I'm doing my weaving on a mighty wolf now, but thinking of getting a small loom, basically for scarves and plain weave, for color sampling and maybe for my grandson to use occasionally. 

I have never used a rigid heddle loom and was wondering if you can put more than one warp thread per dent. 

I have some DK sport weight and other knitting yarns on hand I'd like to use up and they would need ~ 14 to 16 epi, It seems that rigid heddle looms only come in 8, 10, or 12. 

Also how long a warp can be put on a rigid heddle? Enough for at least 2 or 3 scarves per warp?  Or is this a one at a time project? 

Can you get enough tension for rayon Chenille? 

Thanks for any ideas and is there a good site anyone can refer me to? 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 22:51

Weavingholiday

I have a couple of "basic" rigid heddle looms, and really enjoy them for their handiness, portability, and ease of set up and use. They are pretty tough, too, good for weaving at public events.

It is possible to do quite a lot with a rigid heddle, especially if you own more than one heddle that can work with your loom. Then there are pickup sticks on top of that. There are some good books out there, and YouTube has some very helpful videos, and it is possible to thread 2 heddles so you can get the equivalent of a higher epi.

Your other questions are kind of specific to the particular loom you end up with. You do want something with pawl and ratchet tensioning, just tightening up a nut or similar may not work well enough for tensioning. I have not tried chenille, but sure somebody here likely has.

I often use 10 or 12 epi for sock weight yarn from my stash, by the time the piece has relaxed off the loom and then been wet finished, the result does not seem sleazy at all. You could probably double the yarn in the slots of one heddle, I am a bit less sure about the holes, I would worry about how much friction you would end up with, and if the holes would end up abraiding your yarn? That would likely need to be a call you would have to make on a case-by-case basis.

I usually only put about 2 metres (bit over 2 yards) of warp on at a time, but I am sure I could easily put on a great deal more. It is just that the loom is so easy to warp (using direct warping) it is fun to change projects.

This thread might be helpful, too:

http://weavolution.com/group/spook-loom/two-heddles-19785

Good luck!

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 22:58

sarahnopp (not verified)

Classic weaving response: It all depends! :) I love my rigid heddle for its very quick set up. And I am learning ways to make it more versatile than simple tabby.

If you put multiple ends per dent, those ends wil be in the same up or down position, so you will just be doubling up. You can also use multiple rigid heddles in the same piece for different structures- I just took a class on warping rigid heddle for Summer and Winter.

As far as how much tension and how many yards, it all depends on the loom itself. I have a beast of a loom that I can get 9 yards on, with smaller yarn. And it holds tension really well. One thing to think about when you get one: get a beater sword. I find it very handy for beating in instead of using the actual heddles.

Fri, 09/06/2013 - 00:09

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

I have a LeClerc rigid heddle and I love it.  I use it to demonstrate at shows all the time, and rarely warp it for just one scarf at a time - usually put on 6-7 yards at a time.  The LeClerc holds it all well.

When you're looking at RH looms, also consider whether you want one that sits on a table vs. pushes against the table edge and you - pretty different.

The more you get to know your RH loom, the more you can do with it.  Initially it seems quite limiting, over time not much.