Weaving the Pillow Fabric Continues

Adornments — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:09:30 +0000

I have been working on weaving the fabric for these pillows for a week so. Okay, I know my last post on this subject was almost a month ago but I actually started weaving about a week ago. I had a couple of false starts in the last month. I had everything all tied up beautifully and started weaving as I had planned and two things happened. First, I had used the manufacturer’s sett recommendation and instead of having a nice, close weave I had an open weave, as in you could see through the fabric. This is lovely in a shawl or scarf, maybe even in an afghan, but not good in pillow covers. I would have to line them (twice as much sewing) or the white pillow form would show through. This was bad. I had to take things apart, move the threads over to where they should be and re-tie the loom. Time consuming but do-able.

LESSON: Never take the manufacturer’s recommendations without checking them.

The second thing I noticed (before taking things apart) was that I didn’t like the look of the fabric the way I had planned it. I bought 5 different colors to use with these three pillows. I will just rearrange the way I use them. As long as you have enough yarn, this is an easy problem to fix.

I now have the weaving almost done for the first of the three pillows. Wanna see? Of course you do. Here are two views One from the top and one from the bottom. I’m not sure which way the fabric will end up on the pillows. I have a plan but I have learned to be flexible. I’ll decide after I take them off the loom and wash them. Let me know what you think?

Close up of the top of the fabric for the pillows

Bottom of fabric looking through the loom.

Weaving Fabric to Make Pillows

Adornments — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:06:32 +0000

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.

Adornments Watch » Fiber Arts

Weaving the Pillow Fabric Continues

Weaving Fabric to Make Pillows