A taste of hand weaving part 6

Part 6 already, time to weave!

Pick a colour from the curated yarn card. There are 4 yards each of 5 colours per card to choose. I encourage you to make such a card with your own stuff, it is a traditional and helpful way to preview colour choice.

Mixed colour, texture and thickness. Choose one you find especially appealing. The horizontal yarn or weft is to be threaded/woven over and under the warp threads with the aid of a weaving needle, or simply your fingers.

Cut a length of the chosen yarn 3 or 4 times the width of the warp, say 20 inches.

Put one end of the yarn through the eye of the weaving needle.

Row 1: Poke the weaving needle (and weft) over one warp thread and under the next, repeat across the warp. This action is called a throw, in weaving. In knitting it would be called a row.

For example; under a light thread, over a dark thread.

Arc the weft yarn as you cross to allow for take up in the fabric 

Push (beat)the line of yarn into place with a table fork.

Pull the weft through the warp to the opposite side, leaving a 2 inch tail.

Row 2: Poke the weaving needle  (and weft) under one warp thread and over the next, that is; the alternate warp threads, repeat across the warp.

For example; over a light thread and under a dark one.

Push (beat)the 2nd line of yarn into place with a table fork,

You can tuck the end tail into this row now or leave it or tuck the ends away after the work is complete. Really though, at this point, don't worry about it, rather focus on the colour and keeping the side (selvage) edges from pulling in.

Repeat row 1 and 2, as much as you like, 

or until the 20 inch length of yarn is used up.

Choose a new length of yarn, repeat the above steps, 

adding more weft lines of colour.

A shed stick can be used to create a larger space for the weft yarn to pass through. Weave such a stick through the warp, just as you did with the needle, then turn it on edge to create a wider opening for the weft.

Navajo weavers use a combination shed stick for and string heddles to help in making the space for the weft to cross through the warp.

and a sturdy wooden comb for beating the weft into place.

Technical Notes:

The warp is between 24 and 30 ends (12 and 15 ends per colour), approximately 8 ends per inch 9 (epi). The active middle part of the warp on the 9 inch card is about 6 inches long , allowing an inch and a half, top and bottom for fringe, and not counting the 9 inch lengths of warp on the back of the card. This also means you can put another warp on the loom using about 7 to 9 yards of warp yarn. I highly recommend a medium weight cotton.

The completed work, off the loom will be about 6 inches in length, about 4 inches wide. Coaster size or keep the work on the loom as an art display.

Lots about finishing in part 7.