Four Selvage Warping

After admiring the work of Sarah C Swett and her A Field Guide to Needlework blog I was drawn to her post on four selvedge warping. Perfect as I don’t like tying those warp threads especially on small weaves and this seemed like a wonderful answer.

Working with only a cardboard loom it was a little difficult to replicate her system but I was so a anxious to try it. Below is my first attempt. I didn’t realize I was to weave with two warp threads and the twine was also very stiff. I liked the twine but wanted to try again with yarn.

My second attempt I held two pencils across the loom with rubber bands. It worked ok. I should have gone with something thinner then the pencil.

One end of the warp is secured at the bottom of the cardboard then up and around then pencils and securing the end at top of cardboard. A gentle wrapping, not too much tension, has to be done as the pencils will move.

Then you add your additional warp from the bottom through the loop around the pencil and back down. Same for the top.

Next was for me this was the hardest part. Removing the the pencils and keeping same amount of tension on each loop and keeping those loops even. A more solid loom would help.

Weave in and out of each warp for the first row then every two.

I’m not quite sure about the outer warps I wrapped them in when it seemed appropriate?

My inexperience and being so excited about the finished warping I didn’t think of the yarn colors. Fortunately it works out here as you can clearly see the looping ends.

Not the best directions but more as a way to show you to go ahead and experiment with supplies you have. You may be quite pleased with your creations.