My First Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving Project: A Plaid Scarf

Are you ready to dive into the world of weaving? I recently had the chance to try it out for the first time and it was a blast! I was able to borrow a Schacht Cricket 15″ Rigid Heddle Loom from a friend and set out to create my first project: a plaid scarf.

Woven Plaid Making

To get started, I searched for inspiration and found the Plaidmaker website, which allows you to choose colors and see a preview of your final pattern. Then, I turned to YouTube for a tutorial on warping the loom. The Violet Unicorn provided a great step-by-step guide that helped me get the loom ready for weaving.

Weaving Challenges

As with any new skill, I faced a few challenges along the way. For example, I accidentally missed the back bar while warping the loom and had to untie and manually move the yarn over it. I used a roll of non-slip shelf liner as I rolled the yarn onto the back bar. However, I didn’t have it perfectly straight, which caused some issues as I continued to roll. To fix this, I had to cut the shelf liner and start again with a fresh piece.

If you decide to give this method a try, I recommend cutting the non-slip shelf liner into shorter lengths to avoid any mishaps.

Finding Joy in the Weaving Process

Despite a few setbacks, I was able to complete my first weaving project and had a lot of fun doing it. The best part about weaving is the freedom to be creative and go with what feels right in the moment. I didn’t follow my pattern exactly and ended up improvising and having a lot of fun in the process. The final project isn’t perfect, but I’m proud of it and had a great time creating it.

If you’re interested in trying weaving for the first time, I recommend finding a local yarn shop or a friend with a loom who can help you get started. Many yarn shops offer beginner weaving classes and provide looms for you to use. By going through the process of choosing a project, warping the loom, and weaving an entire project, you can decide if weaving is something you enjoy. And who knows, you might just love it as much as I do and decide to invest in your own loom! Happy weaving!