For the past couple of years, I have been thinking it would be nice to learn how to weave.  I have always been fascinated watching the weavers at the Minnesota State Fair and at different craft fairs.

Do I really need another craft?  Well, no.  However, I have a drawer full of yarn scraps leftover from various projects.  The scraps are too short to make a hat or scarf, but might be put to some other use.  I thought that weaving could give me a good way to use them up.

So, this summer I purchase a rigid heddle loom (Knitter’s Loom) and spent a couple hours watching videos on-line before giving it a try.  I did some weaving as a child, but that was years ago and things have changed since then. 

I decided to start with just a straight tabby weave and see how well I did.  The first project I did, I used up leftovers of a solid royal blue yarn for the warp. Then I used another royal blue for the weft.  The scarf turned our really nice.  And, the best part was how quickly it was completed.

Being my first project, it took me about an hour to correctly warp the loom.  Once that was done, the weaving took only three hours.  I removed the yarn from the loom, tied knots in the warp ends and had a lovely 60″ scarf completed.

Continuing with tabby weave, I wanted to see how different yarns would turn out.

Three carves with solid warp and variegated yarn for the weft:

Two scarves with solid warp and eyelash yarn for the weft:

I also used made a scarf with various scraps of red, white and blue yarn used for the warp and solid weft of white cashmere yarn (also shown in the Independence Day post).

After doing a straight tabby weave, I decided to try a plaid pattern.  Using some glitter yarn scraps from a hat I had knit, I warped the loom in a pattern and then wove the weft with the same yarn in color sections.

This new craft is proving to be a lot of fun.  I like the woven scarves better than knit or crocheted scarves because they do not stretch out of shape.

The first scarf I made was given to a really good friend for her birthday.  The two eyelash yarn scarves and the patriotic scarf I am keeping for myself.  The rest of these scarves will be put together in sets with a hat and gloves and donated (more about that on another day).

Weaving is so much fun!  I am really going to enjoy using up some of my yarns.