First band

On By CarynIn Craft

I finished the first band on my new inkle loom, made with leftover pearlized cotton, mostly variegated, in teals and browns, and a laser cut rigid heddle.

Photo description: band still on the loom with the end woven back on itself three times
Photo description: behind the laser cut rigid heddle showing the amount of warp I couldn’t weave, and how far apart the heddle holds the warp threads
Photo description: band removed from the loom showing the differences in width from beginning to end
Photo description: rolled up band with a closeup of the end treatments, one cut short, the other twined and knotted into fringe

This was a good learning project. I found out that the laser cut rigid heddle is too wide and makes it difficult to keep the edges even because of the inconsistent edge tension as I weave closer to the heddle. I also learned that I need to leave more unwoven warp if I want to do twined fringe on both ends of the band, which I have discovered I quite like. I love my new loom, but have identified some carpentry weaknesses, particularly in the supports, that I would make differently if I were to build it again. I also found that I need a bar across the front of the loom so that when I’m beating down the weft, I have a more even pressure across my midsection, rather than one rather edgy stick poking under my ribs.