Weave with a Hand-Built Loom

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Next, lift your shuttle and wrap a bunch of yarn around it in a figure-eight formation. This will be the yarn for your horizontal weave, or "weft."

Plain Weave

Grab the shed stick in your right hand and, starting at the right-hand side of your frame, pick up the first string with it. Leave the second string and pick up the third. Continue picking up every other string so that it runs past the frame and then rotate the stick so it is resting on its side. This will further raise all of the strings you have just picked up. The space between the raised and lower strings is called "the shed."

Starting at the right-hand side, pull the shuttle through the shed (passing it to your left hand) to the other side; do not pull so tight that you distort the left-hand warp. Now use a fork to push the yarn down toward the bottom of the frame. If you wish to have a fringe on your mat, leave one or two inches between this weave, or "shot," and the bottom of the frame.

Next, pick up the warp again with your shed stick. This time start with the second string, and continue picking up every other weft thread. (These will be all of the strings you ignored the first time around.) Again, rotate the stick and pull your shuttle through (starting from the left this time). Pull this new shot down to the first one with your fork. Repeat from the beginning. If you miss a string with your shed stick once or twice, don't worry about it—it won't show up. Note: You may wish to go over two and under two to achieve a "basket weave:" Or go under one and over three to achieve a "rib weave:'

Continue weaving until you reach the size you desire. If you wish to fill the whole frame, remember to leave the same amount of room for the fringe at the top that you left at the bottom of the frame. Don't worry; your fabric is interlaced and will not come apart. To make the fringe, tie three or four pieces of string into a knot as close to the weave as possible. Wash the final piece to give it a finished look.

For plans or more information, call Judy Steinkoenig at Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins, Inc. (303) 494-1077.

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