Weaving Calm

04/08/2021

Want to learn The Basics of creative rigid heddle loom weaving? Then head on over to my YouTube Channel and subscribe!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting ALL of the modules and lesson for my Epically Creative Rigid Heddle Weaving Course ;-)

If you liked my other weaving videos you'll love these ;-)

LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more Creative Rigid Heddle Weaving Videos! Join My Weaving Community! : http://www.myweavingcommunity.com/JoinDownload the Gameboard: ht...

02/17/2021

I have one word for you tonight . . . buttonholes ☺️

Beautiful 🥰

Handwoven buttonholes ❣️

There is a lot of actionable information in Sunday afternoon's workshop.

Like, I've created handouts with diagrams and tables. To help you visualize exactly how to make the wrap.

I've compiled resource lists and playlist with scarf styling instructions. To get the most uses out of it❣️

So much to help you really master making this wrap and wearing it in new to you ways!

But the technique I am most proud of (if I do say so myself) is the hand woven buttonholes.

There's nothing new under the sun so someone else has probably done something similar somewhere, but I haven't found it yet!

What I love about these buttonholes (aside from how they look) is that they are durable and there is no way to accidentally snag and pull a warp or weft thread and mess up your wrap!

To my eyes they look like they were done on a sewing machine. But they weren't!

Nope, they were handwoven with the cloth and I will share all my tips and tricks to get them perfect each and every time this Sunday afternoon in my Ultimate Woven Wrap Workshop!

I haven't been this excited about anything since I finished my Epically Creative Weaving Resource Library, for my Creative Circle Membership!

Seriously, you're going to get a lot of value ❣️

Early bird registration ends tomorrow evening at 9:00 PM est! Link in bio 😉

02/15/2021

I am hosting a live (Zoom) weaving workshop on how to design and weave the Ultimate Woven Wrap❣️

1.) No matter what size/type loom you have.

2.) Using whatever yarn you choose to use.

Next Sunday (2/21/2021)!

If you want a link to claim a early bird spot (and save on your registration) leave me a comment below before Wednesday! I will send you a link!

(If you're in my Creative Weaver's Circle, this is a bonus that is included in your membership 🙌)

*****

Pictured me 😉
Wearing the 20" (50 cm) wide sewn panels version of the wrap.

These are just a few of the more than 20+ ways this wrap can be worn❣️

I am 5"3 and 140 pounds.

I used the Ashford SampleIt 10 with the heddl that comes with the loom😉

The yarn is white acrylic Red heart baby yarn accented with black acrylic


YOU CAN MAKE THIS

I can teach you how❣️

02/11/2021

in this video, you can look over my shoulder as I weave a wild and wacky skinny scarf that I wove between customer, clients and call one day while I was at work :-)

I was creating in the moment but looking back over it (which I have to do a lot when editing) here are a couple of techniques that you may notice:

Sleying for Alternate Yarn Sizes
I'm weaving with super bulky yarn. . . but the largest dent heddle that comes in my kit is only 8-dents. What gives?

Ahh, my astute weaving friend ;-) you can weave with thicker yarns when you space them properly in the reed. Google "Sley Chart" and you'll find an amazing tool that will greatly expand the sizes of yarn thick (and thin) that can be woven on your loom.

Another "why" for Winding a Warp using a Warping Board
I get it.
Using a warping board can seem super challenging. But there are soo many good reasons to learn how to warp your heddle off the loom. (and good reasons and methods to do a direct warp. . . will leave that for a different post)

One of the joys of using a warping board is that you can design in the heddle picking and choosing where to place each particular strand ;-)

Wacky, Knotty, Yarn balls
Sometimes I weave imperfectly on purpose. Yep. I can weave a balanced weave. I've woven a TON of it over the last few weeks for my upcoming shawl workshop. But sometimes after a while, I will purposely weave a flaw (or leave a flaw that I've woven by accident)

With this scarf, I fully embraced imperfection and had a fun time doing it ;-)

I encourage you to try something like this. At least once in a while.

It is like a palate cleanser.

You'll be surprised.

Some of you will be surprised at how freeing it is.

Others will be surprised at how hard it is to let go of perfectionistic tendencies.

Either way, it is worth trying.

At least once in a while.

Get the kit so you can weave along with me :-)

HTTP://www.sprakweaving.com

02/10/2021

So I'm working on the samples and tweaking the pattern for my upcoming shawl weaving workshop 😊

There's a little something for everyone 😉

Last week I showed you some cloth I was weaving on my 10" Ashford SampleIt ❣️

Here's the sample for my Cricket 15" owners. Using the yarn that came in the boxes (I own 3 cricket looms😉)

When I was thinking about how to make this workshop special, I took a step back.

A lot of patterns are focused on the type of thread or a particular weaving pattern.

And while I totally understand why that makes sense, I wanted to see how I could kick off the year with a workshop that would be inclusive of the most people ❣️

So my focus was on creating a pattern that allowed each participant to use whatever they have.

You loom.

Whatever the size.

Your yarn.

Whatever the fiber content.

Why?

Because I firmly believe that it isn't really the tool or the materials that bring out a person's creativity.

I believe it is your personal belief in yourself.

Sometimes having specifics can actually be a crutch. An excuse for us NOT doing, trying or being as creative as we could 😉

I'm taking away all the

"If onlys. . ."

Having different looms and a variety of fibers are is great! (But it isn't necessary for success 😜)

I boxed myself in as I was creating, sticking to weaving plain (mostly balanced) weave.

Each example shawl is made up of almost exclusively one brand/type of yarn.

There are no pulled loops, add-ins, or audacious extras.

I tied my hands. . . And closed my options.

So that hopefully you realize you can do anything with whatever you have ❣️

More workshop registration opens next Monday February 15!

I hope to see you in the workshop ☺️

02/04/2021

Watch over my shoulder as I weave weave a warp-faced band from start to finish.

Here is a link to the pattern for the band that I'm weaving:
http://raktres.net/l/FER

Along the way, you'll see how I add yarn. Advance my warp and start and end the band. Enjoy!

You can purchase this loom which is great for weaving all sorts of small projects, sample, bands, tape and so much more:

http://sparkweaving.com/

02/02/2021

This is the third and final project in a series of 3 projects from a recent piece of handwoven cloth that I created on my smallest rigid heddle loom.

In the first video, I show you how I wove the fabric and I make a lined bag

In the second video, I make a drawstring pouch with a larger piece of leftover fabric and the last of the handwoven tape:

You can purchase this loom which is great for weaving all sorts of small projects, sample, bands, tape and so much more:

http://sparkweaving.com/

01/28/2021

This is the second project in a series of 3 projects from a recent piece of handwoven cloth that I created on my rigid heddle loom.
I'm also using the last of the handwoven tape for the drawstrings!
Click the link below the first video where I show you the process of weaving the cloth, strap, and tape:

https://youtu.be/HoSz_Kfe9Fk

01/26/2021

Relax and enjoy the process as I show you how I wove all of the parts of this pouch on my rigid heddle loom.

You can purchase this loom which is great for weaving all sorts of small projects, sample, bands, tape and so much more:

http://sparkweaving.com/

The Creative Spark Rigid Heddle Weaving Kit includes all of the heddles and tools that I used to create this pouch!

01/14/2021

Learn how to make this eye pillow with a woven case in this video. I'll be showing you how to make a rice eye pillow and also giving you some tips and tricks for having a creative weaving mindset when you are getting started rigid heddle weaving.

I am using my Creative Spark Weaving Kit Loom:
http://sparkweaving.com/

You can find the detailed instructions on this project here:
https://amydmcknight.com/eye-pillow-woven-pillow-case/

01/11/2021

Can you guess what I'm about to show you how to make?

I honestly had planned to do a different projects but I felt that these colors and elements would be more useful.

This week I'm going to be showing you how to make the same project . . . 4 (possibly 5) different ways ☺️

The different examples will correspond with the stages of my Creative Weaver's Success path😉

The first way will be the simplest. And as the week progresses, I'll be raising the complexity.

Everyone is at different points in their weaving journey. But each of us can create amazing things that acknowledge and celebrate wherever we are❣️

I talk a lot about this in my membership, The Creative Weaver's Circle.

If you would like to join me and a bunch of other lovely weavers, we'd love to have you ❣️

You can find more information and enroll by following this link

https://amydmcknight.samcart.com/products/creative-weavers-circle-membership-monthly/

P.S. the loom and many of the tools I'll be using are from my and there is a special discount code for Creative Weaver's Circle Members 😉

06/30/2020

This is for all the Ashford owners out there ☺️ Sometimes seeing is believing so here you go!

The answer is yes! You can weave with three heddle (4 shaft-style) on your loom (insert name and brand)☺️ and it is honestly not that hard or particularly time consuming.

Some looms are easier than other, for sure. But it is a mountain that is easily scalable ❣️

Honestly, it really doesn't matter what loom you have. The loom isn't the obstacle. It is just the mindset.

I know I can weave anything I want on any rigid heddle loom. So I go into it with that confidence that there is a way to get it done. And I get it done.

Take some of my confidence, I don't know you personally but I know you can do it. If you can warp your loom and tension it you have half the battle done.

No matter what you are trying to do. You can do it whether it is weaving double weave, use pickup sticks, master a type of yarn, whatever. YOU CAN DO IT❣️

If anyone anywhere has ever done it you can too. Don't sell yourself or your loom short. You can do whatever you decide you want to do ❣️

K that's my pep talk for today 😁 Happy weaving.

This is the Ashford Sampleit 10.
3 - 7.5 dent heddles
Warp: Lion Brand Yarn's Amazing Lace doubled in the slots and holes.
Weft: Lion Brand Yarn's Mandela Thick and Quick.
Structure: twill (1-2-3-4 then 4-3-2-1 randomly repeated.
Threading: straight draw and point. (1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1 etc.)

Oh yeah:

Cricket users, YOU'RE NEXT ❣️