How to weave a colour gamp scarf

Big or Small, Bold or Subtle this checked scarf is an ideal first project on a rigid heddle loom

Big or Small, Bold or Subtle this checked scarf is an ideal first project on a rigid heddle loom. It works well with 2 colours but you can also use 3, 4 or more for different effects. The key is achieving a “just right” beat (neither too hard or too soft) so that an equal number of warp threads and weft threads form a square – this is referred to as even-weave, plain weave or tabby weave.

What you'll need...

  • At least 2 x 100g balls of double knit (DK) yarn in different colours – contrast colours work well but this pattern also looks good using shades of the same colour.
  • I used a standard 7.5dpi reed
  • I was weaving on my 40cm Rigid Heddle Loom but you can use any sampleit loom, knitters loom, harp loom, presto or rigid heddle loom.

Warping...

You want a warp length of about 80ins. This pattern uses 80 ends (holes and slots) for a width of about 10 and half inches but you can easily make your scarf narrower or wider. Tie colour A onto the back warp stick and pass through the slot to a warping peg. Thread the first 8 slots (16 ends) with colour A. Tie colour B onto the back warp stick and repeat, threading the next 8 slots (16 ends). Repeat across the width alternating the two colours.

Threading...

Cut the loops at the peg end, wind on and move one of the two ends from the first slot to the adjacent hole. Continue moving one thread from slot to hole across the width.

Weaving...

Weave 16 picks with colour A. Where the colour A weft crosses the colour A warp you should see a square. If you need to add more picks to make it square, do so but next time try beating a little more gently. If your square is too tall, try beating a little firmer. Weave 16 picks with colour B. Continue in this way following the same sequence as you did in the warp. You should start to see squares of solid colour A, squares of solid colour B and squares where there are equal amounts of both colours. If you want to hem stitch, do this before you wind the work on for the first time as it is much easier to do this on the loom with the work under some tension. Don't forget to do it at the other end before you remove the work from the loom!

Finishing...

Wash in warm soapy water and rinse . Lie flat until almost dry and then press with a steam iron. Tidy up the fringe if necessary (you could use a fringe twister for a professional look) and wear or gift with pride!

Variations:

The width of each colour block will determine the size of your squares or checks so for smaller squares change colour every 12 warp ends or less; for larger bolder checks, warp 20 or more ends before changing colour. Try using more than 2 colours in both warp and weft and use a mirror sequence – ABCBA – across the warp. Weave in the same sequence as you used in the warp. Mix squares and rectangles for a bold colour block effect – double the number of weft picks for a tall rectangle; double the number of warp threads for a wide one.