(113) Weaving Two Ways on the Rigid Heddle Loom

2023_Session_Images - Fancher_bag_2Weave a bag and strap on the rigid heddle loom. First we’ll weave the fabric for the bag, from basic tabby to decorative effects, and then weave a warp faced band for the strap.

Students will learn direct warping and weaving on a rigid heddle loom, progress to pick up stick, soumak, leno, and clasped weft, plus a variety of techniques for creating texture and surface design, and hemstitching to finish the bag fabric. Once you weave the fabric and remove it from the loom, we will warp again for the strap and learn to weave a warp faced band. Finally we will seam it all together and discuss how to finish woven objects.

Instructor will provide some yarn for supplemental weft, inlay, and other techniques.

Instructor:

Gretchen Fancher

Experience Level:

All Levels

Maximum Class Size:

18

Equipment required

Rigid Heddle Loom

Student Supplies:

  • Rigid heddle loom, with a minimum weaving width of 10 inches.
  • 8-dent heddle.
  • Clamps.
  • Warping peg.
  • Two shuttles, a belt shuttle.
  • Pick up stick.
  • Heddle hook.
  • Scissors.
  • Blunt tapestry needle.
  • Lease sticks and paper roll or paper bags to cut up for warp separator.
  • Warp yarn: worsted to Aran weight cotton yarn, approximately 180 yards for a 10 inch bag. If your loom is wider and you wish to warp more than 10 inches, you will require an additional 7 feet for each additional warp end.
  • Weft yarn: worsted to Aran weight wool or wool blend, a total of approximately 120 yards for bag weft and an additional 80 yards for warp faced band. Multiple colors are encouraged!