Needles Weaving Club

First Meeting: Wed., Feb.3, 2010 @ 1:00 pm

Project One: Bookmarks on a Board Loom

All fiberartists welcome.

"Through all the ages the path of the weaver has been the path of true civilization...and there where a loom is waiting, the night of savagery is over." - Rodier, Romance of French Weaving.

History of Weaving: We weavers practice a craft which fulfills one or two of the three basic human needs: that is, for food, shelter and clothing. Look around the globe, pick any place, and you are sure to find ancient and contemporary cloth of amazing color and technique made on an array of primitive to industrial-size looms. Man seemed destined from the beginning to create crafts, basketry and weaving, for example, with an eye to aesthetic design. And continues to do so now and hopefully will do so far into the future. You may want to read the book Women's work : the first 20,000 years : women, cloth, and society in early times by Elizabeth Wayland Barber.

Project One: Bookmarks on a Board Loom

Supplies:

board approx. 1/4" x 4" x 8"

sandpaper

ruler and colored pencil

coping saw or short hacksaw

thread: carpet warp or crochet thread for the warp

yarn: thicker, softer yarn for the weft

threads and yarns: Make them pretty!

darning needles: Two would be nice. (The ones with a curved end and eyes big enough for the soft yarn.)

crochet hook: For the soft weft.

scissors

2 pieces of cardboard: 1" x 4"

thumbtacks

Crayons, ok, get the big box.

What can you make on a board loom:

Bookmarks, pads for hot plates at the table, doilies to put under flower vases, straps to hold books together, an ornament for a pillow, hat trim, bows and bands, several pieces to be sewed together end to end to make a belt, several pieces to be sewed together side to side to make a purse, bag, placemat, or book cover, straps for sandals, neckties, decorative wall hangings, curtain tie backs, bands to hang pictures, trim for shelves, boxes, desk sets, foot stools, and lampshades, pouches and gift bags, dress trim, collars and cuffs.

Could you make the board longer?

You can explore different weaves: plain weave, hopsack or basketweave, step weave, dornick, herringbone, dog's tooth, twill.

Stop! No, wait, check out (translate "goggle" on the world wide web, pun definitely intended!) African strip weaving and the inkle loom.

Now, we have a cool little loom. Let's make some bookmarks for the Friends of the Library to sell. It is the least we can do!

What shall we do next time?

Shopping!

Here are some terms for you to know:

Beater of the Loom: Part of the loom structure which is moved back and forth to pack the weft rows taut; composed of two vertical side pieces and horizontal end pieces for holding the reed, the whole device working back and forth in an arc from its pivot at the base or top of the loom; also called Batten. Could be as simple as a comb or kitchen fork.

Board Loom: a simple wooden frame or contrivance made out of a flat board, on which warp may be stretched taut to provide for weaving.

In-and-Out Weave: Another name for Simple Weave, Plain Weave, or Tabby Weave; also applied to Simple Weaving in Basketry.

Loom: The framework across which threads are stretched in parallel order and at a tension for the weaving of cloth.

Selvage of cloth: the edge formed when weaving, at the right or left side of the cloth, by the loops of the weft as it passes back and forth and around the outside warp threads.

Set, Sett, or Setting of the warp: the number of warp threads per inch in the reed to obtain a certain texture.

Warp: the name given to the series of threads stretched lengthwise of the loom.

Warp-Around Loom: a frame or a board around which thread is wrapped to provide warp for weaving, generally having some arrangement for keeping the warp threads spread evenly apart and parallel.

Wattling: the ancient process of interlacing rigid sticks by twisting of pairs of softer fibers around them; know today as Pairing.

Weaving: the interlacing of two sets of threads at right angles to each other in various warp to form a fabric or cloth.

Weft: the name given to the weaving thread used crosswise of the warp through the sheds made by the harnesses; also called the Filler or Woof.

Definitions, projects, and inspiration from The Joy of Handweaving by Osma Gallinger Tod.

Use index cards and crayons or markers to design for various warps and wefts for your bookmarks. Here's an idea to get you started.