Linked weft colour blocks
Weave a beautiful and interesting table runner using colour blocks and the linked weft technique. Your non-weaving friends will admire it, but your fibre friends will study it a little closer to try to work out how you wove it!
You can choose to weave your blocks as perfectly balanced, straight blocks, or you can weave completely random shapes. Have some fun with this technique.
Happy weaving!
Kate
You Will Need
Loom: Rigid Heddle loom 40cm (16”) or wider
Reed: 7.5dpi (30/10)
Warp yarn: Ashford Caterpillar Cotton 1 cone of White and 1 cone of Black.
Weft yarn: Assorted colours of Ashford Caterpillar Cotton
Warp length: As desired.
Warping
Using the direct warping method (see our tutorials here), warp half the width of the reed (to the dot that marks the centre) in white, then the other half in black. You will warp through both the eyes and the slots. The warp threads are doubled, so take a loop through each eye and each slot. Once you wind on the warp you will not need to thread the eyes, you can move straight to leashing on.
Weaving
To begin, have the black shuttle on the side that is warped in black and the white shuttle on the side that is warped in white.
You will create a link on each pick. To weave the black and white section, take the white shuttle through the shed, go around the black thread, and return through the same shed. Gently pull on the white thread to position the black thread correctly.
To create the striking contrast of the solid white fabric and the solid black fabric, hide the link in the centre of the warp.
Weave as many picks as you prefer in black and white, then add a block of colour.
When your block of colour covers all the black and extends into the white section, place the coloured yarn on the black side and use the white shuttle to come through, go around it, and pull it over to the white side.
When your block of colour covers all the white and extends into the black section, place the coloured yarn on the white side and use the black shuttle to come through, go around it, and pull it over to the black side.
Keep the tension relaxed so your edges do not draw in and your links do not look stretched.
Finishing
Remove from loom. Use a fringe twister to twist the ends.
Machine wash, dry flat or tumble dry, and press with a hot iron.
Enjoy your new table runner.
Hint – If you are going to use this technique for a scarf, you can use single threads for the warp and beat the weft very gently so your scarf is light and drapey.
The Black and White with the Monochrome Caterpillar cotton makes for a very modern and elegant look.
