Double Up Heddles on the Rigid Heddle Loom

With Deborah Jarchow

Mar 5, 9:00am-12:00pm & 2:00-5:00pm AND Mar 6, 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:30-4:30pm

Over the 12 hours of class, you’ll learn to weave with 2 heddles, making double layers in your cloth or fabric that is twice the width of your loom.

Expand your weaving skills and make two layers in your cloth on the rigid heddle loom. While weaving, the layers can be connected in various ways to make cloth twice the width of your loom, create tubes, or pockets. Participants will make a sampler while exploring this process. During the workshop they will learn to thread the loom using two heddles and weave the layers in various ways. This workshop is for students that have some experience with the rigid heddle and want to move on to the next level.

Students will warp the looms and learn how to set up and thread both heddles to enable the double heddle weaving. Then they will weave cloth at double the sett of the heddle used and create various beautiful patterns that the extra heddle makes possible. While working these beautiful patterns, they will practice manipulating the two heddles. They will learn how to magically create 2 layers of cloth, each a different color, and discover how to make pockets or tubes in the woven cloth.

Special skills or knowledge needed to take this class
Must know how to warp the loom and be comfortable weaving.

Supply List
• Loom with at least an 8” weaving width that is able to accommodate 2 heddles*
• Two 7.5 or 8 dent reeds*
• 4 pick up sticks* that fit your loom
• 2 shuttles (with bobbins)*
• 600 yards each of 2 contrasting colors of dk or sport weight yarn that is strong, not hairy, and at least 2 ply (no singles)
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Tapestry needle
• Cardboard tube from inside a paper towel roll
• 2 brown paper grocery bags
• 30 yards waste yarn

Items that follow can be rented from Deborah for $25 for class use:
Rigid heddle loom with at least 8” weaving width
Two 7.5 or 8 dent reeds
4 Pick up Sticks
2 shuttles with bobbins