WEAVING DISH TOWELS ON A RIGID HEDDLE LOOM! Ep 2 Warping!

I have had SO MANY QUESTIONS about my distowels. Well, it's time for me to take you along on a new dishtowel journey. For me, it starts with picking the colors and planning the warp. Rigid heddle looms are amazing for dishtowels! Weave with me! See you next week to talk about the weaving.
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[@debbieabella49]

I love the bar you use for warping...looks like it makes the process easier! Let us know if you start selling them!

[@dianathefiberfan]

The color-way is beautiful. I need to get our porch redone and cleaned off. I love how you work outside. Great idea using the railing. Yesterday I had a marathon watching “Fiber Love Diary” videos! 😉

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! We use our backyard as much as we possibly can, especially because so much of our year the weather makes it tough!

[@LittleFischies]

I have no idea how weaving and setting up a loom works, and honestly im afraid to looking into it. I need another fiber hobby like a need a hole in my head.🤦‍♀️ but i love watching you set everything up and weave. Its so interesting💗. Colors looks so pretty too!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's funny, because I watch couple of crafters on both KZbin and FB Live that do art and crafts I will probably never try, but I just love watching people make things! I really appreciate that you enjoy watching. Sometimes it's fun to just watch stuff like that. Kind of like magic.

[@peggyhobbs303]

I warped Christmas towels today. Hubby helped me roll it all on and said he wanted to go out for Mexican food. I had a Margarita and thanked you in my heart 💜. Such a fun day.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Okay. This is the sweetest. I feel like you toasted me. I hope you enjoy weaving them 💚

[@marianneds]

Greatings from Denmark. I stumbled over one of your weaving videos a couple of weeks ago. And I just love your videos. Also your spinning and fiber videos, even though I don't spin. I have only been working a couple of tablet woven bands, but tommorow I will get 2 rigid heddle looms I've bought second hand. Can't wait to get started. And I watch you Patricia, for inspiration and for guidance to warp my loom. ❤️👍 I just went ahhhh, when this video stopped. I wanted to see you weaving and the progress of the towels.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Next week! Welcome! I was trying to learn Danish for a while, but I don't get enough practice. New looms are so exciting! Glad you are here, and see you next week 😉

[@patsygorveatte3914]

I wish we didn't have to wait! LOL you are doing a great job. Thank you!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Isn't waiting part of the fun? I am really loving these. I think I'll be sad when this warp is all woven up.

[@jazmin9565]

It’s going to be so pretty!!!! But honestly it looks so intimidating to make. 😯😳 Excited for part 3!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Each step is pretty easy, it's just a lot of steps! But I just try to look at the next step to keep me from feeling intimidated.

[@krankywitch]

I love your warping bar. Have you tried sliding/walking your loom to the bar, rolling on the warp as you go? I find it much easier to keep even tension that way. Your string for tying on the warp ends idea is pure genius! I'm going to try that for sure.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I did try that with the rainbow warp, and it didn't go too well. I think maybe I"m just not a great warper 😂😂

[@plansandprocrastination]

This has inspired me to get into my stash of Cottolin ! Thank you! Being excited to immerse myself in some practical/functional endeavor is just what I need right now :) You rock.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I think I know what you mean. When the whole lockdown thing started, I really needed something like that, so I started sewing masks. I lost count about six weeks ago around 300, so I have no idea how many I actually did. It was oddly soothing to just focus on something I could do to help. Glad it inspired you 💚

[@brendabacon1613]

Oh my gosh, I love the colors. They are going to be beautiful!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I am pretty excited really, but I'm not sure I'm going to even keep them. I can always do a new set though.

[@teacat55]

You are so clever.... I am learning so much in this video. Thank you

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1235adriana]

Love the colors! Looking forward to the next podcast 🤩

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thanks! I'm back to work, but Hopefully I can keep up posting and work at the same time!

[@barbarareeves9669]

Beautiful!! Love the colors...

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you!

[@pamwyman5893]

I have my loom packed for our move from NH to SC in 2 weeks. Now I can’t wait to unpack it. Also super interested in that warping bar.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Ugh, moving is really going to throw a kink in your art/crafting time. We are getting a delivery of bars at the end of this month, so if you want one, just email me at [e-mail]

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Trish, love this video /podcast. Ti watch you warp this loom is brilliant. I so live the colours of the warp threads. I know the towels will look great when finished. Take care and stay safe. Lots if love Jen 💘 xx

[@loriehopkins7182]

Can I use crochet cotton

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

@@loriehopkins7182 Hi, yes you can use Crochet Cotton as long as its not the shiny ones (mercerised). Hope this helps. All the Very Best for 2023 Love and hugs Jen xx

[@craftyashleyg]

I love the colors! Your pooches in the background were cracking me up like, Mom why are we hanging out out here. Lol

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I know. They just mill around wherever I am LOL. We are a pack!

[@lynnwittet1301]

They are going to be beautiful! I can’t manage to get my tension right with the cord on the back beam so I am going to accept some waste and tie direct to the back beam like I do on my Saori loom. Thank you for the weight on the warping beam. I am thinking of getting a 32 inch RH loom, I would be really interested in the warping bar if I get that larger loom. Maybe you will still be selling them then. Our veg. Garden is a weed jungle! This year is so weird ( lack of veg plants and seeds and us selling the house) that we may plant majority of the beds with natural dye flowers and a few token veggie plants and always sunflowers. It’s cold here in Maine, no chance of a sunburn for me! Hope you enjoyed the Margarita and thank you for sharing💕

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I haven't even looked at my veggie garden for a week, and now I'm kind of scared! We can't usually plant much before Mothers' Day because we still have frost at night, so we had plants in time, but the weeds are way out of control hahaha. No big deal. I will get it fought back somehow. I always do! I really have no idea about how the bar thing will go. It has been very "fly by the seat of my pants" and I am just trying to make them available because people really wanted them, so I guess we'll see what happens!

[@purplelemur6537]

Always enjoy your color combinations!💜

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I know it's too much for some people, but I say too much is never enough!

[@patriciasmith9989]

I am new at age 74 to weaving and I love you and am learning all I need to know to make dish cloths on my rigid loom. Trish I love you. from anothr Trish named Pat

[@karlahernandez5750]

Nice to see someone else using their deck for warping! 😂

[@audreydeneui192]

I've started dishtowels in Christmas colors on a borrowed rigid heddle. I'm using Sugar n Cream. At my class we lash to the front beam, like you do. I can never get my bundles to stay tight and the bundles end up creeping over the rod with lashing. I tied them this time and it worked. I was able to warp the rigid heddle a lot faster. I hemstitched the start end (thank you for the hemstitching videos, by the way!). I have about two to three inches woven so far!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

That is wonderful! I am not sure what you mean about the tying on. Are you using a surgeon's knot? I'm just nosey! I love to see people's weaving and what works for them.

[@FairilyFiberFun]

oh, thank you!!! I really enjoyed watching that entire process!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bluescoop3132]

Thanks for the tip about not having so much tie on waste

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's also nice for adjusting the tension. You can just reach between and pull the tie on cord tighter and then work the slack through to the end of the knots.

[@AndreaAlexander]

I'm jealous of your outdoor setup! 😄💕

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Aw, thank you! Too bad in Michigan I can only use it about three weeks a year 😂

[@thelittlethingskate9567]

SO pretty! I’m still new to weaving, and planning my warp colors wasn’t even on my radar until your last video for the dishcloths.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Everybody has different taste and styles, but for me, at least right now, I really like that I can make a colorful warp and then just weave plain. It is a lot of work up front, but then you can just sail through the weaving part 💜

[@dharmafey]

That gadget is so cool!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It has really helped me!

[@creativitybytrisha6819]

Amazing colors! You deserve that margarita!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I agree! I really deserved that margarita for sure! And I had one too 😂

[@chronicallycrocheting]

You made me more tired with all the walking back and forth. 😂. Your towels are going to look amazing! 😍

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I know, and it was humid and nearly 90F. Whew!

[@Angelwool]

I'd love to know more about your warping peg set up please. Very practical❣

[@FiberLoveDiary]

You can find them in my Etsy shop and in a bunch of my other weaving videos 🥰. I love it.

[@Angelwool]

@@FiberLoveDiary Ty❣

[@onegreenev]

Suggestion. I noticed you have the beam attached to a surface and there is tension on that to the loom. Why not leave that tensioned and connected where you started and wind on the back beam and as you go let the loom move towards the anchors beam keeping tension on that. When you released tension on the beam it got sorta tangled. I think the idea is great but keep tension the whole thing and you don't need to wrap that front warping beam or release the tension. Give your loom some weight to keep tension and then just slowly wind onto the back beam. I think I'll try it for my smaller rigid heddle loom.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I never mentioned this, but i had an issue with this warp, so i couldn't do that. I didn't want to confuse people trying to learn to weave towels. I have done it before that way and out is wonderful as long as your loom is on a surface that's not going to scratch. Thank you!

[@shadysusan4244]

That is going to be so pretty!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you, Sue 💜

[@joelwilliams5634]

Your towels are going to be so nice

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I do love them. It's inspiring me to maybe weave a beach bag or something with all these colors.

[@KristinMoran]

When I watched @amy d McKnight talk about lashing on her warp, she made the lashing yarn 10x the width of her loom, then doubled it. When I tried for my current project, I had plenty of lashing yarn left. I do like your tip for adding on if need be.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I have never heard that rule, but I'll try it. I run out about one out of three times. I don't think I've ever even seen anybody lash on the way I do it, so I will look her up.

[@melaniehuhta8853]

If there was any doubt! Lol of course it’s ALMOST always margarita time. Thanks for the video

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Amen Sista! Especially June through September!

[@anneblizzard6675]

This was fascinating! Do you slay both the slots and holes on the first pass?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I do. That means I roll it up and I'm basically ready to tie on and weave. It takes a bit of time but saves in a later step!

[@PeaceLoveAndRico]

so i did the scrap yarn thing to mark my reeds... i think i am going to tape a long paper yard stick to it, I'm over the little pieces of yarn on the floor that I'm too lazy to throw away. 😅

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I just found this. I'm an Amazon Associate, so I get a little tiny kickback if you use the link. I'm going to get some for myself and try it! amzn.to/3rDnn5e

[@jenniferrich5292]

So pretty!! This is inspiring🥰

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! I will be sad when this warp is all woven out 💜

[@davidpatrick7177]

Hi Trish! Love your channel-subscriber, here. Just got my RHL and your warping bar and am anxious to try my first weave. What is purpose of a double-stranded warp? Does it just create a thicker finished project or does it somehow change the weave? Thanks for all you do and share with us!!

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's really more about density. The weave is denser with the double strand, but I also really like it because I pull a whole loop through each hole and slot during warping, so I don't have to sley my reed later, and I can use odd numbers of warp threads more easily. One whole loop actually creates a single warp end. If you are splitting the loops for single warp threads, everything either ends up to be a multiple of two, or you have to tie ends both in the front, and back (which I really don't want to do) and sometimes I like patterns better with odd numbers in my warps. That's really hard to explain

[@shangoramoda]

I was wondering if you know. On this kitchen towel project you said it was 251 epi. I have a floor loom and when I used 251 ends it was only half of what I needed of 8/2 cotton. Is there a difference between a rigid heddle and floor loom as far as epi?

[@micheleellis3338]

Absolutely beautiful! Did you get a really bad sunburn, or did the camera make it look worse ? I was praying for you just in case. 🕊❤️👍🏻

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It must have been the camera, although if I was outside, I was probably red because it was super hot and humid! I tend to get pink when I'm hot. I did notice a giant mosquito bite on my neck though!

[@micheleellis3338]

Fiber Love Diary Lol, I’m one of those that mosquito’s like to feast on, I also sunburn easily and often too! Have a blessed Day. 🕊❤️😁👍🏻

[@susanfortner2267]

Would love to see a close up, slow motion view of how you go over and under the back beam. I can’t quite get it into my head!🤔

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I'm going to plan a set of towels to film this week. It'll take a bit, but I'll make sure next time to show it.

[@susanfortner2267]

@@FiberLoveDiary thank you so much!🤩

[@melenatorr]

Thanks for this lovely demonstration; you have two very interested canine supervisors! I very much like your straight warping board, which, for a small loom, makes a lot of sense to me. Did you buy it, or make it? If bought, can you let me know where you found it? (I think I can improvise with a knitting board, but would have to get creative for a clamp).

[@FiberLoveDiary]

They go wherever i go-always 😂. I had trouble with a warping peg so i designed it and my husband had it made for me. If you want one, you can email me at [e-mail].

[@melenatorr]

@@FiberLoveDiary Thank you so much! Yes, I think I will be contacting you. I have two feline supervisors; I can't take them with me everywhere, but they love to help me sort out my yarns.

[@debwingert7439]

What is this warping bar that you are direct warping to? Is it DIY, or did you buy it?

[@cynthiacooper2941]

Newbie here so thus the maybe too obvious question: You pull the slots and the eyeholes at the same time when you are warping? The way I learned is to do slots and then eyeholes afterwards.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I only do both when I have a double stranded warp. That's how I like my towels. You can do it the way you learned, but I just like a total to be a little thicker ❤️

[@gingerbanyai-riepl8539]

New weaver here. Where did you get that awesome plastic-like sheeet you put under the warp on the back side as youing rolled it up? I'm using cut up paper shopping bags. Super annoying.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I was using some leftover drafting mylar of my husband's, BUT so many people have asked, that I found a supplier, and it's normally available in my Etsy shop. I sold out so fast last time that I'm waiting on an order, but it will be there soon!

[@pennygonzalez8309]

You are amazing!! I have so many questions. One of my questions is, I am planning on only making dish towels, what size rigid heddle loom do I need?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Aw, Penny, thanks! I would hope i'm at least proficient after the thousands of hours I have put in practicing hahahaha. Size of your towels is really personal preference. I like them 20 inches wide under tension (which means they will shrink a bit), so for the towels I like, you could get by with a 20" wide loom. If you like them quite big, you would need something larger. Hope that helps! I hate the answer, "it depends" but it kind of depends on what you like!

[@jacquiejones4854]

Thank you for your instructional videos. I am a brand new weaver. Received my loom yesterday. Did you say that you pull one loop through the slot and one loop through the hole as you are putting the warp on your loom?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Welcome, Jacquie! Normally, I would just pull a loop through each slot when I'm warping. Then once the warp is rolled onto the back beam, I cut the loops and pull half (one thread) through the slots. But I like these towels better with the warp doubled. I just like the weight of the towels better that way, so I pull a full loop through each of the slots and the holes to make it double. I hope that made sense! I think I might have talked about it in the first video about planning warp.

[@jacquiejones4854]

@@FiberLoveDiary Thank you for your quick reply. I am anxious to try that. Also where would I purchase your warping board?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

@@jacquiejones4854 You can email me at [e-mail] to purchase :D

[@liza5532]

I'm not quite sure where/how you did that extra warp thread in. Is it a single that goes in the hole on the edge all by itself?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Yep. I just as a singleton so I can use the hole thread on each end to stabilize my selvage

[@MsKandK]

I missed the kind of yarn that you are using. Can you tell me the name brand, weight, material, etc. Where do you get the spools?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

It's 8/2 cotton from Great Northern Weaving. If you get some, tell them i said Hi!

[@TrinketNifflerKnitter]

Oh I love this!! What kind of yarn do you use for this?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Thank you! This is Maysville 8/2 cotton from Great Northern Weaving. They ship, so if you decide to order some from there, please let them know where you saw it! I'm not an affiliate or anything, but I was just there visiting.

[@TrinketNifflerKnitter]

Fiber Love Diary thank you!! I’ll head over there and definitely let them know who sent me 🥰

[@eroff4721]

Watching you walk back and forth I couldn’t help wondering how many step you get a day. 🚶🏾‍♀️

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I don't want to know! I also could use a lot more steps in my life lately. Lockdown hasn't been good for my weight at all, but I'll get it figured out!

[@bonnielundholm5535]

Wow that sunburn looks bad. I hope it heals quickly.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I wasn't burnt, but maybe I was super red, because it was hot? Or maybe it was a camera thing, but I am fine! I'm actually careful because I spend a lot of time outside if I can. Thank you for worrying!

[@bonnielundholm5535]

@@FiberLoveDiary I'm glad it isn't a sunburn. I really enjoy watching you work, also.

[@judyhalter1147]

Do you sell your warping bar anymore? I cant find it on etsy

[@karriegoodman4404]

I was just wondering what weight you cotton yarn is? I really wonting to get started as I am really new to this.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

This is 8/2 Maysville Cotton from Great Northern Weaving

[@mtnmonamona842]

I love how you warp your loom. But doesn’t your loom move while warping? My loom seems to walk toward peg and screws the warp up.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I weight my loom down on the cross bar of the stand,v do it doesn't usually walk.

[@janicehuff2217]

Where did you warping board come from. I had so much issues with keeping the 8/2 cotton from tangling when I rolled it onto the beam. I just made a big mess with the single peg. Please tell us how and where to get that board and how to stop the tangling. Saw you had some minor tangling when you were rolling it on but did not show how you solved that issue. Thanks.

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I designed out to help me warp and my husband made a schematic and had it built for me. I had a little tangling from a warping error i made. I thought it might confuse people trying to learn. Normally i have no tangling because i roll the warping bar up with paper.

[@janicehuff2217]

@@FiberLoveDiary Can we purchase your warp board somewhere

[@judyhalter1147]

Do you sell your warping bar anymore

[@jessicawright1656]

I love those colors! Too bad we can't all warp our looms at warp speed like the video makes it seem!🤣

[@FiberLoveDiary]

I was totally thinking that. The whole video is like 12 minutes. Too bad I can't really do it in 12 minutes! 😂😜

[@joanntyler5950]

What size reed did you use for 8/2 cotton ?

[@mandyduvall]

Sorry if I missed it - what yarn are you using?

[@FiberLoveDiary]

Hi Mandy! I think I talked about it in the first episode where I planned my warp, but it is 8/2 cotton from Great Northern Weaving in Kalamazoo Michigan. They have this awesome warehouse you can go into and just poke around for yarns, but they sell lots of colors of 8/2 cotton, and I love it for my towels.

[@pennygonzalez8309]

@@FiberLoveDiary I now live in So. Cal. But I grew up back east and went to summer camp every summer at Pine Trail Camp in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Love hearing this is from Kalamazoo!!

[@patriciaclark2043]

@@pennygonzalez8309 Aw, I actually mostly grew up about an hour Northwest of there, but one of my sisters went to WMU, which is there (you probably know) and one of our boys is living there at the moment, so I get that way fairly frequently. West Michigan is actually all pretty great. People mostly think of Detroit, or the Northwoods, but West Michigan is wonderful!