Introduction
A rigid heddle weaving loom is a great starter loom with a large range of designs which can be explored. However, as the skills of the weaver develop some weavers wish to explore more complex techniques and patterns. Moving to a multi-shafted loom opens up a larger range of new possibilities. This blog discusses how a 4 shaft extension kit can be used with a TabbyandTweed loom to enable the weaving of 4 shaft patterns.
What is a rigid heddle weaving loom
A rigid heddle weaving loom consists of a frame with a solid 'rigid' heddle with slots and holes through which the warp threads travel. The heddle is moved up and down creating a shed through which the shuttle carrying the thread is passed. The sides of the loom has supports which enables the heddle to be interchanged between the up and down position. When the heddle is in the up position the warp threads in the holes move upwards above the threads in the slots and in the down position the warp threads in the holes move downward below the threads in the slot. By moving the heddle up and then down the threads are interchanged and the weft threads are laid down between each interchange to build up a fabric. The heddle acts also as a beater which pushes the weft threads down into the body of the weave.
Why is a rigid heddle a great starter loom?
A rigid heddle loom is a great loom for beginners. It is fairly straightforward and quick to set up. These looms come in a range of sizes with different reeds for the weaving of either Aran, doubleknit or 4 ply yarn in the warp. Click here to explore the range of rigid heddle scarf weaving kits available in our website shop. The looms are relatively affordable and they are particularly suited for weaving scarves, table runners and smaller pieces of fabric. As lightweight looms they are also easily portable so great to take away on holiday and to Guild meetings. With careful planning a wide range of colour and weave designs can be created. With the addition of pick up sticks more complex and textured designs can be created.
What are the limitations of the rigid heddle loom?
A rigid heddle loom usually has one heddle which makes it perfect for tabby (plain) weave. With only two shafts, weaving patterns such as twills and herringbones are not possible. Whilst pick up sticks can be used to extended the range of patterns the use of multiple pick up sticks can result in very slow weaving. This is especially the case where the pick up sticks need to be repositioned every few weft rows.
What is the benefit of weaving with more shafts on a weaving loom?
A 4 shaft loom allows for a greater range of designs to be woven. Intricate weave structures, such as twills, Krokbragd, herringbones, Overshot and doubleweave can all be woven. The pattern is controlled by lifting specific threads on a shaft or heddle rod rather than manually picking up threads which makes the weaving of complex designs quicker. Moving to 4 shafts gives the weaver a new challenge and is the next step for many from plain weaving.
The TabbyandTweed 4 shaft extension kit
The extension kit contains: adapters for the sides of the rigid heddle loom, 4 heddle rods, bolts and wing nuts, heddle template, cotton to make heddles and an instruction booklet. The extension kit enables the weaving of 4 shaft patterns on a TabbyandTweed rigid heddle weaving loom. The adapters bolt simply and quickly to the side of the loom. The adapters don't stop the normal weaving with the rigid heddle loom so if two shaft weaving as normal is desired the adapters do not need to be removed as the movement of the heddle up and down is still possible. The adapters support the heddle rods which can each be positioned in the up or down position. Click here to purchase the 4 shaft extension kit.
The 7 steps to setting up the 4 shaft extension kit
Step 1 - Attach the adapters to the sides of each loom.
Step 2 - After warping, leave both warp threads in the slots
When weaving with DK yarn we would normally use an 8epi heddle for tabby weave. However, when weaving a pattern the weft threads go over and under less warp threads to different degrees depending on the pattern. This means that if an 8epi heddle was used the weft would be packed down too much creating a very weft faced weave. We therefore choose to use the 10epi for 4 shaft weaving with DK yarn.
Step 3 - Take a heddle and loop it under a warp thread and put onto the heddle rod
The heddle are made with 8/2 cotton. Any thin cotton could be used but we recommend non mercerised cotton because the mercerised cotton has more of a sheen which makes it more difficult to secure the knots. Our kit comes with a heddle making template because the heddles need to be particular length and to be uniform in their length.
Step 4 - Continue to thread heddles onto the warp threads and heddle rods. Use the correct heddle rod according to the pattern that you have chosen.
Step 5 - Continue working across the warp threading the heddles onto the correct heddle rod.
Step 6 - Once completed, each warp thread will have a heddle attached and will be attached to a heddle rod
Step 7 - Lift each of the heddle rods onto the vertical support on the adapters. Make sure each heddle is not tangled with a neighbouring heddle.
Tips for weaving with a 4 shaft extension kit on the rigid heddle weaving loom
When weaving weave in the following way. This ensures that you get a good shed.
1. Bring the rigid heddle forwards towards you.
2. Lift the heddle rods according to your desired pattern onto the upright.
3. Move the heddle back into the slot just in front of the heddle rods.
4. Pass the shuttle across to lay the weft.
5. Bring the heddle down towards you and beat the weft thread
6. Leave the heddle where it is rather than move it back
Repeats steps 1-6
Why did we design a 4 shaft sampler as an option with the 4 shaft sampler kit?
We recognised that a weaver new to weaving 4 shaft patterns might need some support. To provide this additional help we designed a 4 shaft sampler kit. The kit contains the yarn and pattern booklet outlining how to thread the warp threads onto the heddles along with different lifting patterns to create a range of patterns. The sampler is made up of three pattern blocks. Each pattern block is threaded onto the heddles differently which when woven creates three different patterns across the warp. With the 6 different lifting patterns outlined in the instructions the weaver is able to weave 18 different designs. The hope is that a new weaver will, in the weaving of the sample, be able to understand the diagrammatic representation of multi-shaft patterns providing them with the support for them to then progress independently. Click here to find our more about the extension kit and sampler.
We hope this blog has outlined the features of the 4 shaft extension kit for our looms but feel free to contact us if further clarification is needed.
Rigid heddle looms with the scarf weaving kit to weave the scarf above are available in our TabbyandTweed website shop for UK delivery and our TabbyandTweed Etsy shop for delivery elsewhere. We sell a variety of scarf rigid heddle loom weaving kits which include the pattern and yarn for both 8epi and 10epi reeds.
In the fast paced world we now live in it is our opinion that it is something quite special to take time out of life to be creative. Weaving fabric and scarves as unique items of clothing for yourself or gifts is hugely rewarding and helpful when trying to both unwind or keep warm!
Interested in learning to weave? Then our workshop page has all the details found by clicking the link here.
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