Hi all,

I've mostly been a lurker here since I joined a few months ago. I can't tell you how many times I've looked something up here and found an answer to my question. Thanks to all of you.

To date I've only wove on my Beka rigid heddle loom that I got a few months back. It didn't take me long to realize that I would want more in a loom and just recently had the opportunity to buy a used Baby Wolf 4-shaft 6-treadle loom from a friend. I couldn't pass that up.

I haven't wove anything on it yet as I'm waiting for a few tools/accessories to arrive that I ordered. I do have a warp all ready and my first project will be plain weave rag strip placemats. I've been studying all I can on how these looms work and I feel I'm ready to go as soon as I my tools arrive. I've never been fearful to just dive right in and try something whether it is easy or more challenging. 

That brings me to my question. I ordered some 8/2 cotton to weave some dish towels and for that project (the 2nd project for the Baby Wolf) I want to do Sarah Jackson's 4 blocks on four shafts, summer and winter towels from Handwoven, May/June 2013. Is this project doable for me as a beginner on this loom? I just love the look of these towels and after looking over the instructions many times, I think I understand them. How would you classify this project: beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, challenging? As a beginner, I'm not sure what difficulty level this is considered. 

Thanks!

Terri

Comments

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 23:19

theresasc

I am at work so I cannot look up the project that you are wanting to try.  I jumped into weaving feet-first and never concidered the so called level of a project.  If I could understand the draft and could get the project on the loom, I wove it.

Tue, 02/03/2015 - 23:39

Artistry

Terri-S, I don't have that copy of Handwoven. There are a couple of things to consider when doing a magazine project. If you want to take a real " beginner's" approach, and there is nothing wrong with that, then I would suggest using the exact materials and the same colors as in the project and follow the directions exactly. This way all the calculations are right for you,( usually the loom waste they allow is fine but you can double check yours) sett, length, take up, etc. If you want to stretch yourself a little ( or a lot!) then pick out your own material understanding it needs to be appropriate for the item that your weaving. That the calculations may be different, sett, shrinkage etc. and I would highly recommend weaving a sample. Play with the treadling! Be sure to wet finish your sample taking measurements before and after. I wouldn't worry too much about the level. If you can understand it, then go for it! That is how we all learn. Welcome to weaving! Plus Congrats on your new to you loom! Cathie
Wed, 02/04/2015 - 00:59

sandra.eberhar…

Whenever someone asks me for a good beginnner sewing project, I tell them to find something to make that they want to use or wear and don't worry about the difficulty level.  It's more important that you be interested in the project and make something you like.  The only thing that I would suggest you consider is that S&W will use two shuttles.  Are you sure you want to tackle using two shuttles for your first piece?  The Baby Wolf is a pretty easy loom to use multiple shuttles if you have a wolftrap.

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 07:15

CelticCats

Go for it! My first project was out of Aurora Earth cotton. It was a scarf for my sister in case she lost her hair from the yurvoy treatments for melanoma. I picked my own weaving pattern, beamed it, threaded and wove it in about a weeks time. It was sooo big, she gave it to a friend to use as a shawl. Then I made her some kitchen towels. I did use the same weight thread, but used different colors. She loves them. You can do it and they will be beautiful! Dorn
Wed, 02/04/2015 - 13:45

Terri_S

Your replies have boosted my confidence level another notch. For some reason I was thinking I needed to talk myself out of doing it and try something simpler because to date all I've done is plain weave. I actually started winding the warp yesterday and am half way done. 

The two shuttle thing doesn't make me nervous as I wove something on my RH loom where I used two shuttles. Yes, it was a little slow going at first, but once I caught on it went fine. I do have the wolftrap, so I will enjoy that feature. 

This will also be my first project using a boat shuttle so I will have that learning curve as well. I'm guessing the entire first towel on the warp will be a learning towel and probably a sampler. Hopefully once I get to the second towel everything will be a piece of cake. Wink

Terri

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 15:16

sally orgren

When the time comes, look up how to properly wind bobbins (tight!) and how to throw a boat shuttle. Good techniques will make weaving on a floor loom go like a dream!

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 17:50

Artistry

Sally brings up a very good point! If you haven't already , now would be a good time to invest in a good book about floor loom weaving. Some people really like The Big Book Of Weaving by Laila Lundell. It looks really good from what I've seen. Warping back to front if that's what you're used to. I won't mention what I learned with, they're dinosaurs:) Maybe some other people will chime in.
Thu, 02/05/2015 - 03:31

Calico_Raven

Best book I used when I started:

http://www.amazon.com/Warping-all-yourself-Cay-Garrett/dp/0913664030

I have a habit of just jumping in with both feet and finding my way. My mom left me for a week-end and had just gotton the loom and book by the time she got back I had it warped and a foot of weving, havent looked back since.

Sat, 02/07/2015 - 01:23

sally orgren

...gets two thumbs up from me, too.

I was recently gifted the Peggy Osterkamp series (3 books) and I think they are terrific.

Your warping process will evolve. Take workshops! That is how I went from books to learning best practices, which made warping easier and more efficient, which made weaving even more fun.

Mon, 02/09/2015 - 22:17

marykayejn (not verified)

Sorry, I posted this to an existing thread.  Meant to start a new one.

Does anyone know if it's possible to re-create a cross in order to remove a warp from a loom and re-warp it later?  I put a basic warp on my Gilmore loom for a friend to practice with, but want to remove it so that I can start a different project.  It's 3 yards long and 12" wide, so I don't want to just trash the fiber. Thanks!

Thu, 02/12/2015 - 21:33

pammersw

It's real easy if you're threaded for plain weave.

Open a shed, put a lease stick in. Open the opposite shed, put the other lease stick in.  There you go!

Mon, 02/16/2015 - 18:30

Terri_S

I finally am weaving on the 4-shaft summer winter towels I mentioned at the beginning of this thread. So far my thoughts are:

1. Wow, this is so challenging. I've only woven plain weave up to this point. I find myself getting lost a lot and losing my place when looking at the draft. I've sort of created a helpful system in that I printed out several of the treadling parts of the draft and have labeled them accordingly. This has helped tremendously with not losing my place.

2. I am loving the interplay of colors.

3. This first towel turned out much longer than the pattern stated the on-loom length would be. I am guessing that is a beating issue, but if anyone has any other input on that, I would appreciate it.

First towel - Summer Winter on 4 shafts

By the way, I had thought this would be my second project on this loom and it turned out to be the third. During the weaving of my first project (fabric strip placemats in plain weave), I decided to do a different second project and warped the loom with 8/2 cotton and a 5 yard warp. I wove four plain weave towels. I'm glad I did that as that project gave me the experience on how to use the boat shuttles. 

Terri

Mon, 02/16/2015 - 19:36

Artistry

First Terri, your towel is beautiful! Congrats! As far as beating, does the picture of the project show squares or rectangles? You have rectangles in yours so your beat may be off if it's supposed to be squares Are you sure you're using the right size thread for your tabby? I love this project, good going! Cathie
Mon, 02/16/2015 - 20:25

Terri_S

Thanks Cathie! After looking at the picture I am not totally sure if the project has squares or not. I feel like they are almost square but slightly longer...if that makes sense. I do feel that mine are much longer though than those shown in the project photos.  The pattern called for 8/2 cotton and that is what I'm using too.

Terri

Tue, 02/17/2015 - 01:41

Artistry

Of course when you wash yours they will shrink some and the rectangles will not look as long, and naturally the towel won't be as long. Do you have enough warp on to do your towels the way you're doing them? If not , on your next towel just shorten the pattern repeats, or how long you make each rectangle.
Tue, 02/17/2015 - 11:24

Terri_S

The project called for a 6 yard warp and I made mine 9 yards. So I should have plenty and then some, I'm thinking.

I had thought, too, that I could do less repeats and that is what I did in the first towel. I'm working on the second towel and trying to beat harder. We'll see what happens.

Another thing I thought of is: each rectangle block is made from 5 repeats of 4 pattern picks. I could change that to 4 repeats of those 4 picks.

Oh the possibilities. I'm beginning to see them. Smile

Terri