I'm just getting used to this community and sent my question initially as a reply not as a question ... let's try again.

I have been contacted to make several yards of 100% linen tape 1.5 inches wide. The customer wants it to be coarse rather than fine so I thought to use sport wieght linen yarn on my inkle loom. I've done 1.5 to 3 inch wide tape using perle cotton, does the idea of using sport weight seem like a good one? What about sock weight yarn? I tried to do a project with worsted wool once and it went terribly wrong <g>.

Comments

Sara von Tresckow

First, when weaving, the yarn sizing does not follow that of knitting.

Yes, Louet calls their 14/4 linen "sport" weight, but that is because it can be used both for knitting or weaving (although for fabric this is a bit heavy).

I just finished some blouse yardage based on 16/2 linen using the 14/4 as accent and it worked well. 14/4 would work on your inkle loom, as would 12/4 (Brassard tapestry warp). These yarns would make a fairly stiff tape - like webbing or strapping.

For anything finer, you'd use 16/2.

When weaving tape, it is warp faced, so using thread finer than the thickness of the final tape creates a fairly firm tape because the warp threads are packed tightly together. If you use really thick yarn, it may not pack well and will result in a rough, and not terribly attractive band.

Artistry

I've used the 16/2 linen , as Sara suggests, it makes for a beautiful , pliable, yet sturdy tape.

Marianne T.

I'm really not sure what the project is. I know the woman sells antiques. I'll have to ask!

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