Let's Inkle

It has been interesting these last couple of weeks.  Let's just say that I have had more than usual on my plate, and I have not been able to do much of anything except to knit, because it is portable and quiet.  The funny thing is , not being able to do anything fiber related has sparked my creative energies, so that I have several things in my head that I want to try.

Several years ago, I purchased several tubs full of cones of very fine threads, some of them in some shockingly bright colors.  It has taken me this long to get an idea of what I might be able to do with them.  the TW also purchased a bunch of this yarn, and the general thought is that these yarns are not strong enough for warp.

Recently I saw a blog post by Sara Lamb about backstrap weaving, ("Woven Thoughts" in the sidebar) and I was struck by how fine the threads were, though hers were silk.  I did a little searching on the web and saw that many times the yarn used for this type of weaving is quite fine.


I decided that I would use a pattern that I had seen in both inkle woven bands and backstrap samples, and warp up a wide band on my Leclerc Inkle floor loom.  I happened on a website called "Carolingian Realm", on which there is an Inkle loom pattern generator, the color selection and the ease of use is great!

I proceeded to pattern up!  When I began to warp, I doubled the fine threads and left the border thread single because it was a bit thicker.

This is how I left it last night before I went off to bed, I was really pleased with it.  This morning I continued threading the final bit and began to weave.  I first used a three strand weft, but quickly decided that it was too thick.  I dropped to two strands in the weft, and then to one strand.  I really liked the fabric that I was getting with one strand.

2 strands of weft, and then above 1 strand of weft.

I thought I would try making the pattern darker by using 2 sets of two in my pick up pattern, and I really liked it!

It was about then that I noticed that the thicker edge yarn was not holding up as well as I would have liked it to.  I noticed another thing too, that you probably noticed in the picture above.  In my hurry to get this project on the loom, I had forgotten to add the orange stripe to the right hand border!

Except for the border yarn which was a little thicker and softer, I think these yarns are going to do fine on the inkle loom.......

I think I'll go iron some blue jean weft..........

(The goat kids are here!  You can see pictures of them on the farmsteadstudio blog in the sidebar.)

Happy Weaving, Tina

P.S.  Okay, I fixed it and I am playing with patterns!  :)