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Putting Novelty Yarns to the Test – Schacht Spindle Company

Putting Novelty Yarns to the Test – Schacht Spindle Company

4.5 (102) · $ 30.00 · In stock

By Tanya PoffI love yarn! . . . and showing off that sumptuous variety we find in local yarn shops, or yarns we spin for ourselves, is one of the greatest strengths of the rigid heddle loom due to its easy tension.As rigid heddle weavers, we can achieve many effects whether for tapestry, home goods, or clothing. Approaching weaving from a knitter’s perspective, my mission is to create contemporary, wearable pieces from the little loom and share those ideas with fellow weavers.Spending time designing garments from rectangles requires effective sampling. What better way to test color and fiber interplay for the big stuff than a simple scarf with lots of variety?When I get my hands on novelties (like the tape, ladder, and fur yarns of my “Confetti Scarf” shown here) I can’t help but challenge them as warp. In my new book, Color and Texture for the Rigid Heddle Loom, I take this challenge to the limit warping with a unique yarn with thick inclusions.Making your Novelty Yarns SingThe size of the yarns we’ll use is DK to worsted (Craft Yarn Council #3 - 4) except for the “smooth” yarn which is a sport weight (CYC #2). Using a 12-dent reed creates a close sett, but will give the warp dominance to show off the fancier yarns. The epi (ends per inch) at 12, will be greater than the ppi (picks per inch) at 8.Interweaving tends to tame even the craziest textures. The secret to creating drape and bringing attention to them, is to put in some “air” by interweaving with a lace or sport weight yarn (8/2 to 5/2 in weaver’s terms). This yarn should have low or no elasticity, so it resists beating. A rayon, tencel, silk, or bamboo (or blend thereof) will give you a softer drape than 100% cotton or linen. Avoid an animal-based fiber like wool to keep the textured yarns from sticking together as you weave.Varying yarn weight in your warp works well when you isolate the strands by alternating them with no more than 2 ends of each weight. If you place more than 2 ends of varied weights next to each other, your fabric will come off the loom puckering unless you employ a multi-dent reed.Yarn Description and Numbering for Charts#1 = tape – 75 yards, Prism Tencel Tape in Indigo, 2 skeins (2oz. = 120 yards). A tape or a ribbon yarn has a flat, woven texture. It is allowed to twist or turn in the weaving and lends additional interest.#2 = smooth yarn – 236 yards – a yarn of consistent roundness that coordinates with the other yarns in solid, tonal or multicolor. I used Mary Gavan Yarns Sea, 68% Rayon, 32% linen in Root Trail, (510 yards per skein). It has a nice sheen and bright color that enlivens the work.#3 = ladder – 78 yards, Athena, 80% polyester, 20% nylon (25 gm. = 82 yards). This adds flecks of jewel tones for the confetti effect.#4 = fur – 43 yards, Prism Plumette in Lichen, 100% nylon (2 oz. = 95 yards). The shorter length of this fur emerges from the woven surface better than a long fur and adds softness and bloom to the scarf.#5 = ribbon – 32 yards, Louisa Harding Lirico in Nessun Dorma, 50% Cotton/28% Acrylic/22% Polyamide (100 gm. = 262 yards).