Weaving letters with 13 pattern threads
Weaving letters and making your own messages is fun. Recently I was asked to weave six sashes for the Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. https://journalwsd.org.uk/
However, I needed to check that the wording would be the correct length for the sash so I had to weave several samples. Because the design was complicated I used my 32 shaft Megado loom to weave the sashes.
The First Sample
My first sample was too long. I needed to weave the legend 'The Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers' twice so that when the sash is worn, it can be read from the front and back For this sample I used 6/2 cotton and it was too long and too wide.
The Second Sample
I tried a thinner cotton and came up with this design.
I only wove one repeat of the lettering so that I could check the length. This seemed correct.
I chose the colour in the border area to represent dyeing and the red twist on either side of the lettering to represent spinning. The fancy heart pattern will be the centre section which will be on the shoulder of the wearer.
The Third Sample
The sash still seemed a little wide so for the third sample I reduced the white area.
I sent all the samples to the committee so that they could comment and see if they liked the design. One aspect that I should have foreseen was how clear the letters looked at a distance. I had been so busy with weaving and looking closely at the sashes, I had not considered how easy it would be to read the message from a distance. I was given some useful suggestions and went about redesigning some of the letters.
Final version
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| 6 sashes showing the centre section |
Here are the final versions. I do hope that they are useful. I am looking forward to seeing a photograph of the sashes in use.
Do have a go at weaving letters and making your own messages. Using the 13 Sunna double slotted heddle, weaving letters is much easier than using an inkle loom.
For weavers in the UK, the 13 pattern slot Sunna heddle is available from the Handweavers Studio.
https://www.handweavers.co.uk/equipment-weaving-looms-rigid-heddle-stoorstalka.irc
Susan J Foulkes April 2019.
