Finger/inkle weaving

[BillinOregon]

Sure like the finger-woven and inkle-loomed straps for horns and bags. Thinking about trying to learn it. Anyone else weave their own straps? Any suggestions on books or other advice? I hear cotton is easiest to start with but linen, hemp or wool would probably be a lot more durable, I'm thinking.

 

[Rebel]

Check your PM's

 

[Jack Walker]

I have done both ways of weaving you mentioned. I like inkle looms, they are easy to use and saves time on the project. I learned from a friend, but there are several books under inkle loom in the search engine.

 

[No Powder]

My wife does Inkle Loom weaving and she recommends the book "Inkle Weaving" by Helene Bress. Of course her being left handed when I built her loom I had to make it bassackwords. Good luck
That's funny bassackwords didn't come up in the spell check :youcrazy:

 

[2172]

Started doing Inkle weaving about 2 years ago..kids bought me a loom at local "treehugger" shop..it came with a 4 page instruction sheet...enough info to get started. I used wool to begin with, and had trouble with it stretching so I didn't maintain a good "beat" (the instructions will explain that term) and its 'fuzzyness" made it hang up on other threads...cotton works well for me...there are cotton crocheting yarns in most craft shops...I have done maybe 10 horn or bag straps...not one has come out without some errors, but they are getting fewer....Hank

 

[BillinOregon]

Hank: Thanks for the post. I had heard that wool and hemp are tough to work with, especially at first, and that cotton and silk are much smoother and easier. I wonder if there is a period correct way to treat the cotton so it will last longer and still look good.

 

[2172]

Bill, don't know of any "pc" treatments, but the crocheting cotton is pretty sturdy...doesn't stretch as wool seems to...if I were you, I'd just try it to get the feel of weaving, and the stuff that's available. I've been working up a technique for finishing up the ends of the strap to go around a horn....I separate the ends into two bunches, "whip" close to the separation point, and then again below the horn, forming a hole for the piece (horn or but plug) to stick through, and leaving a kind of tassel below..it looks pretty nifty...I've only done it on a couple of presentation horns..I suspect it isn't very durable for real day-to-day in the woods use...Hank

 

[weeping wolf]

Theres a booklet out there called "Fingerweaving" and it's written by Alta Turner. It's been around for a number of years. It offers a number of patterns and techniques with easy to follow diagrams. It should be available from any of the native American craft houses,i.e. Crazy Crow, etc.
I've tried the chevron pattern using wool, and I was quite pleased with the end result. Cotton also works well. Never used linen though. Here's wishing you good luck toward a fun-filled project! :m2c: