|
|
Swedish Weave
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hints and Tips
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
Help for Swedish Weavers!
-
| | | |
Tips from Barbara
1 - Always pre-shrink monk's cloth in hot water and a hot dryer.
2 - Pull a thread to mark cutting lines. Use this to make sure the
fabric is even and when cutting the monk's cloth into smaller pieces ie;
place mats, pillow tops, wall hangings, etc.
3 - There are four threads to a float, you only want to pick up two
threads when making the 1/2 stitch. Place the bodkin under the entire
float and pull it back until the float separates.
4 - Experiment! Make your own patterns.
5 - When I make block letters I start at the bottom and work upward
turning the cloth side-ways. Starting with yarn on the inside of the
letter,(leave about 5" of yarn as a tail. You will later weave this
back into your work so no ends will show.). Pick up 3 floats, up one
row, turn cloth and pick up 2 floats, up one row turn cloth pick up 3
floats and continue to height desired. When making the top of the
letter pick up enough floats to balance the sides. Turn cloth and pick
up the next row of floats back to the first side. Turn and pick floats
to second side, down one row pick up 2 floats to second side, down one
row pick up 2 floats turn, down one row pick up 3 floats turn. See
example. When the letter is completed, weave your yarn
back into your work so there are no ends or knots.
6 - I have found it easier to finish my yarn work before making the
fringed ends.
7 - Use the threads you remove when making fringe to whip-stitch the
side hems. These threads also make great "hair" dolls or stuffing for
animals.
8 - It is much easier to "needle your yarn" then to try and thread the
needle. Pull the yarn tightly over your bodkin, (or yarn needle), slip
the bodkin out and push the eye onto the yarn and pull it through. This
is demonstrated in the video.
9 - When I am making a large afghan I fold the monk's cloth into an
accordian ie; over, under, over, under, to where I am working. This
allows me to quickly lift it off my lap and lay it across a chair when
I'm called away.
10 - I always like to make a border at the ends of my afghan before the
fringe line. It helps to hide the zig-zag line of the machine. When
away from modern conveniences I have used the borders to keep the fringe
from pulling out my work and stopping the fringe but you must lock the
yarn to the cloth by sewing it sideways not across. ie: turn cloth, (this
will take alot of yarn.), down 3 floats, up two floats, down 3 floats, up
two, etc., to other side.
11 - My hints for finding the middle of your fabric is a simple straight line stitched completely acrossed the Monk's cloth and the floats counted, then mark the center with pin or yarn[exact center can be found by stitching a line the length of cloth and
count]. When finished, this first line is pulled out or left for your first row. I always use the yarn I pull to make fringe as the thread to whip stitch the hems of my afghans. I do make up my own patterns as well as follow instructions from the printed patterns. When working from a pattern the first time I couldn't get the count right until it dawned on me I was
counting the yarn not the floats in the pictures[the blank spaces are the floats]duh!!
| | | |
|
|
|
|
