I am trying to learn pick up inkle loom weaving but I am having troubles. Asked in a few groups thought I’d ask here

The main problem I am having is that despite following directions, i am getting gaps that the weft can be seen through.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/horsetuna/gaps.jpg

right there after the first and second set of three green warps.

its very frustrating as I looked up two inkle weaving books including the Bress One, five webpages and one video that does this specific patter I want with no success.

http://members.shaw.ca/evethejust/pickuplearn.html

The blue cabling pattern is the one I want.

can anyone help please? I’m a visual person so reading text doesnt help me much. Actual step by step pictures welcome please!  I've already read the Bress book on inkle weaving and millions of websites with no luck. Please help!

Comments

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 04:01

maryv (not verified)

Hi, Horsetuna! That is a nice pattern. The descriptions looks like it was designed with basketweave background in mind.

The nature of pickups is to have some gaps: there's really no way around it as you are dropping or picking up pattern warps. However; you will probably want to pull the weft a little tighter, effectually narrowing the weaving, when you start the actual pattern after the "spot" starter picks. Narrowing the weaving helps to close up any gaps. If you're using the basketweave background, try not to drop any of the background warps (although that is a valid technique): simply pick up and drop the pattern warps following the draft. It looks like you're using the white warps for pattern. The background warps stay static, either up or down depending on the shed. Also, as you get going with the slightly narrower weaving, you'll notice the gaps less.

If that's true, have you seen Latvian Pick-Up Technique (www.weavershand.com/aahlatvianinkle.pdf)? It's a pdf document with some excellent pictures. It's an interesting read.

In any case, try to be patient: I'm sure you'll get it.

 

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 04:12

Horsetuna (not verified)

Hmm. so when I raise the shed, I leave the white threads up that would normally go where the pattern colors are?

 

I did try that, and ended up with a mess of threads waaay too many, with greens intermingled with whites. Unless I'm misunderstanding?

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 16:49

maryv (not verified)

Yes, you do want to have the background warps specified by the shed up along with the pattern warps (I'm assuming you're using the green to form the braid). I've included a picture below of a sample I played with a couple of years ago. (Please ignore the loopy turquoise yarn: I was experimenting with that particular thread, as well.)

I used the turquoise threads to form the braid...the pattern threads "float" on the surface over the background threads. Ideally, you'll want your pattern threads either thicker or use a double (what I generally do). It will give you more definitely. Also, when you take the weaving off the loom, you'll get a little more definition (depending on the type of threads you've used).

Go ahead and try a few inches, letting the background (white) threads fall as the sheds run. Your floats will be tighter than the ones above: hence my not using the thread again. ;) All you have to worry about is whether the pattern (green) thread is up or down, according to the draft.

 

Sat, 08/22/2009 - 19:59

JJWalts (not verified)

 If you can find the book Inkle by Evelyn Neher, it has wonderful indepth look at the weave structures on the inkle loom.

I have the same problem when looking at the draft and trying to work it out...it is a visual thing!

-JJ

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 08:37

Horsetuna (not verified)

Hmm. so its kind of like weaving with three sheds... the background shed 1, the second background threads, then the pattern threads... The pattern threads go up/down accoridng to the pattern, while the two sets of background threads just go up/down alternatively all the time.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 20:38

maryv (not verified)

You've got it! The "three shed" idea is a great way of explaining it.

Sun, 08/23/2009 - 23:45

Horsetuna (not verified)

I will definitely start looking to figure things out. Because I only did single st5rands in the pattern color I shall see what happens.

Mon, 08/24/2009 - 01:41

Horsetuna (not verified)

update: I GOT IT!

 

Woot!

 

I will post pictures once I get a few more rows done! my hardest problem now is that I cannot always tell which thread is in which spot yet for the pattern threads, but its getting easier!

 

Thank you!

Tue, 08/25/2009 - 15:36

maryv (not verified)

WHOO-HOOOO!!! Congrats!

Fri, 08/28/2009 - 00:48

Horsetuna (not verified)

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/horsetuna/inklinginprogress.jpg

Fri, 08/28/2009 - 01:02

Caroline (not verified)

Yayyyyy! thats great, I love that "aha" moment when suddenly the light comes back on. I've been doing pickup on the backstrap WAL and had the same problem visualising what was supposed to happen when reading the text book, but once it was explained in different words by the group leader, away I went.

PS, I had even used the Bresse book to try and interpret what my textbook was trying to say, hehe!

Fri, 08/28/2009 - 01:55

maryv (not verified)

Marvellous! You got it!

Fri, 08/28/2009 - 05:18

Horsetuna (not verified)

update: I just took it down to my local SCa event... and had to show about four people how I did it. x.x   I dont know if they 'got it' but they are starting to encourage me to learn to show others how to do it.

 

I'm a bit scared of them at times. they GAVE me this loom and are always 'That's so AWESOME! " and everything, heh.

Sun, 08/30/2009 - 19:38

maryv (not verified)

I think a lot of people are intimidated with weaving, in general, and anything that looks a bit complicated in the execution. I've people look at an inkle loom warped up for pickup, and they usually give me a "That's so AWESOME!, I could never do that!" comment. I'm glad they like what you're doing!

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 20:21

Loominaria (not verified)

That looks great!  (And thanks for the book suggestion along the way, JJ, since I don't have much on the Inkle topic.)  What thread/yarn are you using for background and pattern?

Come over and visit the inkle forum sometime. www.weavolution.com/forum/1548