Choosing and using yarns in weaving, part 1

[@gblan]

I've been a knitter for many years now and decided to try weaving. I bought a 16" Kromski Presto with it's 4 heedles. I give little thought to the yarns I'm using. I just go with what I feel will look best. So far so good.

[@karenbochinski]

This is a very helpful video. I wished I saw it before I saw this video. I am a testimony of the wrong used yarns for warp

[@KellyCasanova]

We live and learn! 😄

[@canadianmusician99]

I just started weaving a couple of months ago and your videos are so so helpful!

[@KellyCasanova]

Glad to hear it, thank you!

[@jeramietolbert6699]

I LOVE your shawl you are wearing and would love to learn more about it!

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you! The class is available here- kelly-casanova-weaving-lessons.teachable.com/p/clasped-warp-quechquemitl/?preview=logged_out

[@janemorrow6672]

Oh yes I have a silk/merino scarf that did exactly the same. It’s so lovely and soft and such a mess.

[@oldschooljack3479]

Thank you so much for this information. I just started weaving within the last week and this video is a Godsend... Clear concise information on what material to use for warp is hard to come by. I found it interesting that the first sample you put through the snap test was worsted wool... All of the other sources I studied cautioned beginners to avoid wool as it tends to felt... But that is the main material I had in mind for my projects. I can only assume I should be looking for a smooth strong worsted wool for making straps? Again, thank you for this video.

[@KellyCasanova]

The wool I had there was a superwash (did I neglect to mention that?) so it won't felt. If you use non superwash it won't felt unless subjected to soao, friction and heat. You just have to be a bit more careful with it 😊

[@oldschooljack3479]

Thank you... Again!

[@sarahdouglas751]

1

[@suewarren7738]

Thank you so much. ❤

[@KellyCasanova]

You're welcome 😊

[@Abbasblesseddaughter]

Thank you, Kelly! It was a great video!

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks so much! ❤

[@reelynn77]

If you wanted to make a blanket, would you want a stiffer or more drapey fabric?

[@KellyCasanova]

That could be a personal preference. I like a kind of drapey blanket, others might prefer something a bit more dense. It depends on the intended user too, for example, you want a baby blanket to be soft and drapey.

[@rajmohan640]

Dark red shawl was superb

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you!

[@greygiraffe1403]

Do you have a tutorial for the red scarf? I’d love to attempt one like it.

[@KellyCasanova]

It's my Garden Path Scarf pattern, just made wider and longer. The pattern is available here- www.etsy.com/listing/583215157/the-garden-path-scarf-pdf-pattern-for?ref=hp_opfy-1&bes=1

[@kathosim501]

But if you wove the cotton like that for something like a bag, it would be perfect, so I would think that purpose is key?

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, purpose is a very important factor 😊

[@pollyweinmann5082]

I have a drop spindle but have no clue how to use it.

[@KellyCasanova]

I never really got the hang of using a drop spindle either.

[@wildyarns1894]

Very valuable, Kelly, thank you.

[@KellyCasanova]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@reelynn77]

Can you use wool with alpaca, will that cause problems like your alpaca and silk thing you were talking about?

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, you can - I think my problem was more the silk.

[@wamburu]

Hi which country are you for I would like to come

[@AllIsWellaus]

Loved the video. I was wondering when you were going to mention Mohair. :)

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks for watching! Yes, look out for that mohair 😆

[@marjonnejonie]

Hi i am new at weaving and bought an ashford ridig heddle loom but can i use a shuttle with spoel on it? sorry for the language, my english is not the best, greetings from the Netherlands

[@KellyCasanova]

I think you mean a boat shuttle? Yes, you can, but they are more ideal when you're using a thinner thread for weft.

[@marjonnejonie]

@@KellyCasanova thank you so much for the answer, i love the video

[@avrilp317]

Kelly, your videos are wonderful, thank you so much. Is there a way of knowing which wool would be suitable for warp without the snap test as you can’t do this in a shop or online. I recently bought some Shetland wool thinking it would be good for both warp and weft but it failed the snap test. I am wary of buying more yarn to go with it without knowing if it would be suitable for warp. Is it trial and error? Any help would be really appreciated.

[@KellyCasanova]

Just a note on the snap test - it's not an absolute. There are yarns that will fail the snap test and still be ok for warp, providing you tension it evenly and well. How tightly spun the wool is will impact on it's strength. If it's lightly spun, very lofty and tends to drift apart or be very fluffy, it's probably not going to be suitable for warping. Also if it's a single (not plied) it will not generally be good for warp, fine for weft though.

[@avrilp317]

Thank you Kelly.

[@kathymikulin9006]

Hi I'm new to heddle weaving and my projects worp always shrink when I'm weaving so I might start off with a 12" wide and it comes in a inch or two ,I do the pinch method on the side and the arch center with the weth. Help Tks.

[@KellyCasanova]

It is normal to have draw in, that is why you add in shrinkage rates when calculating the figures for the project. As long as it's not excessive draw in, it's fine. You want to try to keep the level of draw in consistent throughout the project in order to maintain straight edges.

[@wendyw9712]

Hi Kelly, I found this so interesting and I would love a tutorial on dyeing yarn or fibre. 💗💗💗

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks Wendy 😊

[@cmaur811]

Check out Nicole Frost for dye

[@pollyweinmann5082]

Can you mix different types of yarns in a single project?

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, you can, but it is best to sample first if you can, then you can be guaranteed of the results.

[@gaibutler3254]

Great information, many thanks!

[@KellyCasanova]

My pleasure!

[@myownlittlehouse471]

Hi - just found your channel. Thank you for the helpful videos. What do you mean by "knitting wool"? (I'm in the U.S.) I'm not familiar with that term, and am confused -- all yarn (wool? do you mean sheep's wool, or just yarn?) is good for knitting.

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi there, When I refer to knitting yarn, I mean any yarn that is typically sold as such. Usually in a ball or skein, usually a bit thicker. As compared to yarn sold specifically for weaving, which usually comes on a cone and is often thinner. A lot of the time weaving yarn will only be sold in weaving supplies stores whereas knitting yarn is pretty easy to come by.

[@quix66hiya22]

@@KellyCasanova hi Kelly. Same here. Does wool = yarn in Australia used to refer to any fiber? In the US, wool means sheep’s (or maybe some other animals too) wool solely, and yarn encompasses all the varieties of fibers.

[@KellyCasanova]

@@quix66hiya22 Yes, I guess you could say "yarn" is a generic term here.

[@quix66hiya22]

@@KellyCasanova great! Same thing here. Thanks for answering.

[@sylargray7338]

I was gifted a tabletop schacht 4 shaft loom, it came with a half finished project already on it because its previous owner died before she could finish. I thought I would try and finish it and get in some practice(I have never loomed before in my life), what I didnt know was that the yarn was what you would call a sticky yarn, I worked on it for hours just trying to figure out the pattern(it didnt come with one) without much headway. needless to say I lost my mind and quit in disgust. Very off-putting. The loom has sat in a corning in my bedroom daring me to try again for about three months. I finally pulled up the courage to try again, but I decided to start a new project, with simple acrilic knitting yarn(because I knit and thats just what I have at hand). I was looking for information on how to tie off a loomed project so that the previous one would not be damaged when I found you. Thank you!!!!!!

[@KellyCasanova]

It can be great when your "new to you" loom comes warped, but it certainly does help if the former owner can tell you about it and show you what to do. I'm glad you're trying again!

[@dafenix7255]

THANK YOU!!

[@KellyCasanova]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@denises9455]

❤️