Jane Patrick

idea bookthe weaver’s

creative cloth on a rigid-heddle loom

contentsEverything About Plain WeaveBalanced weaves

Spaced warps

Felted fabrics

Stripes

Plaids

Textured yarns

= projects

Felted Scarf

Rag Threesome

Pulled-warps Scarf

Exploring Finger-Controlled WeavesPicked-up loops

Danish medallions

Brooks bouquet

Leno

Spanish lace

= projects

Linen Placemat

Leno Shrug

The Power of the Pick-Up StickHow to use a pick-up stick for weft floats

How to use a pick-up stick for warp floats

How to use a pick-up stick for weft and warp floats

Pick-up patterns, including drafts

= projects

Tunic

Pinstriped Skirt

Honeycomb Pillow Pair

Purple and Green Funky Felted Pillow

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Warp- and Weft-Faced Fabrics: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

weft-faced weaves

Weft-faced color-and-weave

Cut pile, the Ghiordes knot

Picked-up loops pile

Soumak

Krokbragd

Clasped-weft

= project

Summertime Coasters

warp-faced weaves

Warp-emphasis fabrics

Warp-faced bands

Pick-up on warp-faced bands

Two-Heddle Weaving: It’s Easier than You Thinktwo-heddle basics

How to thread and use two heddles

Two-heddle patterns

Two heddles and pick-up stick

= project

City Girl/Country Girl Apron

doubleweave

How to thread for doubleweave

Doubleweave theory and sampler

Doubleweave ideas

= project

Doubleweave Table Runner

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the finger-controlled weaves4

pick-up

Because of the unique design of the rigid-heddle loom, it is especially suited to pick-up

patterns. Therefore, I consider this chapter the heart and soul of this book. I’ve talked

about how each thread holds its own individual possibility. You as a weaver have control

over that one thread, and for that matter, each and every thread. But it’s not particularly

practical to control the path of individual threads, and that’s why you have a loom to

help you manage them in groups. Using a pick-up stick (or two) to control warp threads

increases the possibilities and expedites the process of creating patterns. This is where

the rigid-heddle loom shows its true colors.

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5the weaver’s idea bookthe finger-controlled weaves

PICk-UP STEP-bY-STEPBegin by putting the heddle in the down position (Figure 1). This places the slot threads on top where they can be easily manipulated. I sometimes like to insert another pick-up stick between the two layers so it’s easy to see the raised threads (Figure 2). As you gain confidence, you may find this isn’t necessary. Even though the pick-up stick is used behind the heddle, pick up in front of the heddle where it’s easier to see what you’re doing.

To pick up the slot threads, begin at the selvedge and use a second pick-up stick to pick up the desired threads using an up and down dipping motion. When the pattern says “up,” place a warp thread on the pick-up stick; when the pattern says “down,” place a thread underneath the pick-up stick. Here, I’ve picked 1 up, 1 down (Figure 3). For a 2-up-2-down sequence, there will be two warp threads on the pick-up stick, two underneath, and so on.

After you’ve picked up all of the desired threads, remove the first pick-up stick (the one in Figure 2). Place the heddle in neutral (Figure 4), and then turn the pick-up stick on edge (Figure 5). This will lift a different group of threads to create a new shed.

The next step is to transfer that pattern behind the heddle. To do this, insert a second pick-up stick behind the heddle into the shed created by the first pick-up stick. Remove the first pick-up stick (the one that’s in front of the heddle)—it has done its job. Now, slide the pick-up stick behind the heddle to the back of the loom. You’ll bring this stick forward when it’s needed to create a shed.

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7/1 LacePick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 3 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Pick-up stick.Row 5. Up.Row 6. Down.Repeat these 6 rows for pattern.

7/1 Lace, Variation Pick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 3 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Pick-up stick.Row 5. Up.Row 6. Down.Repeat these 6 rows for pattern.

the finger-controlled weaves6

WEFT FloATS All of the following patterns are woven on a single warp of 3/2 pearl cotton threaded in a 10-dent reed in a sequence of 36 ends of natural, 36 ends alternating gray and natural (gray in slots), and 36 ends of gray. This is one of the wonderful advantages of rigid-heddle pattern weaving: you can pick up and weave a 3/1 lace for a while and then just take out your pick-up stick and try a 5/1 lace or a combination of the two.

3/1 LacePick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 1 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Down.Repeat these 4 rows for pattern.

5/1 LacePick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 2 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Down.Repeat these 4 rows for pattern.

5/1 Spot LacePick-up stick pattern A: *4 up, 2 down; repeat from *.Pick-up stick pattern B: 1 up, *2 down, 4 up; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick A.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Pick-up stick A.Row 5. Up.Row 6. Down.Row 7. Up.Row 8. Pick-up stick B.Row 9. Up.Row 10. Pick-up stick B.Row 11. Up.Row 12. Down.Repeat these 12 rows for pattern.

3/1 Floats with Supplementary WeftPick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 1 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick, supplementary weft.Row 3. Down.Row 4. Pick-up stick, supplementary weft.Repeat these 4 rows for pattern.

the weaver’s idea book 7

Weft Floats Separated by Plain Weave, Variation 2Pick-up stick pattern: *2 up, 2 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Pick-up stick.Row 5. Up.Row 6. Pick-up stick.Row 7. Up.Row 8. Down.Repeat these 8 rows for pattern.

3/1 and 5/1 Weft FloatsPick-up stick pattern: *1 up, 1 down, 1 up, 1 down, 2 up, 2 down; repeat from *.Row 1. Up.Row 2. Pick-up stick.Row 3. Up.Row 4. Pick-up stick.Row 5. Up.Row 6. Down.Repeat these 6 rows for pattern.

Use one of the world’s simplest tools to explore the

creative possibilities of cloth! The Weaver’s Idea Book presents a variety of patterns for simple rigid-heddle

and harness looms, complete with sample swatches

for drafts and project ideas.

Inside readers will learn:= Techniques including leno, Brooks bouquet,

soumak, and embroidery on fabric.

= Weaving patterns and swatches that illustrate each

technique, accompanied by beautiful

step-by-step photography.

= How to create 10 attractive projects, including

a felted scarf, sturdy tote, evening wrap, table

mat, tunic with pattern trim, felted wrap skirt

with woven-in belt loops, honeycomb pillow pair,

clasped-weft coasters, apron with paper pile, and a

double weave table runner

= Weaving tips and tricks to help weavers at all

levels achieve their textile dreams.

Beginning and experienced weavers on the lookout

for new weave structure patterns will be drawn to the

multitude of designs in The Weaver’s Idea Book.

Hardcover w/concealed wire-o, 8½ x 9, 192 pages

200 photographs, 20 illustrations, and 150 charts

ISBN 978-1-59668-175-0

$26.95

Available July 2010

Jane Patrick is the author of Time to Weave:

Simply Elegant Projects to Make in Almost No Time

(Interweave), the former editor of Handwoven magazine,

and Creative Director for Schacht Spindle Company in

boulder, Colorado.

createexquisite cloth