsletter…on the the Blueprint blog…crazy. Thanks!

25 chris
May 30, 2008

i love that loom! where did you purchase it from? and what size is it?

26 Seanna Lea
May 30, 2008

I love all the greens!

Weaving is one of the things I haven’t tried yet, so it is interesting to see what other people have made.

27 tina
June 3, 2008

Like the Pied Piper you are! I ordered a loom, hopefully it will be here by my vacation. I see stash busting in my future! Everything you have made is gorgeous! I hope I take to weaving as well as you have!

[...] some of the stash, and I’ve been really impressed with some of the weaving I’ve seen around the [...]

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