Whig Rose Overshot Table Runner

I love the Whig Rose overshot pattern by Josephine Estes.  It's a miniature overshot pattern, so the floats are not large, and it's suitable for smaller items, such as table runners.  Overshot was traditionally woven for coverlets in early America.  I finished this table runner that I wrote about in May.

                                                     Whig Rose Overshot Table Runner

The warp is 8/4 cotton at 12 epi.  I began the Whig Rose pattern in an overshot class using Sugar 'n Cream yarn for the weft and 8/4 cotton for the tabby.  I couldn't beat in such a heavy yarn using my small table loom, so I experimented when I got home to find a more suitable yarn.  I ended up using size 3/2 weaving cotton for the pattern and size 10/2 weaving cotton for the tabby. 

                                              Whig Rose Overshot Table Runner Close Up

Whig Rose Hem Border
I wove a small border with white 10/2 cotton tabby for almost 1 inch on each edge.  I hemstitched the fringe over 4, up 2 threads.  I twisted the short (almost 4") fringe by twisting each 2 threads of each bundle about 15 times, and then putting the two groups of threads together with some twist in the opposite direction and knotting.

                                              Whig Rose: White Border and Twisted Fringe

Whig Rose Pattern Edge Borders
I added a top and bottom small border also by repeating the first 4 pattern treadlings in green alternating with tabby, which you can see in the picture above.  At the beginning of the table runner, the border is (3-4, 1-4, 1-2, 2-3) 2 times (with tabby between each pattern weft).  At the end of the table runner, the pattern border is (3-4, 2-3, 1-2, 1-4) 2 times (with tabby).  I ended with the almost 1" of white tabby in 10/2 and fringe.

I keep the tabby throws consistent which makes weaving overshot so much easier.  I always throw shafts 2-4 from the right to left, and shafts 1-3 from the left to right. 

My pattern notes--Whig Rose Overshot Star Fashion treadling with tabby:
3-4, 1-4, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4,     1-4 (4xs), 3-4, 2-3 (3xs) 1-2 (2xs), 2-3 (2xs), 1-2 (2xs), 2-3 (3xs), 3-4, 1-4 (4xs),    3-4, 2-3, 1-2, 1-4

Lover's Knot
A weaver told me that the Whig Rose pattern draft has 2 names.  She said that when you weave this draft star fashion, that the name is actually Lover's Knot.  The Whig Rose name signifies the "rose fashion" pattern draft.  Josephine Estes didn't call hers Lover's Knot, so I left the name here as her original Whig Rose name.

Star Fashion
An interesting note about weaving basic star fashion:  you can figure out what treadling is next based on what your last treadling was if you look at the strong diagonal line of the "X" of the star draft pattern in the center of your weaving.  The last thread of the previous throw will overlap with the next throw by one thread since the pattern is based on a twill threading (for example 1-2, 2-3).  So, you can look at the threads that are down as you push the treadles and see if the last thread from the previous weft will overlap with the first thread of the next throw.  If it doesn't, you didn't use the correct treadles. 

Overshot was woven "as drawn in" in America's past, so a weaver could just thread the loom and then figure out the treadling based on the threading.  But, it is based on blocks, rather than actual threads that are threaded through the heddles.  The blocks are A= 1-2, B=2-3, C=3-4, D=4-1.  So, a thread may be threaded on shafts 1-2 five times, for example, but would be treadled 4 times since the blocks overlap by one thread.  A good weaving book to read more about overshot is "Next Steps in Weaving," by Pattie Graver.

I'm really happy with my table runner, which is my 2nd overshot project.

Kessenich Loom Renovation--Almost There

Kessenich Loom Renovation

My Kessenich 1960's red oak loom is looking good!  It now has new rubber bumpers under the shafts, new shaft and lamm cords, new warp beam cords, a new apron and Texsolv apron cords, a new beater bar, a new wooden board under shaft 3 to replace a warped one, and a new brake cord. It has new inserted eye heddles and new reeds to replace the rusty one.  It has new Texsolv tie-ups for the treadles. The loom has 2 coats of Trewax furniture wax on it, and the metal pieces have been cleaned and oiled.

                                                       Kessenich Loom New Beater Bar

Kessenich Loom: Replacing Apron Strings with Texsolv Cord

I replaced the apron strings with Texsolv cord because it's so easy to make sure each cord is even when you use Texsolv.  The apron has a rod pocket for a stick with 5 holes in it.  I found a long strong upholstery needle to poke holes in the apron for the Texsolv cords.  At the apron, put the end of the Texsolv through itself and melt the end of the Texsolv so it won't unravel.  

To make holes in the cord for the apron stick or rod, simply fold the Texsolv about 5 holes from the end, and place the fold through the first hole in the Texsolv.  This will create a hole for the rod.  Make sure to melt the end of the Texsolv.

                                                 Texsolv Apron Cords for Apron Rod

Kessenich Looms: Removing the Front Beam

Bruce at Kessenich Looms said that the front beam is removable to make threading the heddles and reed easier.  After removing the front beam, the beater bar can be placed on the floor.  He said to make sure to tie the beater bar when folding the loom, but not too tightly because it has to be able to move a little.  Also, when removing the front beam, be careful that the beater bar won't fall.  He said he has repaired or replaced many beater bars because they can fall easily.

 

Kessenich Loom Renovation--Cords, Texsolv, and Apron

My Kessenich Loom Renovation is coming along nicely.  It's almost ready for weaving.

Replacing Warp Beam Cords
I replaced the warp beam old string with nylon cord, 1/16th inch diameter.  It wasn't easy to find strong nylon cord in this diameter, and a thicker cord won't fit through the holes.  Many of the cords from the local stores were too flimsy or too thick, so I bought the cord from Bruce at Kessenich Looms.  It's from McMaster-Carr and is 80 lb. test. In the picture, the old cord is on the right.

                              Kessenich 18 New Warp Beam Cords on Sectional Beam Turned Inward.

                                  Kessenich Loom with New Warp Beam Cords and Brake Cord

Replacing Chain Tie-ups with Texsolv Cord
I replaced the old chains on the treadles with Texsolv cord.  A problem with replacing the chains is that the lamms have holes in them, which originally had cut off cotter pins.  So, I could have installed the Texsolv cord by putting it through itself at the top of the lamms, but then the cord may have been rubbed against another lamm as they move up and down. 

So, I placed 1/4" dowels on the top of the lamms and put the Texsolv cords onto the dowels and through the holes of the lamms.  There are plastic anchor pegs available for Texsolv cords used in Swedish looms tie-ups that I ordered to try for the top of the lamms.  If the anchor pegs are the right size, I'll replace the dowels with the anchor pegs.

                                           Kessenich: Replacing Tie-up Chains with Texsolv Cord

To attach the Texsolv cord to the treadles, I used arrow pegs.  I will cut the Texsolv cord and melt the ends after I'm sure that the arrow pegs are in the right spot.  It's more difficult to have the shafts rise evenly because there are only 2 eyelets on each treadle, so the cords are slightly different lengths, depending on which shaft they are hooked up to.

                                        Kessenich:  Arrow Pegs attach Texsolv to Treadle

Cloth Apron
I also replaced the cloth apron, which I bought from Bruce at Kessenich Looms, but a new one could be made out of canvas or duck fabric.  It's not easy to get the apron on evenly because the holes in the metal pipe were not even all the way across.  So, we first put the apron over the pipe, placed the top and bottom boards over it and made sure the cloth was even at the edge.  Then we used an awl to punch a hole in the fabric and placed the screw in the top board and through the cloth.  We took it off the pipe for a moment to put the pipe onto the loom with the cloth brake and washer on the right side, and the washer on the left side.  Then we had to carefully place the top board, cloth apron, and screws into the holes (which you can't see) and through the bottom board.  It took 2 of us to install it evenly. It looks so much nicer now. 

         Kessenich: Apron temporarily installed to make sure apron is even before putting on loom

Testing the Shed
Before putting a warp on the loom, Bruce at Kessenich Looms suggested doing a test first.  The test is important because you don't want your shed to be so big that the top threads will interfere with another shaft.  Also, you want to see if the sheds appear even.  If they're not even or the shed is too large, you need to adjust your tie-ups to your treadles.  The shed should be about 1/2" or so below the top where it would interfere with another shaft. If your shafts are crooked, then the shaft or lamm cords need to be adjusted (the knots). 

                                                  Kessenich:  Testing the Loom Shed

To test the loom shed, put at least one thread through a heddle on each shaft and through the reed.  Clamp the threads to the front and back beams.  Tie up the treadles and press each treadle to check the shed.  Bruce said that holding the threads will not be accurate; you do need to clamp them to the front and back beams.

                                                       Kessenich:  Loom Shed Test

I think the Kessenich 1960s loom will be a really nice loom for weaving!

Colonial Day at School: Teaching Kids about Weaving

I had a wonderful time teaching 2nd graders about weaving for their Colonial Day.  I brought my tape loom with a flag pattern on it for them to try, and my daughter helped them weave on it.

                                                            Flag Band on Tape Loom

They loved weaving on it.

I also brought my 4 shaft table loom and taught them about weaving.  I had two 8th grade helpers.  The kids wove a diamond twill pattern using a colorful worsted weight yarn and a black warp.

                              Teaching Kids about Weaving: 4-shaft diamond twill pattern

The kids loved using a shuttle and weaving on the table loom.

                                                          Kids Weaving on a Table Loom

After Colonial Day, I made their weaving into a wall hanging for them to hang in their classroom. They did a great job with their weaving!

                                           2nd Graders Wall Hanging, Colonial Day 2016

I did a pretty fringe detail and added beads to their wall hanging.

                                              2nd Graders Wall Hanging:  Fringe Detail

                                      Top Edge:  2nd Graders Colonial Day Wall Hanging

I gave each child a bookmark woven on my inkle loom so they could take a bit of weaving  home to remember Colonial Day and to show their parents and siblings the weaving they learned.

                                           Bookmarks for 2nd Graders:  Inkle Weaving

It was a really fun day, and the kids learned so much about weaving and other Colonial Day activities.

Weaving a Guitar Strap, My Flag Design

I wove a guitar strap for my husband in a flag pattern that I designed using the Pattern Generator online. 

                                                          My Flag Design Guitar Strap

I used a Schacht inkle loom.  The guitar strap is 60" before sewing the ends.  I used size 3/2 cotton weaving thread, and 78 ends.  The ends and buckle are from A Spinner Weaver.

Here's a picture of the band on the loom.

                                                My Flag Band on the Schacht Inkle Loom
Here's a close-up of the band.

                                                               Close-up of Flag Band
Here's my design if anyone wants to try it.  I added 16 threads to my pattern to make the band 2" wide for the guitar strap.  So, I added 4 red, 4 white, 4 red, 4 white for a total of 78 threads.

                                       My Flag Design for an Inkle Band Guitar Strap

Inkle bands are a lot of fun to make.  Have fun weaving!