Lessons from Tod - Two-Harness Design Methods

 A work in progress. . . 

The Joy of Hand Weaving

By Osma Gallinger Tod

 

I have been weaving for a long time but working also.  So I didn't have time to study weaving in depth.  Now that I’m retired, this book has given me the chance to explore weaving design with plenty of fun suggestions.

 

Two-Harness Design Methods

Stripes and Plaids

Warp Stripes

Weft Stripes and Plaids 

Stripes and Plaids

Many variations are possible on a two-harness loom, using plain weave or tabby as a basic texture.  One can warp the loom with any succession of colors, forming beautiful stripes in the warp; one can weave stripes across plain warp, thus forming stripes in the weft; one can weave stripes across a striped warp, thus forming plaids.  One can use heavy threads between fine threads in both warping and weaving, thus forming texture lines.  One can also weave designs in color on the background of plain weave by laying additional design threads in between the regular rows of tabby.  This is called “Laid-in Weaving.”  One can do so many interesting things with plain weave that it would take a large book to describe then all.

Directions for some of the most useful variations are given in this book.  Later, the reader can learn others, such as leaving space in the warp to form mesh work, twisting the warp to form laces, making loops of the weft, and sewing embroidery stitches over the warp.

One can weave striped mats for the summer luncheon table or breakfast room, made of carpet warp, raffia, and paper.  The stripes can be in both the warp and weft.  The carpet warp is set at 10 threads per inch or, for a heavier texture, at 8 pairs per inch.  The mats with their stripe designs may be woven with raffia in bright colors, or tufting cotton, or carpet warp used double.  A breakfast table doily can be made with a weft of Dennison’s rolled crepe paper, packed tight and shellacked after finishing to make it durable.  All these mats may be washed by brushing with soap suds and water.
 

Be on the lookout at the thrift store for things to use for clean and serviceable warps and wefts.  The thrift store is a good source for fabric to use for rag rugs also, covered in another chapter.  Be on the lookout too for sources for purse handles, mason jars to cover with lace woven fabric for candle holders, beads to add interesting texture, or any number of stuff.
 

A Note about Carpet Warp:  Carpet warp is one of the most serviceable of products for weavers but it is only available at mail order suppliers.  It is unbleached, bleached, or dyed natural cotton that has not been mercerized.  Most natural cotton available locally is Aran, knitting worsted weight category 4.  The other option is mercerized crochet cottons.  The nicest match for 8/4 carpet warp in our area would probably be crochet cotton 5 in natural and white and crochet cotton 3 for colors.  Look around and experiment; who knows what treasures you will find.

There’s some suggestions for you.  So be creative.  And the next question is always what fiber should I use?  Well, for me, I want to weave cotton in the summer.  And these projects suggest cotton, so it’s a no brainer.  I love no brainers!  Now where did I put that raffia?  ;(! 
 

Playing with cotton warp, raffia, novelty yarn, and crepe paper.

 

 

 

Weaving on my rigid heddle loom, 6 epi, with various Aran weight cottons for warp and raffia for weft, wet and three at a time.

(I’ll trim the ends later.  I picked up the raffia at the dollar store.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or you could do your own study.  Here’s mine from a photo of a Joshua Tree in the Mohave Desert.

 

So be creative.  And look for another post called "Color Combinations from Nature" for some more ideas.

Then the next question is what fibers should I use.  Well, for me, I want to weave cotton in the summer.  And these projects suggest cotton, so it’s a no brainer.  I love no brainers!  Now where did I put that raffia?  ;)!

Playing around with cotton warp, raffia, novelty yarns and crepe paper.  Here are my little projects and some stash busting!  (The raffia was at the dollar store.  I kept grabbing as much as I could afford.)