Lotsaknots Etsy Shop

Here is a view of our Lotsaknots Etsy shop.  We have a wide variety of both towel and scarf kits currently available.  It's so exciting to see the front page of the shop nearly full.

Our kits are very different from most weaving kits available online.  We offer pre-wound warps, with a threading cross and weft on bobbins ready for the nearest boat shuttle.  We strive to make weaving easier regardless of your skill level, expert to beginner.  We offer kits to make 2 towels or 2 napkins or fabric for a table runner.  In addition, we offer a variety of kits for making attractive fashion scarves.

New weavers are faced with lots of decisions about how to invest their weaving dollars.  Along with the loom, comes the need for lots of additional equipment.  We ease that financial burden by winding the warp and weft for you.  No need for a warping board or mill, no need for a bobbin winder.  These additional items can get expensive and often cause lots of undue stress.

When I began weaving, I recall being asked which I preferred a warping board or a warping mill.  The board was less expensive so I bought it.  Later, I learned how much easier and often faster winding a warp on a warping mill can be.  It's also more expensive, whether new or used.

Bobbin winders come in a wide variety and, I later learned, the Swedish version is more reliable and much more expensive than the belt or band driven winders.

The equipment I now have, after over 12 years of weaving, is not the equipment I began with.  I now own a Toika 3 meter warping mill and a Swedish hand winder.  Both tools serve me well and are work horses.  Sure, there are lots of choices but these are the tools I prefer and they have lasted a long time with easy maintenance.  Both are a far cry from the warping board, missing some essential pegs, and band driven bobbin winder with an impossible crank operation that I first owned.

We now ofter a wide variety of scarf kits.  Warps are, as always, pre-wound, ready for threading on a rigid heddle, table or floor loom.  Bobbins are wound and ready for a boat shuttle or can be used with a stick shuttle by winding them off the pirn and onto your shuttle of choice.

Here are a few photos of our first scarf kit:

Many other warp and weft combinations now available in Lotsaknots Etsy Shop

Happy weaving!

Got my roller skates on now!

Dark Shadows is the current baby wrap on the loom.  I haven't left time in my day for writing our blog and it's been quite a while.  I try to weave as much as possible and finished weaving Stormageddon

over a week ago and moved right into Dark Shadows, the sister wrap on the same warp.

I had a brief set back and spent 3 days recuperating from a spasm in my lower back.  My physical therapist, Jo, is a fabulous practitioner and got me back on my feet quickly.  Thanks must go primarily to Janet and David for forcing me to remain on the couch or in bed early so I could heal.

Janet has completed the mock up for our next custom wrap and sister.  We don't have a name yet and are open to suggestions.  Here is a picture of the mock up for the warp:

It's showing up darker on my computer screen than it is in real life.  It's several colors warped randomly with 4 basic background colors.  It's been a challenge and we purchased a creel to assist with the warp winding.
Here is a picture of the creel or cone holder we purchased from Fiber Artist's Suplly Co, LLC

TO THE LOOM!!!

A view of the Lotsaknots Studio

For the past few weeks I have focused on the long warp on the Glimakra Standard that will be 4 baby wraps.  There is a lot more going on in the studio.  I've put together a quick video tour of the some  other projects.

The warps are all designed and wound by Janet who has a fabulous eye for color.  The Sedona wraps that are currently on the big loom was designed by Janet using a painting of Sedona, AZ.  We were visiting Sedona in September and walked into an art and sculpture gallery where they featured the painting Janet used for this warp.  She is very talented and has a great feel for color which can be seen in this and all the warps we produce.

BTW, Janet is the other half of Lotsaknots.  She is a knitter, spinner and occasional weaver.

Enjoy the video:

This warp is featured in our Etsy shop.
Please add your "Like" to our Facebook page.  

Classes and more

Many new classes are now available at Lotsaknots Studio.  We have developed a new format and most classes are taught 1:1.  This gives the student the benefit of being able to learn more in a shorter time since there are fewer distractions.  

We have added Rigid Heddle Weaving: Using Pick up to create texture.  This class covers the proper use of one or more pick up sticks to create warp and weft floats or both in your project.  We will work on a sample piece and each student will learn how to incorporate the use of pick up sticks in everyday items such as placemats, table runners and towels.  

Another new class is Weaving Fabric on your rigid heddle loom.  This is a class for the advanced beginner or intermediate student who is interested in learning more about various uses of the fabric you can create with your rigid heddle loom.  We will discuss how to plan a project for the right length to create a vest, top or jacket.  You will need basic sewing skills.

In addition, we have created a new kit which will be appearing soon in our Etsy shop, Lotsaknots.  This kit is designed for use with 2 pick up sticks and can be used to make 2 placemats or a table runner.  It can be purchased with matching warp and weft or with a contrasting weft color.  Here is the finished  product with matching warp and weft:  

In this view you can see  the warp floats.  This is similar to the techniques being taught in the Pick up class mentioned above.  This kit will be priced at $25 for 2 placemats and $40 for 4.  

More new kits will be arriving soon.  All kits are designed to be woven on either a rigid heddle loom or a floor loom.  Each description gives details about the width of the loom and size of heddle or reed required to complete the project.

Happy weaving!!

So, what about a rigid heddle loom?

I received a request this week from a woman looking for beginning weaving classes.  We exchanged a few emails and by the third response it was clear she was only interested in learning on a floor loom.  I gave her the following information:
I teach beginning weaving using rigid heddle looms.  If you would like to rent or purchase a floor loom, I am happy to assist with the loan or purchase.  In reply she wrote "No, I do not want to learn on a rigid heddle loom.  I want to learn on a real loom".

Houndstooth scarf woven on the rh loom

What can I say?  Rigid heddle looms are real looms and if Jane Patrick ,Creative Director of Schacht Spindle Co., can write an entire book about weaving on a rigid heddle loom, what further endorsement do you need. In fact, Jane wrote "This is what I mean about the power of the rigid heddle loom.  It is simple and complicated at the same time." (p. 88 of The Weaver's Idea Book).

There are three words in that statement that stand out, power, simple and complicated.  Those three words describe the rigid heddle loom.  It is a powerful loom because it is both simple and complex.  You can weave simple plain weave or you can design patterns incorporating complex lace structures.  There is so much you can do and so many projects you can make with this very simple, inexpensive tool.

Plus, a new rigid heddle loom is one tenth the cost of the average floor loom!  What better way to learn to weave.

So, back to my insistent emailer.  What to do?  I want to teach and I enjoy working with people who have enthusiasm for weaving.  I don't own a floor loom I can rent or teach on and it's not in my budget at this time to buy one.  I encouraged her to consider the rigid heddle loom and gave her several good reasons why it's a great way to start your weaving exploration.  I don't believe I'll hear back from her.  I hope she finds a teacher who can meet her needs and requirements.  It's a shame she is not open to a different possibility.  Several people I have taught to weave on a rigid heddle loom have purchased and enjoyed weaving on floor looms.  After their experience on a rigid heddle loom, they felt confident about how a loom functions and had the skills to weave on a different loom.  It's a shame so many people discount how versatile a rigid heddle loom is and what an excellent tool it is for a beginning weaver.

I  offer classes on weaving on a rigid heddle loom in my home studio in Poolesville Maryland and online via web conferencing.  Please feel free to contact me if you are interested.  My email address is lotsaknots@msn.com.

Weaving, spinning, knitting and so forth

I fear I may forget how to write so here is a quick review of what I am doing.
On the Cricket I am currently working on a scarf which will serve as a sample for a stash busting project.  The plan is to weave enough yardage for a vest and this is the sample.

The warp is a selection of knitting yarns and the weft is 8/2 tencel. 

 I have been hiding in the basement putting a 10 yard warp on the Glimakra Standard which may soon be christened Big Bertha.  It's very colorful warp and so is the planned weft.  This should yield 5 rugs.

Various colors of carpet warp'in a graduated stripe pattern with log cabin in the center.  The rugs will be various twill patterns and are all sett at 12 epi.

I am hoping to find time this weekend to wind a warp for a double weave project which will be going on the Julia.  This project is for my HalloWeave group on Weavolution.

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!
Happy weaving, spinning and knitting to all.

What's new on the loom

I just finished warping and threading my 10" Cricket loom for a project I am very excited about.  It's another scarf but it's a sample for a vest I'm hoping to weave next.  I love doing different things on my rigid heddle loom.  It's small, lightweight and portable and there is so much weaving you can do on it.  Many weavers who have spent years mastering the craft do not approve of rigid heddle looms.  I have heard some refer to them as child's looms or toys.  Believe me, this is no toy and not easy to master.  Plus, there is tons you can weave on it.

My Cricket loom has only 2 shafts which limits you to plain weave.  Why is it called plain weave?  Is it the simplest weave structure? No, not by a long stretch.  It's plain weave because it is the most basic and it's where weaving begins.  Plain weave is not an easy structure to master.  It is very challenging to weave for 70 or 80" and have the distance between warp threads match EXACTLY the distance between weft threads.  In other words, if the warp is sett at 8 ends or threads per inch you must place/weave the weft or perpendicular threads at the same ratio, 8 picks or threads in each inch.  Not an easy task and one that requires measuring frequently to be certain you have passed the shuttle and pressed the threads into place exactly the same each time.  Something to strive for but not easy to maintain for the 72" of weaving when making a scarf.

So, it's off to complete the placemats on Julia.  Two are done and two to go,  We just added a new show to the line up so it's weave, weave, weave and knit for the next 2 months!!