Weaving In The New Year

Perhaps your New Year's resolution is to weave better. Better means different things to different people. For some it means faster; for others it means with less mistakes; for others still it means weaving with more precision.

Weaving on the Edge

Nancy and Nancy argue about which shuttle they like best. Learn more in our Weaving Shuttle Breakdown video.

Selvedges are one of the biggest challenges for weavers. We obsess about them. There are a few simple things that you can do to create perfect selvedges. If you find that your warp is "smiling" at you or turning up at the edges it is probably because you are not putting the weft in at a steep enough angle or you are pulling the yarn too tight as you grab the shuttle exiting the shed. We tend to do the latter when you reach with your non-dominant hand because we have less control when using it. Check our our video My Weaving Isn't Even to learn more.

Another way to ensure good selvedges is to invest in an end-feed shuttle.  It gives you better control over your yarn by keeping it under tension. You can learn more about them in our Weaving Shuttle Breakdown or How To Wind a Pirn videos. And, speaking of winding: winding your shuttle bobbin or pirn well will also help you with your selvedges. Well-wound bobbins keep the shuttle from jerking as it passes though the shed. The jerking can keep you from making a smooth pass and laying in the weft evenly.

Recovering from Mistakes

Chris broke his warp thread, now what? Watch our How To Fix A Broken Warp End video to see how he recovers. The reality is that mistakes happen - recovering from them is what makes our weaving "better."  Broke a warp thread? Watch our video on how to fix it. Can't get a clean shed? Maybe you miss threaded the reed or the heddles. We have a video on that, too!

These are just a few of the tips and tricks that you will find on our  You Tube channel. If you have an idea for a video, let us know. We would love to hear from you.

Chris, Nancy, and the entire Woolery team