walk? run?

Of course, having spent a day learning to weave in Laos, I am something of an expert already - not!  But it was enough to whet my appetite and on my birthday last October I was very lucky to receive an Ashford Knitters Loom.  A little different from the one in Luang Prabang but nevertheless, the principles are the same.

First task was to get it warped, which I knew from speaking to weavers, is a time consuming and potentially challenging process.  Armed with the instruction manual, I set 32 warp threads in navy blue linen I'd bought in Sweden. I'd faced the usual dilemma: As a beginner, should I use waste yarn from my stash which would be no loss if it ended up a mess, or good, purpose-selected yarn which I'd be thrilled to see made up?  Of course I went for the latter, following my own recommendations which I offer to beginners - use the best you have.

The instructions were clear and easy to follow but without the benefit of experience, I was unsure how crucial it was to keep everything tight and neat.  I kept it tight and neat just in case, therefore.

A couple of hours later, I began to weave.  I used the yarn bought in Tokyo - a silk linen mix with a lovely grey-blue-black random pattern on a cream base.  I immediately realised my first mistake: the reed is rather too coarse for the weight of yarn I'm using - never mind.  Let's call it a "design choice".  I tried really hard to keep up some kind of rhythm, trying to remember the economical movements taught to me by Miss Lin.  There, when I threw the shuttle through back to front, I  had a tap on the wrist and a stern face to remind me for next time.  Sitting here at home, I found it hard to work at any pace at all but stumbled through the first few rows one at a time.  Clearly, some practice is needed.

But, you know, I'm quite pleased with my first efforts and l-o-v-e the "pattern" which is appearing there in the weave.  At the moment, I'm undecided how tightly to beat the threads down; how open to leave the resultant fabric, but so early in the process it can easily be adjusted.

I suppose that, whatever I choose to do, it will be fine as long as it's consistent - which this clearly is not.  Yet.

I'll have that sorted tomorrow!

Comments

[Tracy McNicoll]

Looking good Gill :) The perfect project to be doing while you try and keep warm with all that snow. Has finally reached Cornwall much to my sister delight.

[Marianne]

Is this loom like a rigid heddle loom? My mother used to weave on a rigid heddle loom and she taught me when I was a teenager. You seem to be getting on very well; I like your colours very much. They are almost exactly the same as the ones you had capture with your camera the other day. I enjoy your photo-a-day blog very much. Thank you for sharing!

[Gill Thomas]

You know Tracy, we'd have been happy to share some of our snow ;-) Yes, the weaving is fun!

Marianne, it's a rigid heddle loom and really very simple - but beautifully designed and made. I found a review on a website yesterday http://spinninglizzy.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/ashford-knitters-loom/ which reviews it very well.

I bought a book "Learning to Weave" but find it rather too advanced for my needs right now - have ordered a specific Rigid Heddle book and hope to learn more from that. Nothing like learning at your mother's side, though, is there?

Thank you both for your comments!