There are plenty of ways to weave, and several looms and materials to use nowadays. Before, people only knew how to weave by hand which can take several hours or days at a time. Now, there are hobbyists who weave right in their own kitchen or bedroom. You can take advantage of the technique by knowing more about the approaches and methods.
Tight and Even
The main idea behind weaving is to keep the work tight and even. First of all, choose the colors that you need to use. Individuals usually pick three various colors. These should match or look aesthetic and pleasing. The best ones to pick include 2 dark hues and a light one, or two light colors and a dark one. You can also pick a dark tone, a medium tone and a light color. The style and pattern will improve with the variety of colors.
The Setup
Set the string base on a weaving loom. You can use yarn. A reliable and durable brand is recommended. Tie a single end to the wooden weaving loom, then stretch the length down, allowing the string to run down the long side, similar to a guitar. Tie the end of the string around. Make sure that the string is stretched and secured very tightly. Repeat the process until the loom gets full.
Repeating the Process
The one end of the color yarn rolls to the top at the far right or the far left side of the bottom. Ensure that everything remains secure and tight. Slowly weave the yarn across the strings found at the base. Weave the yarn over and under the base strings evenly. The weave becomes uneven or may even present holes if you do not weave properly or make mistakes. Once you get to the opposite end of the base, loop the string over to the side then weave again to the side where you started. Continue weaving over and under evenly, but now in the opposite position.
More About the Process
Keep weaving the yarn back and forth until everything is done and you are fully satisfied with the size of the colored stripes. 5 to 6 rows of weaved string results to a thin-colored stripe. If you double or triple the amount, you get a thicker work. Tie the end of the colored string to the final base string found on the side where you ended, then start the entire process again, using a new color and beginning from this position.
Keep at the process until you have finished the pattern completely, then start the patterna gain. A good example is finishing 5 rows of green string, 5 rows of yellow string, five lines of red string, then 5 rows of white string.
Once you are done weaving and tying off a big piece, snip the ends of the base strings off and out of the loom. Leave some inches to knot and secure the loom properly.
Rules on Warping
You can use any type of yarn as a warp, but experts recommend one that has a little spring. Wool is recommended, together with cotton. A shed may be harder to open if you weave cotton, but the tension does increase. Other good materials can also be used as warp, such as magnetic tape coming from cassette tapes. Take one end of the magnetic tape then tie it to a fixed structure, reel out a length of the tap then pull. The tape will curl independently as the stretching is done.
If you want to learn how to spin efficiently, you might find that the hobby can be quite expensive, especially the materials. You can actually make your own spindle wheel and add the necessary accessories over time. Visit your local craft shop and go to other online sites to know more about the available tools and tricks on how to start. Here are some tips.
To Begin
Visit your local craft shop that offers wooden products and other accessories. Purchase a wooden car wheel measuring about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, which will become the whorl part of the spindle. The wheel should already have been drilled with a hole in the very middle which prevents the spindle from wobbling once it spins. Next, look for a dowel rod that fits right at the middle hole of the wheel. This will become the spindle shaft. The dowel rods measure 3 feet long once you buy these. Cut the shaft around 9 to 12 inches, so that 3 to 4 spindles can be created using a single dowel rod.
More on the Process
After cutting the dowel rod, place and push it at the center hole of the whorl or wheel, letting around 1 to 1.5 inches to stick out at the base. This is referred to as the bottom-whorl spindle or low-whorl. Drill a small hole at the shaft center. Experts recommend that you use a 5/64 drill bit. Buy a cup hook measuring 1/4 inch then screw it right onto the shaft top. This will be the catch of the yarn to prevent it from slipping off the end as you spin. Sharpen the bottom end of the shaft to a dull point using a pencil sharpener so that you can spin the spindle on a small bowl or a table top similar to a top, if you prefer it supported.
The Leader Yarn
You can now add the leader yarn, to begin the fiber on the spindle. You can use some yarn bought from your local store or a homemade one measuring around 12 to 14 inches in length. Tie the yarn tightly to the shaft just over the whorl. Bring the leader yarn over the side of the whorl, looped over the base inch that sticks out. This will stabilize the yarn then balance the whorl spin. Bring the leader yarn back up over the whorl side then loop it on the hook. Leave 2 inches of yarn to begin the fiber on. Beginners are encouraged to spin on the spindle first, before progressing to spinning on the wheel.
To Start Spinning
You will need a few things to begin spinning. First, you need a drop spindle that is well-balanced. Choose a spindle that does not weigh too much. Bring 1/2 ounce of prepared fiber, preferably wool of medium-grade of the right color, a small masking tape and a piece of wool starter yarn measuring 24 to 30 inches in length.
The Drop Spindle
It is very important that you get a good drop spindle. The simple models work efficiently. There are various types of spindles, with different weights, forms and sizes. The basic drop spindle elements include groove, shaft and whorl. The regular drop spindle normally measures around 9 to 15 inches long, while the drop spindle whorls measure around 2 to 3 inches. Drop spindles are usually made of wood and twirl in midair while spinning.
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