Weaving Made Easy

weaving made easy
17 Projects Using a Simple Loom
Liz Gipson
two-skein scarf
the trick to weaving with variegated yarns is use
them in such a way as to bring out their beauty without
combining too many colors so that end up looking
muddy. One trick is to grab a skein of beautifully
variegated yarn and find a coordinating solid that will
complement the variegated colorway, as in this scarf of
subtle beauty. For a different look, use the solid color
in the warp and weave with the variegated. Simple
hemstitching allows beauty of the variegated yarn to
show in the fringe.
Finished Dimensions Yarns Warping

About 9˝ wide by 58 ½˝ Warp Warp the loom (see page 00), following the specifications
long, plus 6” fringe at each 4-ply wool/silk blend (1,150 at left.
end. yd/lb): 250 yd variegated.
Weaving
Shown here: Mountain Colors
Weave Structure Weave an inch or two of header to spread the warp ends
Twizzle (85% merino, 15% (see page 00).
Balanced plain weave.
silk; 1,142 yd/lb): Indian
Corn. Leave a 30” weft tail at the selvedge to use for hemstitching
Equipment
10-dent rigid heddle with later, then using a soft beat, weave a few inches with weft
10˝ weaving width; 1 stick Weft yarn. Thread the weft tail on a tapestry needle and use it to
shuttle. 2-ply alpaca/wool/metallic hemstitch (see page 00) around two warps and weft at the
blend (1,250 yd/lb): 135 yd starting end of the scarf. Continue to weave until the scarf
Sett (epi) 10.
teal. measures 60”. Cut the weft, leaving a 30” tail. Thread the
Weaving Width 10˝. tail on a tapestry needle and use it to hemstitch as before.
Picks per inch (ppi) 8. Shown here: Nashua
Handknits Ivy (50% alpaca,
Warp Length Finishing
45% merino, 5% estellina;
90˝ (includes 20˝ for loom Remove the fabric from the loom (see page 00), preserving
1,252 yd/lb): Blue Teal.
waste and take up) the loom waste for fringe. Remove the scrap yarn in the
Number of Warp Ends header.
100.
Handwash in lukewarm water with mild soap, rinse. Roll in
a towel and squeeze out excess water. Lay flat to dry. Trim
the fringe to 6” using a rotary cutter on a self-healing mat.
weaving made easy 3

simply striped rug
simple stripes in rich colors create a floor
covering that’s perfect for any room. With colored
pencils, sketch your stripe sizes and color on paper
until you find an arrangement that works for you. A
tapestry beater—a large hand-held “fork”—will come in
handy when weaving this cloth. You can press the weft
into place with the rigid heddle, but the tapestry beater
will help pack the weft further to create a dense, sturdy
fabric. Lattice knotting finishes the warp ends and
add a decorative touch.
Finished Dimensions Number of Warp Ends Warping

About 19 ½˝ by 36˝ long, 105. Warp the loom (see page 00) following the specifications
with 1” fringe at each end. left. To space the warp in the reed, *thread a slit, skip the
Yarns next hole and slot, then thread a hole, skip the next slot and
Weave Structure Warp hole, and repeat from * across the width. Every threaded
Weft-faced plain weave. 4-ply 8/4 fingering-weight slot must be followed by a threaded hole in order to form
unmercerized cotton (1,600 plain-weave sheds.
Equipment yd/lb): 198 yd dusty pink.
12-dent reed with 21˝ Wind one shuttle each with rust, dusty pink, maroon, and
weaving width; 3 stick Shown here: Mayville Carpet pink.
shuttles; tapestry beater Warp (100% cotton; 800
(optional). yd/8 oz): fill in color. Weaving
Weave about 3” of firmly packed header to spread the warp
ends (see page 00) and provide a solid ground for beating
Warp and Weft Weft the weft (see Getting a Firm Beat, page 00).
Specifications 2-ply very bulky wool (260
Sett (epi) yd/lb): 53 yd maroon, 202 Using a firm beat to ensure that the warp ends are
5 (using a 12-dent reed). yd dusty pink, and 216 yd completely covered with the weft, weave 3” with rust, 2”
Weaving Width 21˝. rust. with dusty pink, 1” with maroon, then 2” of pink. Repeat
Picks per Inch (ppi) 21. this sequence three more times, then weave 3” with rust.
Shown here: Halcyon Yarn
Warp Length Rug Wool (100% wool): #?? Weave 2” of firmly packed header to keep the last weft pick
68˝ (includes 30” for loom Maroon, #?? dusty pink, in place.
waste and take up). and #?? Rust..
weaving made easy 5

Bobble Slippers
project gallery
Bamboo Obi
Space Saving Mats

table of contents
Introduction
The Basics
Warping and Weaving
Getting Up to Warp Speed
Fully Loaded Scarf

Cozy Coasters
Bobble Slippers
Color Play Plaid
Two-Skein Scarf
Piping Hot Pillows
Layered Cravat
Tweed So Fine
Grab it and Go Bag
Pleasing Proportions Bag
Bamboo Obi
Loopy Mats
Simply Striped Rug
Pick-Up Belt
Space Saving Mats
Leno Runner
Brooks Bouquet Shawl
Problem Solving
Terms to Knot
Brooks Bouquet Shawl
Illustrated Glossary
Warping Checklist
Project Planning Sheet
Sources for Supplies
Index
weaving made easy 7

transform yarn into cloth with just a simple loom
Weaving Made Easy shows how to make sinuous, drapey
fabrics; sturdy, practical fabrics; and fun, funky fabrics on just
two shafts—no expensive, large looms here! Anyone can learn,
using nothing more than their hands, their imagination, and
their third-grade math skills.
Inside, crafters will learn how to:

» Work the easiest of looms through clear, step-by-step
photographs and detailed instructions
» Use color, differential shrinkage, and hand-manipulated

techniques to create stunning fabrics
» Create 18 inspirational projects including scarves, bags,

belts, tops, and a bevy of household goodies such as pillows,
placemats, rugs, and blankets in a wide array of yarns from
beautiful wools to silken bamboo
Paperbound, 8½ x 9, 128 pages About the author Liz Gipson, former managing editor of Spin-Off
150 photographs magazine and the current managing editor of Handwoven magazine,
ISBN 978-1-59668-075-3 learned to weave at age five. Liz has made appearances on the DIY
$24.95 and HGTV programs Knitty Gritty and Uncommon Threads and is a
November 2008 co-host of public television’s Knitting Daily TV. She is the president
of the Spinning and Weaving Association and lives in Loveland,
Colorado.

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weaving made easy

17 Projects Using a Simple Loom

Finished Dimensions Yarns Warping