Huck Lace Rigid Heddle Runner

A cotton and linen runner (or scarf!) woven with 8/4 Un-Mercerized Cotton and Duet Cotton/Linen. This rigid heddle pattern uses a pick-up stick and heddle rod to create weft floats reminiscent of Swedish Huck Lace. 

Click here for more information about how to make string heddles and a heddle rod!

You can download an updated version of this pattern and purchase a kit here.

Designed by Christine Jablonski for GIST: Yarn & Fiber. 

Need some help getting started? Check out Resources for Beginner and Intermediate Weavers. 

Materials 

Warp:1 cone of 8/4 Un-Mercerized Cotton (Christine used Royal Blue)

Weft:1 cone of Duet Cotton/Linen (Christine used Marble)

Project Notes

• Tools Required: Rigid heddle loom at least 15" wide, 12 or 12.5 dent heddle, 1 shuttle & bobbin or 1 stick shuttle,  2 pick-up sticks, 1 heddle rod, 21 string heddles
• EPI: 12
• PPI: 13 
• Width at Reed: 14 3/8"*
• Warp Ends: 172 
• Warp Length: 3 yards (assumes 75" weaving length, 8" for fringe and 24" for loom waste/sampling)
• Technique/Draft: Pick-up stick and heddle rod for weft floats
• Take-up and Shrinkage: 30% width, 14% length
• Finished Dimensions: One runner (or scarf) that measures approximately 11" W x 72" L (+ 3" fringe on each side) after washing 
• Finishing Details:Hemstitch, 3" fringe on each side
• Care Instructions: Machine was cold, delicate cycle, tumble dry low, press as needed

*If you are weaving on a 15" loom and warping very close to the edges of your reed, be sure the warp threads do not slip off the edges of the paper as you are winding on to the back beam, which will cause tension issues.

Instructions

• Yarn A = 8/4 Un-Mercerized Cotton in Royal Blue 
• Yarn B = Duet Cotton/Linen in Marble

1. Warp the loom with Yarn A using your preferred method (direct or indirect) with a total of 172 warp ends, 3 yards long. Center for a weaving width of 14 3/8" and sley 1 end per hole and slot in a 12 dent heddle on a rigid heddle loom.

2. To pick up the floats: 

• Place the heddle into the “down” position. Behind the heddle, only the slot threads are up. Place a long piece of cardboard, like a section of manila file folder, under the raised threads to help you see which threads to pick up (See photo 1)
• Using one pick-up stick, (pick-up stick "A") pick up the first 2 slot threads, leave the next 2 down. Pick up the next 2 slot threads, leave the next 2 down. (See photo 2)
• Continue in this manner of 2 up/2 down all the way across. Slide stick to the back beam. 
• Insert a second pick-up stick (pick-up stick "B") in front of pick-up stick A in a 2 down/2 up pattern all the way across. Then turn pick-up stick B on it's side. (See photos 3 & 4)
• Loop string heddles under all the B warp threads and then onto the heddle rod (Click here for more information about how to make string heddles and a heddle rod!) Remove pick-up stick B. All of the A warp threads remain on pick-up stick A and all of the B warp threads are now attached to the heddle rod with the string heddles. (See photos 5 & 6)

3. Leaving 4" of warp for fringe on each end, begin and end the runner with 3 picks of tabby, then hemstitch in groups of 4 threads. Weave the following sequence with Yarn B for approximately 75", ending on pick 7.

• Pick 1: heddle is UP
• Pick 2: heddle is NEUTRAL, pick-up stick A turned on edge (See photo 7)

Note: Even though the heddle rod is resting on top of the A warp threads, it does not interfere with the pattern because the B warp threads are not under tension

• Pick 3: heddle is UP
• Pick 4: heddle is NEUTRAL, pick-up stick A turned on edge
• Pick 5: heddle is UP
• Pick 6: heddle is DOWN
• Pick 7: heddle is UP
• Pick 8: heddle is NEUTRAL, raise heddle rod (See photo 8)

4. Repeat these 12 picks for approximately 75", ending on pick 7. Finish the runner with 3 picks of tabby, then hemstitch in groups of 4 threads. Leave at least 4" of fringe at this end. 

5. Cut yardage off the loom. Machine wash cold on delicate cycle, tumble dry low and press. Trim fringe to 3" on each end. Runner or scarf? You decide!

About Christine Jablonski

In addition to being GIST's Operations Manager and Wholesale Director, Christine is a weaver and exhibiting fiber artist. She scampered down the rabbit hole of rigid heddle weaving several years ago as a way to use up her knitting stash and never looked back. In addition to very practical cloth woven to adorn home and body (tea towels are her favorite home linen projects to weave), Christine also weaves conceptual works that explore themes of mood and memory, strength and fragility, and often reflect on the current political and ecological landscape. Her work is held in private collections across the country and is shown regionally in New England galleries. To see more of Christine's work, check out her Instagram. 

See also: Huck Lace Rigid Heddle Placemats