How to make a heddle rod on a rigid heddle loom

[@dgwparfitt]

I just bought a ridgid heedle loom last week and found your videos. All your videos are excellent. I could listen to your voice all day you are so calm and a fantastic teacher. Thank you so much!

[@KellyCasanova]

That is such a lovely comment, thank you! I hope my videos get you up and weaving quickly, have fun!

[@carolynadams2264]

I'm blown away by this, had no idea this could be done. I'm new to weaving, so much to learn. Thanks so much for your wonderful videos and explanation, so easy to understand even I can do it.

[@KellyCasanova]

You're welcome! 😊

[@corytoddmusic]

Kelly, thank you for this! I'm just learning about looms, and have been trying to work out a solution for a simple diy loom without using pre-made heddles. This is very helpful. I'm hoping to try two sticks with loops, using a longer loop length along the second stick, just to create a basic weave.

[@KellyCasanova]

Sounds interesting, best of luck!

[@WhattaProdigy]

When you put the first thread I Immediately was like 🤯! Tysvm for sharing! My patience was running so thin but thanks to you, I'll be to finishing these placemats by today!

[@KellyCasanova]

Awesome! 😀

[@abcd543217]

What a jewel!! I learned how to make a string heddles! An you make it look so easy and well explained. Thank you very much.

[@KellyCasanova]

You're welcome Maria 😊

[@palmiraserra2283]

Kelly you are the best for teaching how to weave in a rigid heddle loom! English is not my mother language but I can understand you always! Thank you from Mexico!

[@KellyCasanova]

Gracias!

[@beckywilliams9703]

As you might be able to tell, I have been watching almost every video you have done tonight. I hope you will include more of this technique. It looks lovely. Thanks so much.

[@KellyCasanova]

+Great Smokey Thanks for watching :)

[@juliebenson3990]

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that tis worked, but I'm going to try it again another time. I'm now working on the tapestry style freehand, It's working great! my yarn is bumping and I thik I was so engulfed by all the things you do that I was jumping to a level I'm not used to. So I will try other techniques from you, once I'm confident in this one or two, and more. At leastwe know the heddle rod? worked! I put a 5 pound leg weight on both sides to hold it down, boy your imagintaions and what you can find around the house are endless! ha ha Hope to talk later. Thank you so much.

[@rooma284]

thank you so much for sharing have recently discovered your fab videos theyre gonna keep me well entertained over the cold scottish winters look forward to sharing with you what i come up with

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you Alison :)

[@sharonmurrell9291]

Thank you for your inspiration!!! Now I'm not afraid to try this!!!

[@nancyd7906]

Thank you! So happy I looked before stepping off this cliff. I'm working on my first pattern that uses two pick up sticks and I was puzzling over how using two sticks was going to work. Thanks to your lovely technique, I think I've been spared any further agony with this project.

[@KellyCasanova]

+Nancy D That's fantastic, thank you!

[@dianaarmstrong4124]

Kelly Casanova

[@annaelias-cesnik7989]

Thank you for this. I never would have figured it out on my own. So fun and yet so simple!

[@KellyCasanova]

You're very welcome, I'm glad it helped you :)

[@juliebenson3990]

Going to watch this again and at least get the threads cut tonight hopefully. I thank you for all your doing for me! Sincerely. Get back to you on this...later, if thats alright. Keep you posted or a question or two. I dont want to be a bother.

[@KellyCasanova]

No bother at all, I'm interested in what you're doing, definitely let me know how it goes!

[@juliebenson3990]

Ok, You wouldnt believe it, but I used a lot of imagination, in short it works! But when I beat down the first row, I have to use a fork, my warp isnt bumping up, it just lies there flat, I followed your 45 degree angle, I tried what others on videos do, making the yarn/wool form like small foothills. It's just coming out flat. I'm very proud of myself for making it work, but I'm not doing the yarn right apparently.

[@KellyCasanova]

A photo would be great, I could get a better idea of what you're doing.

[@juliebenson3990]

I'm on my desktop, and dont know how to get a picture to you, I can do it with cel phone, otherwise I dont know how to get the picture onto you tube. I see a link or email of:www.kellycasanovaart.etsy.com I'm on face book but have no idea how to work it, I just created the account. And didnt want to, but almost everything is on facebook so I did. so I lack in knowledge with facebook. Let me know if I can use the email in this message. It will be entertaining at what I' come up with. What I'm thinking is maybe I should pull my top skinny dowel out, use the Heddle rod, and do the other rows by hand, take that skinny dowel out. Or maybe some of it is the thin card at the bottom..., maybe they need to lay flat and then I would acheive non flat rows?? facebook.com/kellycasanov... www.pinterest.com/kelcasanova/

[@MJ-jf8nd]

I have the book "The weaver's Idea Book" I so wanted to do Twill. I could not get it to work! The warp threads would twist and look like a mess. I was ready to give up. I remembered this video and like magic it now works! Thank you so much! Now to work on getting the weft even.

[@KellyCasanova]

That's awesome MJ!

[@BorgaFamily]

Thank you so much ... ready to start my first honeycomb pattern.

[@Ann-mn6jb]

Thank you so much for your sharing Kelly, you're so great! thank you

[@dianathefiberfan]

Love all your videos! Thank you so much. Once I’m up to weaving again I want to get your classes membership.

[@KellyCasanova]

Fabulous!

[@conniebueche3989]

Wow!!! This was explained perfectly!!

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you so very much! ❤

[@pennywheeler4253]

Can you add the pattern sequence for the project you were working on? What an inventive way of using two heddles at the same time.

[@KellyCasanova]

+Penny Wheeler Yep, as I said in the video, my next video will be introduction to krokbragd, which is what you see on the loom :)

[@Hazel-Hill]

I just began watching these last night, already addicted.

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi Wendy, A pick up stick in front of the heddle means that you will be weaving a type of overshot, meaning your pattern will "float" on the surface and not be incorporated into the weaving. To answer your second question, you can use as many heddle rods or pick up sticks as you can fit, but that doesn't mean it's easy! And you can combine heddle rods with pick up sticks for sure. Once you use more than 2 pick up sticks, it becomes much more time efficient to convert them to heddle rods, otherwise you have to add and remove sticks that won't slide past each other.

[@Yasmana1475]

Well this was simple but genius 👏 👌

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you!

[@gemmaluescher-verseckas1243]

Thank you for this explanation now I could feasibly also do this with the blackstrap or weighted loom.

[@KellyCasanova]

Great, I'd love to hear how it goes 😊

[@daniellekiey-thomas1327]

Thank you. ❤ Really helpful. ❤

[@KellyCasanova]

I'm so glad, thank you!

[@bgcyclist]

That's a pretty cool technique.

[@KellyCasanova]

+Cindy Moore It sure is!

[@anne-mariescheffer4691]

Thank you Kelly! I used 1 rod and now I like to use 2 or 3 but I am wondering if I have to pickup all stitches with the heddle in down? It must be only the slots to pick up isn't it? because the holes are 'static' 🤔

[@KellyCasanova]

When you place the heddle in the down position, it is only slot threads that are raised. And yes, you can only pick up slot threads as the hole threads are already committed 😊

[@anne-mariescheffer4691]

@@KellyCasanova thank you. With the first attempt the pattern looked strange 😄 new day new chances 😉

[@anne-mariescheffer4691]

@@KellyCasanova update: i think it was correct what I did but because the weft is a lot thicker than the warp and the pattern not very 'big' it didn't show. I changed to overshot 😉

[@faziarizvi]

Thank you so much for your clear and instructive videos. I've learned so much that I finally signed up for your classes on Teachable! Question for this video: What if the instructions want pickup stick B to be on its side when forward at any point? Could you still use the heddle rod technique? Would you need to adjust it in anyway? I should probably just try this as an experiment and see how it moves the warp shed. :)

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, you can still use it with no adjustments. Usually if the pick up stick is forward and flat, the heddle is up, and if the pick up stick is on it's side the heddle will be in neutral. Either way, the heddle rod can still replace the stick :)

[@anne-mariescheffer4691]

Hi Kelly, one more question. I like to weave 4 shafts patterns, I can use the heddlerods for this too? I asked about extra heddles but they are expensive so I was wondering if I could start with rods and buy extra heddles maybe later.

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, absolutely. It is certainly much cheaper using heddle rods.

[@anne-mariescheffer4691]

@@KellyCasanova thank you 💕

[@Alexandra-ks7cb]

A continuous string heddle seems very easy to make. Is there a reason you went with this method?

[@KellyCasanova]

I have used a continuous string heddle in inkle weaving, where it's a narrow width of threads that I'm lifting. I like the individual string heddles for something wider. I feel it's easier to tension and to lift the rod. But, you can use continuous if that is your preference, there is nothing wrong with that at all 😊

[@rachelseng4617]

It looks like it's down, but I can't quite tell, is your heddle in down, up, or neutral when you place pickup stick b?

[@KellyCasanova]

+rachel seng Yep, heddle down for pickup :)

[@tinamcdonald93]

How about using a threaded rod from the hardware store (like for lamps) instead of a dowel - then the strings would have a channel to help keep them in position.

[@KellyCasanova]

I'm not familiar with the threaded rod you're describing, but yes, whatever works is worth a try! :)

[@juliebenson3990]

ok, can this be used without a heddle loom? I have the one I made just wood rectangle and carefully spaced nails. This may be not worded right and kinda dumb question.

[@angelaknisely-marpole2203]

Many thanks - excellent idea and video

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you Angela :)

[@marianparr5030]

Pardon my confusion, when reading a pattern which calls for pick up stick ? Double heddle? Can these tied heddle be substituted?

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi Marian, Pick up refers to picking up warp threads with a pick up stick. When you need to use more than one pick up stick for a more complex pattern, you can substitute with the heddle rod for easier and faster weaving. And yes, you can also use double heddles if you prefer.

[@juliebenson3990]

I'm not seeing why it couldn't...I have a long dowel over under, could I just add another under over with the ties? this may be way far off.

[@KellyCasanova]

You can certainly insert sticks that you can turn on edge to lift certain threads, my only concern with a heddle rod on a simple frame loom is that when you lift the rod, wouldn't the warp threads pop off the nails?

[@juliebenson3990]

I've certainly been putting them to the test! The warp threads are going nowhere!!! Very secure, I dont think I could pull one off with my figures, maybe not even a tool, i dont think, ah scissors might do it! ha ha I think I've done well with the loom.

[@alicston]

Hi Kelly, what is the make of your rigid heddle loom in this video? How wide is it?

[@KellyCasanova]

It's a 24 inch Ashford rigid heddle loom. I'm very happy with it, I've had it many years with no problems :)

[@marie-andreemaltais8435]

Hi Kelly, I am a new weaver on rigid heddle loom and I don't like the way my edges look. Any suggestions??? Thank you

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi Marie, This is certainly a challenge for every new weaver. Perhaps this video will help? kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXmueWp-rKl4kKs

[@carolharrington7042]

What size heddle and thread are you using? How many threads do you have in each slot/hole? Thanks Carol

[@KellyCasanova]

7.5 dent heddle, 8ply (worsted) yarn. 1 thread in each slot, 1 in each hole :)

[@nuvoclassic]

thanks for info on how to heddle rod.

[@KellyCasanova]

You're welcome!

[@SuddenUpdraft]

Great! I thought it would be more difficult.

[@louisedemontigny5110]

I am brand new to weaving so I have many questions. I have watched several of your videos and I very much appreciate your skill and sharing your information. As I understand this, a heddle rod can replace a pickup stick that replaces a rigid heddle. Is this substituting the double heddle in most applications? I have a 24" Ashford with only the single heddle at present. Does this technique mean that I can get to more complex weaving without a lot more expense? I'm also wondering where one gets patterns. I don't live anywhere near a bookstore so can't shop in person. I'm most interested in scarves and rugs at this time. Thank you for any clarification and information. Happy New Year from eastern Montana!

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi Louise, You are correct in your assumptions, a heddle rod can replace a pick up stick and allows you to weave more than the usual 2 shafts on your RHL. If this concept interests you, I highly recommend my class "Converting Pattern Drafts to a RHL", it teaches you how to weave up to 4 shafts using heddle rods and pick up sticks. Just to clarify, what kind of patterns are you looking for?

[@KellyCasanova]

kelly-casanova-weaving-lessons.teachable.com/p/converting-pattern-drafts-to-the-rigid-heddle-loom/?preview=logged_out

[@louisedemontigny5110]

@@KellyCasanova ahh, some lights are coming on! Thanks for explaining and I will indeed do some courses and pattern purchases from you as I gain some more familiarity with weaving. This is wonderful!

[@KellyCasanova]

@@louisedemontigny5110 It certainly is wonderful - so much to learn and so many possibilities!

[@louisedemontigny5110]

@@KellyCasanova 💖

[@63solmar]

me encantaria que se pudieran leer las indicaciones. porque solo tengo que ver lo que vas haciendo

[@KellyCasanova]

Lo siento, no puedo traducir las instrucciones para usted!

[@tammybrown8899]

How would you use string heddle to double weave?

[@KellyCasanova]

I wouldn't attempt it. You already need 2 heddles and 2 pick up sticks to weave double width, so heddle rods would not be practical.

[@AuntieEm294]

Awesome!

[@juliebenson3990]

i\I'm sorry all other videos of yours were not letting me send you a message, finally this one would. It's about the heddle rod. That video would nt let me. So this is probably confusing you.

[@juliebenson3990]

it was the video on clasped weaving, if that helps. My goodness...I'm feeling a touch stupid.

[@thatbearlife]

Thank you!

[@KellyCasanova]

+bearnakedlady You're welcome :)

[@helenreidt3315]

I love your tutorials, they are easy to understand and informative, thank you ☺ ..but could you please turn the volume up..even with my technology at full you keep fading out...I think maybe when you turn your head ??

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks for the feedback Helen, I am currently looking for the best option to update my microphone and sound recording system, as others have had trouble hearing at times too.

[@pennywheeler4253]

Great, thank you

[@pennywheeler4253]

Great, thank you

[@pennywheeler4253]

Great, thank you