Laura and Jim asked me to make pillows for their family room.  They want 3 large pillows in red, black and white fabric.  They also want them soft without leaving “fuzz” behind when they use them.  Other than that I can use any pattern I like.  After doing a little research I decided to weave the pillows out of bamboo yarn, a fairly new product that is cropping up on the market.  Like most natural fibers, it’s made from a renewable resource so that’s nice too.  The yarn I chose has a lovely sheen to it, is soft to the touch and is hypoallergenic.

Bamboo Yarn

In deciding on the pattern to use I wanted one that could support all three pillows looking great together but not being identical.   I chose a huck-a-back pattern that has two different treadling patterns so I can make two styles if I wish and then 5 colors of yarn so I can vary the colors in the pillows giving me a lot of flexibility.   In weaving the yarns that are on the loom (the warp) remain the same for everything you weave in one project but the yarn that is woven into and across the warp (the weft) can be changed as often as you want.

Yarn threaded through the reed

Right now I’m in the process of “dressing” the loom.  That means that I’m threading the yarn that will be the warp for the pillows through the loom to make my huck-a-back pattern.  This is admittedly the most time consuming part of weaving.  And, I must admit, my least favorite part.  But you can’t get to the weaving without it so I carry on.

Back side of loom with yarn ready to tie up!

Making the pillows has three basic parts.  Planning the project, weaving the fabric and sewing the pillows.  So far I’ve completed part one and am into part two. More pictures and comments as the fabric is woven.  I know you can hardly wait but you’ll have to as weaving takes time.  The loom is set up in our shop, Adornments at the Factory in Franklin, TN, so if you’re in the neighborhood come to the Factory and I just might be weaving.