In the past year I’ve been exploring different variations in plain weaving on a rigid heddle loom. Rigid heddle loom weaving consists of warp and weft threads (or yarn). The warp thread is held vertically (lengthwise) under tension while the weft thread is passed horizontally through the warp threads by the weaver.
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One way to add some texture to a plain weave is to have warp, weft or both warp and weft floats. Pictured below is a woven scarf and a woven wrap/shawl that has both warp and weft floats. The scarf was woven with same cotton yarn for both its warp and weft. The wrap/shawl was woven with two different colors of wool yarn for its warp and weft.
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Floats are skips (not passed through) in the warp or weft threads and are created by using a pickup stick. A warp float is when the warp thread skips over two or more weft threads and a weft float is when the weft thread skips over the two or more warp threads (see picture below). Both warp and weft floats are created by how the pickup stick is placed behind the heddle. For the warp float, the pickup stick is turned on its side behind the heddle and for the weft float the pickup stick is turned on its edge behind the heddle.
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These woven items are just the beginning of my exploration of the various combinations and textures created by a pickup stick and one heddle. I look forward to learning more about the different weaving techniques on a rigid heddle loom and how to combine them with some knit or crochet stitch patterns.
One of the things I find interesting as a knitter is how some knit stitch patterns look so similar to certain crochet or woven stitch patterns. To me a plain weave is much like a garter knit stitch pattern. So when I wove this wrap in houndstooth weave pattern (pictured above) using 2 different colors of yarn, I wanted to see how the same weave pattern and yarn would translate into a knitted houndstooth stitch pattern.
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The Interwoven Earwarmer is knit bottom up and in the round. It is knit with two different colors of yarn in the houndstooth stitch pattern that uses garter stitch pattern along with slip stitches. A crochet slip stitch is then used for the cast on and bind off edges. Lastly, a duplicate stitch is used to reinforce the stockinette stitch in the back of the Interwoven Earwarmer
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Materials needed to knit the Interwoven Earwarmer:
Yarn: Loops and Threads Cozy Wool Merino DK weight yarn in Colorway A: Cream and Colorway B: Purple (The yarn has been discontinued but substitute yarns are listed here on Yarn Sub website) Knitting Needles: US #6 16-inch circular needles; US #8 knitting needles for the cable cast on and bind off Crochet Hooks: US F-5 and US G-6 Tapestry needle to weave in ends and for the duplicate stitch Gauge: 5.5 stitches per inch in garter houndstooth stitch pattern with US #6 knitting needles Size: M – about 20 inches in circumference and about 3.75 inches in length without stretching
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Abbreviations: K: Knit P: Purl pm: place marker sm: slip marker BOR: beginning of round s1 purlwise: with working yarn in back slip 1 stitch purlwise from the left needle […]: stitch pattern repeats
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The Interwoven Earwarmer Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
Cast on 112 stitches with Yarn Colorway A (cream) and US #8 knitting needles using the cable cast on method. Transfer all the stitches to US #6 16-inch circular needles. Place a BOR marker, join the round by knitting as follows:
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Round 1: With Colorway A (cream), knit to the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 2: With Colorway A (cream) knit the first stitch, switch to Colorway B (purple) yarn and [K2, s1 purlwise] repeat […] till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 3: With Colorway A (cream) knit the first stitch, switch to Colorway B (purple) yarn and purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 4: With Colorway A (cream) knit the first stitch, and with the same Colorway A [s1 purlwise, K2] repeat […] till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 5:With Colorway A (cream) knit the first stitch, and with the same Colorway A purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
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Repeat Rounds 2 to 5, nine more times. Repeat Rounds 2 and 3, one more time. Repeat Round 1, one more time Bind off stitches with US #8 and Colorway A yarn. Insert the US F-5 hook in the last stitch for a slip stitch crochet edge.
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With the last stitch on US F-5 hook and Colorway A (cream) yarn, chain 1 and then insert hook under the first bind off stitch, yarn over and pull the yarn over under the bind off stitch and slip stitch it with the first stitch on the hook. Repeat this with the next bid off stitches till one stitch left on the hook. Bring the working yarn through the last stitch.
Repeat the same with slip stitch crochet method as above for the cast on stitches with Colorway A yarn and US G-6 hook
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Duplicate Stitch or Swiss Darning (optional): Using a tapestry needle and Colorway A yarn reinforce the first knit stitch of each round with the duplicate stitch (to learn how to do this watch a video tutorial on duplicate stitch by Staci of verypink.com)
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Weave in the ends, wash and block the Interwoven Earwarmer
Hello folks, it’s 2023 now and time to either plan or start working on our goals for this year. This year my goals are to write and learn more about rigid heddle loom weaving as well as complete my lingering knitting/crochet projects from the previous years.
The Winterland Neckwarmer is knit bottom up and in the round. The cable stitch pattern and the yarn used for this pattern are the same as the ones used for the Winterland Hat. These two knitted items can be worn together. The bulky yarn makes it a quick project to knit. The Winterland Neckwarmer is light and warm making it quite suitable to wear for the freezing temperatures of this month.
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The Winterland Neckwarmer Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
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Although I had a slow start to the year in terms of my makes, there were a few projects besides the knit/crochet patterns published on this blog each month, I was able to complete.
I knitted these four sweaters;
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Tried some different techniques weaving these blankets and wraps on the rigid heddle loom;
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And also learnt how to crochet a market bag and a pouf.
I’m grateful I was able to complete these projects despite the slow start and look forward to completing all the unfinished projects next year.
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Thank you readers of this blog for all your comments and feedback. Warm greetings this holiday season.
Where did 2022 go? I can’t believe this year is almost over. After a rough start to the year with illness due to covid (blogged here), I’ve been trying to catch up with all the goals I had for this year. Needless to say there will be some unfinished works in progress that will be completed in 2023. Knitting smaller projects such as hats and cowls are more enjoyable when other non-knitting things require our attention and time.
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The Winterland Hat is knit bottom up and in the round. It has a simple cable stitch pattern and is a light and warm hat for this time of the year.
The Winterland Hat Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
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It never ceases to amaze me how fast the colors of the leaves change from Summer to Autumn. Around the autumn equinox, the leaves start displaying their autumnal colors and brighten our days as we adjust to the cooler weather and shorter days.
The tonal and earthy colors of the yarn in the Autumnal Leaves Cowl represent the changing colors of the leaves in Autumn to me. It will be there to provide me warmth during the cold season ahead and also to remind me of the bright colors of the leaves in Autumn.
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The Autumnal Leaves Cowl is knit bottom up and in-the-round in a simple textured pattern with two strands of the same yarn held together. The cowl narrows slightly at the top for a cozier fit around the neck.
The Autumnal Leaves Cowl Pattern (text and image for personal use only)
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In August of 2019 as part of the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019, I knit a hat I designed myself. It was knit with Lion Brand® Touch of Alpaca® yarn in the dusty blue colorway. I posted the finished hat in August 2019.
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I liked the way the cable stitch pattern looked knit with this yarn but thought that the pattern could be improved. The hat pattern has lingered in my mind since 2019 so when I came across a different colorway of the same yarn in my stash this year, I had to knit “The Winding Cable Hat”. This hat has the same cable stitch pattern as the August 2019 KAL hat in addition to some new modifications. The Winding Cable Hat is knit bottom up in the round with a long brim that can be folded over and a simple, textured cable stitch pattern for the body of the hat.
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The Winding Cable Hat Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
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Daylilies Scarf is a rectangular scarf knit on the bias in garter stitch pattern. It is knit with 2 different colorways of Yarnspirations™Caron® Cotton Funnel Cakes yarn I purchased this Spring at Michaels Arts and Crafts Store. I finished knitting this pullover (see below) late Spring and found the yarn soft and light and oh so enjoyable to knit with. I had enough yarn left over so I knit the Daylilies Scarf with it too. The colors of this yarn represent all things of Spring/Summer to me – the vibrant colors of daylilies and other flowers, the birds, the butterflies etc. The colors of the yarn also depict a season of much warmth and a time when nature is awake.
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The Daylilies Scarf Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
Yarn: Caron® Cotton Funnel Cakes by Yarnspirations™ in Peaches and Cummulus colorways Knitting Needles: US #9 or 5.5 mm knitting needles Crochet hook: US size H8 or 5.0 mm crochet hook Gauge: 14 stitches/ 4 inches (this pattern is generic so gauge not so critical)
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Hello folks, it’s been quite a hot summer this past week, hasn’t it? Thankfully, we’re getting past the heatwave of last week. Usually when the weather is this hot, a cotton dishcloth is all I want to make. After two years of writing some knitting patterns on this blog it’s time to try writing a crochet pattern. A big thanks to all the readers of this blog for the comments and feedback on my knitting patterns.
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Suddenly It’s Summer Dishcloth pattern is a variation of the single crochet stitch pattern. I learnt crochet watching the video series “Crochet for Knitters” by Stacy of verypink.com. Since then. I’ve discovered other crochet video tutorials on YouTube and several different crochet stitch patterns.
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Materials Needed: Yarn: Any cotton worsted weight yarn. I made one dishcloth with Peaches & Crème yarn in the Panorama colorway and the other dishcloth and Premier Home Cotton® Cone yarn in Jelly Dots colorway. For the Crochet Moss Stitch border Lily Sugar’n Cream yarn in Country Red colorway. Tapestry needle to weave in ends Gauge: Not needed (I had about 5 stitches per inch) Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.50 mm crochet hook
The Comfy Poncho is knit using a cotton and nylon blend yarn making it light, drapey and comfortable to wear for those cool summer evenings, overly air conditioned places or rainy days. This poncho is child size but can easily be customized to smaller or larger sizes by increasing or decreasing the number of cast-on stitches and also by increasing or decreasing the length of the knitted pieces.
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For the Comfy Poncho pattern, two identical pieces are knit flat using the seed stich pattern. These 2 knitted pieces are then joined using the zig zag crochet method. Next, the stitches are picked up for the neckband collar and knit in the garter stitch pattern. Lastly, a crocheted shell stitch border is added to the bottom edge of the Comfy Poncho.
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Yarn: Crème Cotton™ Yarn by Loops & Threads™ in the Pastel Pink colorway (2 skeins or 648 yards needed for this pattern size) Knitting Needles: US #7, US #9 (for cast on and bind off) and US #6 circular knitting needles for the neckband collar Tapestry needle to weave in ends Gauge: 4.25 stitches / 8 rows per inch in seed stitch pattern with US #7 knitting needles Crochet hook: US size H8 or 5.0 mm crochet hook
The Comfy Poncho Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
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