Exploring Weaving Techniques with a Rigid Heddle Loom and Noro Yarn

Welcome to my latest weaving project, a wrap crafted on a rigid heddle loom. I had recently come across some Noro Silk Garden yarn and knew it had to be the star of my next project.

As I began weaving, I quickly realized that the self-striping Noro yarn was creating its own pattern, which was quite mesmerizing to watch. However, the yarn proved to be problematic as the warp, breaking a couple of times as I was dressing my loom. I was able to fix the issue and continue on with the project and very lucky that it did not break during the weaving process.

I was surprised at how quickly I was able to finish this project. In total, it took me four days to complete the wrap, including the time spent on warping the loom. This was a much faster process than if I had knit a scarf of the same size.

Hem Stitching

Hem stitching is still a bit of a struggle for me. The first edge resulted in a less than desirable outcome, but I was able to improve my technique at the end of the project with the help of a YouTube tutorial.

A rotary cutter and self-healing pad proved to be very helpful in cutting the fringe more evenly. If you don’t already own one, it could be worth considering.

While I wouldn’t recommend this yarn for the warp, it would still work well for the weft.

Weaving Communities

In an effort to continue my learning journey, I joined a Rigid Heddle Looms Facebook group and have been spending a lot of time watching YouTube tutorials, including one on warping boards and another on the built-in warping board that is built into my Ashford Loom. It has been interesting to see the projects others are working on and to learn from other weavers online. Although I don’t feel quite ready for warping boards at this point, it is something to revisit in the future, as I get more comfortable.

One of the things I love about weaving is the freedom to create without a specific pattern and self-striping yarn always promises beautiful results! Give it a try with self striping yarn and share your results on our Facebook page! We would love to see what you’re working on! Happy weaving!