Important notice

What with the re-newal of my website and all, this blog has moved.
Look for it now at
http://sashweaver.com/blog/

Rigid Heddle Weaving

I’ve been working in a local school. Younger children have been learning about three-strand or four-strand braiding. For those in grade 4 and 5 I brought along rigid heddles and had them weave strips or “sashes”.
Here are some patterns you can make with a rigid heddle loom.
Of course, if you have all threads of the same color, you get a solid colored cloth.
A single thread of a contrasting color makes a broken line.

Single contrasting thread leaves a dotted line

Yes, I used mostly blue and a single white in the warp, and then I used white for the weft.
If you now try two white threads in that background of blue, you get a solid line.

Two threads make a solid line

Now I tried again, this time using three white threads.

Three white threads on a background of blue

Three white threads on a blue background gives me a line that is fat-skinny-fat-skinny.
How about four threads?

Four white threads on a blue background

Four threads makes a solid line.
How about five contrasting threads?

Five contrasting threads

OK, this really is two-one-two, that is two white, one yellow, and two white on a blue backgound, as 2+1+2=5.

Some other patterns involve combinations.

combination of dotted lines and solid

Threading one color in the holes and another in the slots gives this horizontal line effect.
And here’s yet another pattern.

checkered pattern

Pairs of colors, one in the slits and the other color in the holes create horizontal lines. Reversing the order of colors every four threads gives a checkered pattern.

Here are some of the strips made by fifth graders.

Strips made on rigid heddles

Burlington Weavers Review

The Burlington Weavers and Spinners Guild’s most recent newsletter posted a review of Sprang Unsprung:
Carol James’ book, “Sprang Unsprung” is great for anyone wishing to learn Sprang from the basics through to more advanced pattern making and colour play. The step-by-step instructions are offered for both left and right-handed folks, and are always accompanied by helpful coloured illustrations and photographs of work in progress. Each page of the book is jam packed with project details interspersed with historic sprang woven pieces.
James’ experience with Sprang weaving is extensive, and it shows in her clear instructions and logical progression of technique. She even provides schematics for building several different types of frame looms for weaving. The projects build upon what the weaver has learned from the last chapter, and for further inspiration and learning, James has put together a thorough annotated bibliography.
This book is very user-friendly and would be a good resource for anyone wanting to learn Sprang from the ground up.

Sprang Unsprung a best seller

The numbers are in for another week at McNally Robinson Booksellers.
Sprang Unsprung is the bestseller in the non-fiction category for Manitoba Authors, for two weeks running now.
Thanks to all my friends who’ve gone out and bought copies.

Sprang Unsprung front cover

A friend of mine captured the ‘sprang dance’ from be book launch on her camera. I’m hoping to figure out how to post it. The launch was lovely.
In other news, I am pleased to be part of a collaborative work. The Alliance Francaise here in Winnipeg, along with the Maison des Artistes brought together a traditional embroiderer from Brittany, Pascal Jaouen, and a visual artist Collette Balcaen to collaborate on a Métis theme. The exihibit opening is this week. My contribution to the display was a fingerwoven belt, made using a very fine silk thread.

Jaouen’s metis costume

 

silk fingerwoven belt up close

 

 

Sprang Military sash

A re-enactor friend, artillery enthusiast, wanted a silk officer’s sash. He challenged me to create a cannon design. I drew up a cannon and mapped it out on graph paper. Have a look at the results.

Cannon Design in progress

Cannon design and patterns