Hi,  I'm looking at projects that are already planned for me and I find that very few fit my heddle exactly.  I'm guessing I need to experiment with different yarns to see what I can actually weave on an 8 dent. Otherwise, I'd be buying several looms or heddles.  Can you give me some direction or plan to follow?  Where do I start?  If I want to try different yarns (smaller than worsted weight) combined, is there a right or wrong way to combine the strands?  Thanks for any help you can give me.

The gnarled newbie, Audrey

Comments

Sun, 11/09/2014 - 14:55

Sara von Tresckow

There is a tremendous variety of things that the 8 (or 7.5) dent heddles are good for. For starters:

Wool yarn that runs about 200 yards per 4 ounces - Ashford Tekapo, Lamb's Pride from Brown sheep are two that come to mind immediately.

Tapestry weaves using Maysville 8/4 rug warp and a sport weight weft.

8/1, 16/2 linen or 3/2 cotton for doing open weave runners.

Pile weaves using any sturdy wool for a warp.

Scarves using knitting yarns thicker than sport weight and/or handsun in combination.

Placemats using the 8/4 cotton rug warp and softball or peaches and cream for weft.

You are probably best off experimenting with whatever yarn stash you already have and then playing - trying projects from books or the internet can work, but don't necessarily turn out the way they are pictured because each weaver aproaches things differently.

You can't get much material on a Cricket - so just have at it and cut off anything that is really bad looking. And remember, it isn't finished until it is wet finished. You'll need to do a couple of warps, wash them and see how the fabric changes after washing and pressing - you must always guestimate how the finished piece will look and feel as you progress into weaving.

 

Sun, 11/09/2014 - 16:51

AudreyO

I've made a note of yarns to look for and like you said, I need to experiment.  There's nothing like experience for a teacher, I guess.

Thanks, Audrey

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 01:54

sarahnopp (not verified)

Also, do expect to get additional rigid heddle reeds of varying dent size, eventually. It is nice to have the variety and option.

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 04:22

Karren K. Brito

What you are asking about is called sett.  You have a sett of 8 ends per inch with your RH.  There is much written about sett.

To get a rough idea of the workable sett for a yarn we wrap yarn around a ruler and count the number of threads that it takes to make the inch; skinny yarns will need more wraps to make the inch.  This number is wraps per inch, wpi, and is used to guesstimate the sett.  For a balanced plain weave wpi/2 .  

So for 8epi you want wpi to be about 16.  Test your yarns and see what will work.  You can always double or more your yarn.   For example 8/2 cotton at about 40wpi is used doubled in a 10 dent RH to give nice plain weave towels.

Another way to work is to put on what ever warp you want , it does have to slide thru' the smaller eyes of your RH, then experiment with different wefts until you get a cloth you like. Put on a little extra warp for experimenting, try several wefts, take out the ones you don't like and weave 6-10' of the one you like.  Cut it off and wet finish before doing the bigger project. 

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 11:30

AudreyO

I had wondered about getting additional reeds.  I've looked at Ashford reeds where I can purchase small sections of reeds.  That will probably be in my future.  Thanks!

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 11:42

AudreyO

I've got lots of 8/2 on hand that I'll probably want to double (or more).  Should I rewind multiple strands into a new 'ball' then use from the new 'ball' to warp on or should I feed multiple strands directly into the reed?  Does that make sense??  I don't want to wind a new ball only to find it  feeds improperly into the reed causing loops that don't tension the same.

Yes, I will be experimenting!  Thanks for helping me to understand what to do next. 

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 14:13

Karren K. Brito

You can double yarn on a RH direct warping by pulling a loop thru' every slot AND EYE.  Normally you pull loops thru' only the slots, but if you pull a loop thru' the slot and the eye  you will have 2 threads in each and no threading after beaming required.