Pick-Up Stick Patterns on the Rigid Heddle Loom
Friday October 20, 2023 10am-3pm
Instructor: Nancy Niemeyer
Cost: $60.00, does not include weaving equipment or yarn
Class limit: 6
Experience level: Intermediate. Requires previous weaving experience. You must be able to independently warp and weave on a rigid heddle loom. (Need help getting the warp on your loom? Come to Rigid Heddle Study Group on Wednesday October 18 from 10 to noon for free).
Learn to use a pick-up stick with your rigid heddle loom to create warp and weft floats for textured fabric. We will create a sample with a variety of warp and weft floats separately and in combination. This requires your own rigid heddle loom, 2 stick shuttles, and two pick-up sticks. You must pre-warp your loom at home on your own so you can learn the weaving techniques during class. The instructor will provide a handout.
The teacher has a limited number of looms to rent for $5. You could rent and warp it on Wednesday October 18 at 10 am in Rigid Heddle Study group two days before the class. Your sample will need to be cut from the loom at the end of class.
Supplies to Bring:
- Rigid heddle loom with either a 7.8 or 8 dent heddle or a 10 dent heddle. If you need to rent a loom, contact the instructor to arrange for loom rental. Rental looms are limited.
- 2 pick-up sticks
- 2 stick Shuttles
- Warped loom. See yarn and warping instructions below
- Your lunch or hearty snack and beverages, a refrigerator and microwave are available for use
- a mask
You will need Yarn for Warping: Yarn choice will depend on your chosen heddle. You will need two (2) colors.
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- 7.5 or 8 dent heddle: Choose some worsted weight kitchen cotton such as Peaches & Creme, Sugar ‘n Cream, Lion Cotton, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, or Knitpicks Dishie. You will need four or five 4 ounce balls, which should be enough for both warp and weft. Get two different colors, two (2) of one color and three (3) of the other. Most yarns are readily available at Joann, Michaels, or Wal-Mart.
- 10 dent heddle: Paton’s Grace and Omega Sinfonia are mercerized sport weight cottons available at Joann and Hobby Lobby respectively. Buy a total of 450 yards, 225 yards of each of two (2) colors. OR Purchase 3/2 pearl cotton available from the instructor who will wind off two (2) balls of 3/2 cotton yarn, one of cream or white and one of blue. This yarn will cost $10 and you must contact the instructor (measuredthreads@gmail.com) to pick up from her house or the Guild house prior to class, with enough time to warp your loom ahead of time.
Warping Instructions: Prior to class, warp your loom with a 6 foot (2 yards) warp, eight (8) inches wide. Warp halfway across the heddle with one color, and halfway with the other color, so there are 4 inches of each color in the warp. Then, when you weave, you will see what it looks like when your warp and weft are same color and when they are different.
Problems registering? Contact the Education Committee at classes@weaversguildcincinnati.org.
Questions about this class? Contact the instructor, Nancy Niemeyer at measuredthreads@gmail.com.
Nancy Niemeyer is a local fiber arts teacher who’s been knitting and for weaving close to 20 years. Nancy mostly teaches rigid heddle weaving at the Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati but has also taught weaving at the Art Barn in Mariemont, and both knitting and rigid heddle weaving at a few local yarn shops. Follow her on Social Media:
Facebook: Measured Threads
Instagram: @measuredthreads
Website: measuredthreads.com
Depending on the CDC guidelines for Hamilton County at the time the class is held, a mask may be required. If so, you will be notified before the first class.
Fees are non-refundable. Your fee will only be refunded if the class is canceled or changed to a different date. Three registrations are required for a class to be held. Students will be notified before the start date if a class is canceled due to an insufficient number of students. Eventbrite processing and credit card payment fees will not be refunded if a student cancels for any reason.