Turn scraps of yarn into a field of flowers

Lemonade Weaves: 1

When life gives you lemons… weave yourself some lemonade. To keep us all going during the global coronavirus pandemic – whether we’re self-isolating, quarantined or just keeping a safe distance – I decided to share a few ways to make the most of simple drafts. There’s no master plan, but the theme is loosely ‘what can I do with the odd bits of yarn I have to hand?’

Let’s get weaving

We’ll start with a 6-end point threading. It’s this one:

If we weave it ‘as drawn in’ with a balanced twill we get a tiny diamond pattern. I have highlighted the six picks which correspond to the six threads in the threading repeat.

But let’s stretch that out to an 8-pick repeat, like this:

Very slightly bigger diamonds… OK, fine… But now let’s add colour.

Turn a twill into a field of flowers

The pick at the top of the sequence lifts shafts 2 & 3. I’ll make it grey to match the warp colour: that’s quite important for the effect I want to obtain. Then I’ll weave the next three picks (3 & 4; 4 & 1; 3 & 4) in a contrasting colour. Back to 2 & 3 in grey, then three more picks in colour (1 & 2; 4 & 1; 1 & 2). And repeat:

This is a fabulous design for using up little scraps of yarn. You only need three picks of any one yarn to add an accent stripe. It always makes me think of a field of flowers and it looks amazing on a green warp. By the way, you don’t need your ‘plain’ weft colour to match the warp exactly, but it’s good if it blends in. Aim to choose a yarn with a similar value.

At some point, I was given a bag full of scraps of pink mohair. What can I say? It happens. Pink mohair is not really my thing, but it does make a lovely garden of blooms.

Happy Weaving!

 

First posted on weavingspace.co.uk © Cally Booker

4 Responses

  • This post is like an unexpected bouquet of flowers. A great idea and very welcome!
    Mind yourself in these strange times.

  • I’m in a similar position with all exhibitions and teaching cancelled = no income!
    It’s lovely at such a testing time that your priorities include supporting fellow weavers by sharing a perfect project suited to relative novices on a 4 shaft loom. Thank you Cally.

    • It’s really frightening, isn’t it? Just taking things day by day, as there’s no alternative! Wishing you safe and well, Rebecca.

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