Understanding Reeds/Yarn

This link will provide you with a simple guide to understanding your rigid heddle reeds!

Size 3: Sport Weight/Size 5: Bulky

When you go shopping for yarn, what do you look for?

On each skein, you will look for these general things:

Most skeins come with a number printed on the outside

1. Size 2 is fingering weight. You will notice it is very thin.
2. Size 3 is sport weight. Many baby yarns are a size 3. People like to make socks with sizes 2-4.
3. Size 4 is worsted weight. This size yarn is great for warping your loom. 
4. Size 5 is bulky or chunky weight. this yarn weaves up fast and is usually very soft and warm. 

You can warp with any size weight but you need to use the correct reed for each size of yarn. 

Another caution to be aware of when warping is not to use a single ply yarn for warp unless you space it out in your reed. If you look closely at your yarn, you will see that worsted weight has 4 small threads wrapped together. 

Here's an example, 

Mohair is usually a single ply yarn that looks soft and fuzzy. I would call it a size 2, you will want to use a size 5 reed to space it out. If you do not, you will have a nightmare of a time opening your shed. Basically, the threads will stick to each other and you will not be able to move your reed up or down. There are acrylic yarns that are single ply that will give you the same heartache. 

Look for Yardage

You will need to know how to calculate how much warp and weft you will need for each item you are making. Math, Ugh! Don't worry, its not as hard as you would imagine. 

I recommend getting Liz Gipsons book, "Weaving Made Easy." She has a full page dedicated to understanding how to calculate for warp and weft.  Check the Library first!

My general rule of thumb for a scarf is this:

• Warp 102" using the direct peg method
• I use a size 8 dent reed most of the time, not always.
• I put in 60 ends (threads) centering it across, sometimes I skip every other slot and hole to make 30 ends but it is still the same width across the reed. 
• Your ends have to be centered, otherwise you will have problems weaving!
• Mark your reed at the center slot/hole with a pencil and mark where to start and stop for 60 ends
• Lionbrand comes with 2 skeins in their kits that are 197 yards. Its better to be on the safe side when not calculating. You will need a skein for the warp and one for the weft. You may not use the entire skein but thats okay, you can use it in another project. If you feel you need 2 skeins buy it but keep the receipt and take it back. The yarn stores will allow you to return or exchange as long as you don't use it. 
• I like beginners to warp with a worsted weight and to weave with a chunky or bulky weight across (Weft). 
• Choose Super Soft for the weft. I chose a soft yarn and when I wove it up, it felt scratchy. 
• If you want more weft to show, warp 30 ends, skipping every other slot and hole when warping. 
• I do not hemstitch if I am tying fringe for a scarf. 
• Hand wash in cool water with palmolive clear dish soap and lay flat to dry. This must be done after each woven piece. some items you will wash in hot water if you want to shrink or felt. 

Check to see what the yarn is made of?!

• Acrylic/blend
• Wool/blend
• Alpaca/blend
• Bamboo/blend
• Cotton
• Linen
• Flax

I could go on and on.  There is a good reason for this. If its 100% wool, you can felt it. If its a wool blend, it will 'Full" somewhat. Acrylic will not full or felt. Cotton will shrink which is not always a bad thing. Wool can be scratchy if not felted, do you really want that around your neck scratching you? However, I like wool blends, my friend loves 100% wool felted scarves and they do look soft, warm and fuzzy. You can see her scarves on my Favorite blog list. 

Check Dye Lot

• Each skein will have a dye lot number on it to tell you that the color is the same. Say that you run out of yarn before your project is done. You run to the store to get that pretty turquoise you bought there last week. You get there and realize to your horror that it is no longer the same shade as the piece you are working on.  Which brings me to my next point, get enough yarn to do the project. 

Check washing instructions

• If you want a gift that can be machine washable, make sure that the yarn you are using can be thrown in.  If you do not understand all the symbols, google it!

To sum up, read the yarn labels.