New Loom Want to Weave

[SusanWallaceOZ]

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie from California. I just received a "lap loom" for Christmas, and I
want to learn to weave. So far, I've made a small rug about the size of a
placemat that looks something similar to a native American Indian rug. I can
figure out how to do stripes, but I can't figure out how to do plaid. I'm
especially interested in learning to weave the Wallace plaid because that is
my ancestry. I did get directions on-line, (black 2, red 16, black 16, yellow 2), but it's only coming out with stripes, not plaid, so I would like some
helpful hints, if anyone could send me in the right direction. Great to be a
part of this group! I did visit Scotland a few years ago, and I purchased a
Wallace plaid tartan, which I cherish and snuggle under every day! Would like to learn to weave it for gifts for my family members.

[CopperNGold]

Weaving a is a great craft, and you'll love the learning process. You might start with setting up your loom with your warp in broad bands of whatever colors you choose. Then while weaving (the weft or woof) use the same number of bands of color pattern in the same going across your warp. Say, green, red, blue warp pattern, then green, red, blue weft. Start with this simple pattern, maybe one inch of each color for the warp, and then repeat the color in the weft, one inch each of color. That will make a check pattern, and you can get the gist of what weaving a tartan will be like.

A tartan is just a more intricate check pattern, using more colors in the warp, in smaller and wider bands, then repeating the same pattern of colors in the weft.

Check your local library for weaving instruction books, and there probably are online instruction videos. Your local weavers guild is another possibility, as are local instrtuctors in your area.

Most of all, have fun, and enjoy playing with color, texture and pattern!

[tulloch]

Welcome from the highlands of Central Massachusetts. Great that you have your first loom. I don't have one but would like to have one and the time to use it. To get a pattern like tartan you have to have, as CopperNGold said, the pattern in the warp and the pattern in the weft in equal amounts. From one side to the other set up your warp threads as you indicated your sett calls for: black 2, red 16, black 16, yellow 2, REPEAT MULTIPLE TIMES. Then get your bobbins in your shuttles - three of 'em in this case. Run two lines of black, sixteen of red, sixteen of black, two of yellow. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Post photos please. This will be interesting.

So, again, welcome and have fun!

[SusanWallaceOZ]

Wow, thanks so much for the speedy responses! I'll try it tonight and let you know how it went!

[Donnie]

from North Carolina

[McFarkus]

from Chicago. Keep us posted on your progress with weaving.

[Chas]

Hello Susan,

Welcome to XMarks from Norfolk, England.

Good luck with your project.

Regards

Chas

[brewerpaul]

Greetings from Missouri. What kind of loom do you have? Looking at the photos of them Im not sure a lap loom has ability to do much more than a tabby weave, or a basic straight weave. Most tartan fabric is done on a twill weave that is achieved using looms with 4 or 8 or 12 shaft. This allows the variation in the weave pattern that looks diagonal. You can still weave a tartan it will just have the tabby pattern. Your warp and weft s should be the same for the sette. This requires either multiple shuttles or one you can change the bobbin. It would be interesting to see what you can achieve with your lap loom, it should be fun for you. I have a Lerlerc 4 shaft table loom I plan to make some tartan sashes with of a couple of tartans I designed. This loom allows for the twill weave by being able to use shafts or sets of heddles the warp is run through. . Ill post my experiments as I do them. This loom only goes 15inches wide so I should get two settes in a run of warp.

[Father Bill]

Welcome to the Great Rabble!

[Spartan Tartan]

from Oklahoma!