Pick up weave with long floats on Rigid Heddle Loom.

I started this little sampler on my Ashford Sample-it loom just to try it. I was on Kelly Cassonova's youtube channel and thought that looked really cute and something that I would like to try out.
Here is my attempt at it.

 A few trees, followed by a row snowman's then a snowflake that could have done with a thicker pattern weft then a row of reindeers. I used cross stitch or bead designs as there are plenty of freebies on the net.

The one thing you do have to do is centre the design and the count of that design , count your warp ends and do some math to get it all to fit.

I then followed it up with a window pane design that I have always been interested in.

And the end of the warp is plain weave.

Its not a bad sampler and I am glad that I gave these simple but beautiful weaves a go.

Thankyou to Kelly for the introduction to Branoe weaving.

Blanket Finished.

The Finished Blanket

I didn't  have any joined together problems but quite a few skipped . No matter how careful you are with sticky wool you have to be more careful. I think it will work out better on the big floor loom now that I understand the principle behind it a bit better. I wanted short fringing and so twisted as usual and then soaked in hot water and then gently washed in a wool cycle then I cut the fringing down and got rid of the knots. It is holding the twist. 

 I love it to death. It is warm comfortable and just pretty.

Anyway here it is 

A sneak peak of my double wide blanket

I think it looks quite pretty. 

Also in between all this and before I started this project, I am going to New Zealand soon on a one weeks holiday first time to new zealand. So because its going to be so bloody freezing and I am a Queenslander through and through I thought I better weave that alpaca scarf and knit that beanie I have been putting off .
Here is the scarf and beanie all knitted and woven in handspun natural colours of Alpaca.

This yarn was made from my first spinning experience and so is a little let me say textured but still beautiful and unique.

I used Patons Dreamtime merino for the warp and all handspun alpaca for the weft. It is 

simply done in plain weave on the rigid heddle.

All Knitted in the same alpaca used for weaving. 

I used a Noro knitting pattern but modified it to suit me and my handspun alpaca.

Double Width blanket on Rigid Heddle Loom

I am trying Double Wide Weaving out on my 80 cm Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.

Project from Ashfords Wheels and Looms Magazine- Double Delight.
It is so pretty and unusual using novelty yarn and wool I thought i would it a go.

I didn't find it hard to understand how to thread the 2 heddles up at all. I found the instructions from Ashfords Wheels Mag really good, especially about threading the double heddle.

So here are a few things that I have discovered whilst trialling this new to me weave structure before attempting it on the Ashford Jack Floor Loom.

• Firstly each shed has its place in the structure and now I fully understand what shed is doing what function.
• That sheds 2 and 3 have 3 threads on top every time and sheds 1 and 4 have only 1 thread. Am I right in thinking these are the plain weave sheds?

Here are some pictures

Above sheds 1 and 4. One thread from a slot and one shed from a hole- This is why I think these are the plain weave sheds.
And below shed 2 and 3 with 3 ends ( 1thread in the hole and 2 in the slot.)

A good way to check for errors when clearing the shed in readiness to throw your weaving sword.

 Can you see the error in the above photo. 3 threads coming out of the slot. It should be 1 thread in a hole and 2 in the slot. No no no that could cause drama so double check every pick.

and how to double check that impending error. Double weave double width is slow going on the rigid heddle but a great project to fully understand the structure and what it entails. I am really enjoying the simplified use of the rigid heddle. Quicker to warp and start the weaving process.

Here is shed 1-  front heddle up, back in neutral

Here is Shed 2- back heddle in down position and front heddle in neutral position

  

Shed 3- Both heddles in neutral position and pick up stick B forward and on edge

Shed 4- Both heddles in neutral position and pick up stick A forward and on edge

I have tied the pick up sticks thats what the red cotton is for so they won't slide out.

I am also very conscience on my selvages especially on the fold. I am sure it won't be perfect first time round but it at first you don't succeed try , try again. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
If anyone is reading this except for myself I really hope my trials with double width weaving may be a little helpful.

weaving page updated

I have updated the weaving page with more Rigid Heddle scarves