Just curious to know how others got started in weaving. Ever since fingerweaving my first bunch of dandelions, I've been fascinated by the simple yet complex over-under process. A while back I got a Kromski Harp, but was discouraged at the difficulty of warping it since my yarn kept getting stuck. Warping a 10 dent with crochet yarn is problematic. The story does not end there. This summer I stopped by the Island Weaver in Winona Lake and the attendant at the shop gave me a quick and helpful warping demonstration. We bought the cute 10 inch cricket loom with an 8 dent and 5 dent heddles. Now 27 scarves/ table runners later I feel much more confident. I'm very happy to find such a comprehensive community of internet weavers. What's your story?

Comments

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 15:56

mokeydokes

My Italian grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was young, and I still like crochet for fine work but switched to knitting for yarn.  I'm not that prolific at either one but pick it up every couple of years or so and make a few things, and buy a whole lotta yarn, then get busy :P  But I've always wanted to weave, and am very interested in ethnic weaving. Finally this year after getting back into knitting and finishing a couple of projects I decided to treat myself to a new hobby. I purchased a Schacht flip and am just now finishing my first project--two kitchen towels.  The second of these just needs a few more passes of the shuttle and then I will take them off the loom, wash and finish them.  Very exciting!  I used 3/2 cotton for those and have some nice merino slated for a scarf next, again a very simple weave and pattern but getting used to a new fiber before I attempt anything more complex. It took me a couple of tries to get the warping right but so far I'm pretty happy with my progress, and I have so many ideas.  Anyway, that's more than you wanted to know, but attribute that to the enthusiasm of the rank novice.

Fri, 11/30/2012 - 16:27

lemoneater

Learning how a fiber works is important. I've found weaving with wool easier than weaving with acrylic of the same thickness. Too bad that wool costs more--it slips through the slots much better.

I've only done one project so far with cotton. It was so simple to cut because it was much less springy than acrylic. (I prefer to pre-cut my warp twice as long as I want it to be, fold it in half and then use lark head knots to add it to the loom. There is less back strain than warping directly on the loom and I can easily switch the order of the warps to suit me.) I had to buy a 10 dent heddle to use the cotton yarn really a coarse thread in thickness. It made a very pretty, light-weight mesh almost like a plaid red/green lace doily. Have a great day!