Tips & Tricks

Identifying Mystery Fibers Using A Burn Test

If you have unidentified cones of yarn that were gifted, thrifted, or purchased years ago, a simple burn test can help you identify the fiber. Burning fiber can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In this blog post, Kristin Crane walks you through how to perform a burn test to help you identify the mystery cones in your stash.

A Weaver's Nightmare: Moths

by Kristin Crane

There's no greater blow to a fiber lovers ego than discovering moths have infiltrated their yarn stash. In this blog post, Kristin Crane recounts her experience getting moths out of her studio, and shares what she learned about preventing and protecting yarn from being affected by moths.

Exploring Inlay Weaving Techniques

by Sienna Bosch

Inlay is a weaving technique that utilizes a base (or ground/tabby) weft and an inlay (or supplemental) weft. The base weft travels from selvedge to selvedge, while the inlay weft travels only where the weaver desires. This creates unique designs that draw the viewer's attention to specific areas of the cloth. In this blog post, we will explore a few of the many options available for weaving Inlay.

Carrying Weft Up the Selvedge in Color-and-Weave

by Carolyn Heacock

Beautiful weaving can be crafted by incorporating multiple colors in the weft. When weaving multiple picks with a single yarn before switching to another, many weavers opt to cut the weft yarn before transitioning. But when the yarns change with each pick or at small intervals, it is more practical to keep all the weft yarns connected to the weaving. In this blog, Carolyn Heacock shares tips for successfully carrying two and three yarns up the selvedge in a way that creates structurally sound, beautiful selvedges.

Loom Maintenance 101

by Amanda Rataj

Loom maintenance can go a long way in preventing mistakes, supporting equipment longevity, and ensuring that your most important tool is running smoothly (which in turn means that weaving is smooth and fun, too!). In this article, Amanda shares a short checklist of things she likes to do every few months to care for her loom.

De-mystifying Deflected Doubleweave on the Rigid Heddle Loom

by Carly Jayne

Deflection in weaving happens when (intentional) floats curve around areas of plain weave, and doubleweave is the weaving of two layers of fabric simultaneously. Combining the curves of deflection and the layers of doubleweave creates deflected doubleweave, a common technique in shaft-loom weaving. But with two heddles and, in some cases, two pick-up sticks, the humble rigid heddle loom can also create this stunning structure.

How to Fix Snags

by Christine Jablonski

There are few things that elicit a heart-stopping gasp more than the realization that the handwoven item you are wearing has just snagged on something. For years I tried to save my hand work from the zippers, drawer pulls, and puppy paws, but I've learned a few repair tricks that keep my weavings wearable through it all.

Clasped Weft Technique

by Christine Jablonski

Clasped weft weaving is a fun technique that creates staggered picks or solid blocks of color that don’t travel selvedge to selvedge across a warp. It gives the weaver an opportunity to add more visual dimension and a certain “how did they do that?” element to their work.

Rag Rug 101

by Amanda Rataj

Rag rugs are comprised of two different parts: a yarn warp, and a rag weft. At their most basic, a rag rug is woven in plain weave, making them easy to try on your rigid heddle loom. But you don’t have to stick to plain weave—many of the prettiest rag rugs we've seen use twills or other structures. Learn the ins and outs of weaving your own rag rugs with insight from Amanda's own practice.