The weaving technique clasped weft is simple with dramatic effects. Two weft yarn colors interlock and double back on themselves in each pick, lending a tapestry-like appearance to the weave. Generally, clasped weft is woven in plain weave, but for this project, we tried 1/3 twill for a more textural look. I paired the clasped […]
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Interview With Author Deb Brandon
Later this month, the new book “Threads Around the World:From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe” will be available for purchase. This book explores different textile techniques and traditions from amazing communities around the globe. We wanted to get an inside scoop on the book directly from the author Deb Brandon. Schacht: Tell us a […]
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Join Us in Celebrating 50 Years!
Fifty years ago, Barry Schacht made a drop spindle and inadvertently started a lifelong journey. Over the years, the company he created along with his brother Dan has become a leader in the world of weaving and spinning. Schacht’s success corresponds to the resurgence of handweaving and handspinning: as these crafts grew, so did we. […]
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Surprise Elf
When I think about winter and the Christmas season, I can’t help but feel a sense of joy and wonder. The possibilities of transformation, ancient magic, and folklore fill my head with delight. This is why I designed the Surprise Sugar Plum Fairy, and then a couple of years later I made the Surprise Snowman. This […]
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Silurian Scarf – Stephanie Flynn Sokolov
This yarn is deceptively soft. With stealth on its side, this spun tweed yarn has the appearance of some of its more rustic counterparts, but the 70% Merino/30% Cashmere blend makes this one of the softest tweeds ever! Vertical stripes are pleasing to wear and easy to weave. A very simple pick-up pattern adds surface […]
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Honeycomb Fabric on the Flip Loom
This is the perfect project to practice your pick-up skills. While honeycomb is suited to many applications, this fabric is intended for a pillow. Toned down a bit by the weft, this design picks up just enough of the sparkle to show off the honeycomb weave structure. Overview of Weave: This pillow is woven in […]
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Fence Post Scarf – Blue Sky Fibers Collaboration
We love working with Blue Sky Fibers, so when they debuted their new Eco-Cashmere and Woolstok Jumbo, we knew we had to weave with it. I came up with this fun, textured scarf that combines two very different sizes of yarn. Our variable dent reed made it all possible Equipment: 10″ Cricket Loom Weave […]
Read MoreThree Ply Fractal Spinning
After my last post on spinning fractal yarn, I wasn’t quite happy with the idea. The premise of the technique is sound, but it isn’t truly a fractal in the mathematical or scientific sense of the word. A fractal is a pattern that is self-similar, and repeats itself in different scales. Image from a thermodynamics […]
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A Little Wound-up
Dear Tabby, I’m a new spinner and I am getting extremely frustrated when I sit down to spin!! My yarn is all squiggly and is getting kinked up. What is happening?!? Help! – Wound-up Wanda Hi Wanda, This a common problem for new and experienced spinners alike! The cause of this problem is that […]
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Fall Project Roundup
After a few weeks of record heat in September, October has brought with it a real bout of fall weather. We are loving the cooler temps where we can bundle up in our woolen goods and spend cozy evenings inside making things. To celebrate this changing of the seasons, here are a few of our […]
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Easy Ombre Scarf – Voolenvine Yarns Collaboration
When we decided to bring back yarn company collaborations for 2018, I immediately put Voolenvine Yarns on my list. Three years ago, I worked with her yarns in the Density Plaid Wrap. I loved the doubled threads that created the crammed/spaced plaid effect, however the speckled nature of the yarn didn’t highlight this difference in […]
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Harlequin Zoom Loom Bag
Bags are always fun to make and this one is just right for fall. Take your Zoom Loom with you and before you know it, you’ll have 13 squares woven and ready to assemble. Because you want your bag to be a dense fabric, be sure to use a wool yarn that will full (not […]
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Warp and Weft Calculator
To print the page, use “command + p” or “Ctrl + p” Printable worksheet PDF
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Houndstooth Lap Blanket
We love color and weave and this project for a lightweight blanket is a good place to start trying out 8-shaft weaving. We used the characteristic, dark, light threading, but changed the dark colors as we threaded across the warp (see warp color order chart). Weaving tip: Weave the pattern to square and maintain a […]
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Zoom Loom Summer Sachet
I can’t think of a better summer project than a handspun, handwoven, and handstitched lavender sachet. All of the pieces are small and portable; you don’t need much yarn, and the finished product is one of those can’t-quit-squishing-it projects. I spun my yarn, some on my Sidekick and some on a spindle, while I traveled. […]
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5 Fun and Easy Stash-busting Projects
Whether you’re a yarn-store owner with slow-moving stock, a yarn addict, or just someone who wants to bust their stash; we’ve got 5 easy projects that will knock that pile of yarn down. Zoom Loom Holiday Flower Lights This project was first introduced as a way to dress up holiday lights. EJ, one of our […]
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Yarn Swatching 3 Ways
What will this yarn look like when I weave with it? As a weaving instructor, I get this question every time I teach. While it is a great question, it’s one that’s hard to answer because each yarn is so different. A few years ago, we did a yarn study with the Zoom Loom, but […]
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Fringed Woven Rope Vest
“Creative, innovative, exciting, and new, all come together in this wonderful woven rope vest from designer Benjamin Collyn Krudwig and Schacht Spindle Company.” – Barry Klein of Trendsetter Yarns. These were the words uttered during the Summer TNNA (The National Needle Arts) fashion show in Cleveland as the Fringed Woven Rope Vest adorned the runway […]
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See us at TNNA this Summer!
TNNA (The National Needlearts Associatoin) Summer Show is right around the corner, and we’ve been working around the clock to prepare for our trip to Cleveland. This year we wanted to tie the whole fiber industry together, combining yarn and fiber companies in one interactive installation. This idea led to the creating of the Grande […]
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Summer Project Round Up – Kids Edition
June is right around the corner, and for many folks that means school is out, and the kids are home. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite projects that you can do with the young ones in your life! Make a Jump Rope In this project, we upcycled fabric strips and used the Incredible Rope […]
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6 Reasons Why Storage Bobbins Make My Yarn Better
Storage bobbins make my yarn better. I’ve been using storage bobbins and a bobbin winder for years, but only recently realized how indispensable they have become to my spinning. Having storage bobbins and a bobbin winder makes it so easy to rewind my bobbins. I used to tell spinners that they would get around to […]
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It Was a Vest at Times, It was a Wrap at Times – Hedgehog Fibers Collaboration
When I approached Hedgehog Fibres with the idea of a collaboration, I knew that whatever we did, it would be bold. Given her bright and saturated colors, there was no chance that this project would be boring. I chose a bright variegated colorway “Raku” and counterbalanced it with a more tonal yarn called “Poison.” While […]
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The Shape of Bay Shawl – Bristol Ivy Guest Post
A few weeks ago we posted our project, The Rain in Spain Cowl, as part of this triple collaboration between Bristol Ivy, Cashmere People Yarn, and us. We love Bristol Ivy’s use of this stunning yarn. Read all the way through for a special surprise from Bristol! Sometimes designing is an exercise in letting go. We […]
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NEW Easel Weaver
Little Looms are still gaining in popularity, and the number of projects, publications, and Pinterest boards seem to multiply exponentially. While we have been a leader in the small loom market, we knew that there was room to for another loom. Meet the Easel Weaver, the new I-loom from Schacht Spindle Company! This versatile I-loom […]
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The Rain in Spain Convertible Cowl
This project is part of a special collaboration between Casey Ryder from Portfiber, distributor of Cashmere People Cashgora yarns, Bristol Ivy, knitwear designer extraordinaire, and us! This seemed like a match made in heaven: individual threads and stories from around the world coming together in one piece. Boulder, CO, our Schacht headquarters, is the “sister […]
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Spring Wall Hanging – 3-Dimensional Weaving
Spring is just weeks away, and as the flowers are starting to pop out of the ground, we’re sharing a project that pops off of the wall! Heather, our sales and marketing director, approached me with an idea; to use pom poms in a weaving and create a spring-inspired wall hanging. As is often the […]
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Surprise Pick-up Pillow – Pillow Month
Our final installation of Pillow Month comes from Judy Pagels. You may know her as a vital member of our sales team and if you’re a retailer, you’ve certainly spoken to her on the phone or at TNNA. Judy is known for her love of texture and color, and while she’s an experienced weaver, her […]
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Clasped Weft Pillow – Pillow Month
Our second contribution to our pillow month series comes from Heather, our Sales and Marketing Director. A relatively new weaver, Heather chose to weave her project on our 15” Cricket Loom and challenge herself with a new technique, clasped weft. She also wanted to try out weaving with a boat shuttle and used the Schacht […]
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Fabric Scrap Pillow – Pillow Month
February is here, and with the frigid weather, many of us are experiencing a bit of cabin fever. We felt that by adding some new handwoven pillows into our homes, we would infuse some warmth and joy in our lives. This month, four of us here in the office will be exploring our interpretations of […]
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Weaving Rugs
We regularly receive questions regarding weaving rugs on Baby and Mighty Wolf looms. It can be done, but if rug weaving is the majority of your weaving, you may be happier in the long run with a heavier loom. The Standard Floor Loom and the Cranbrook Loom are both good choices for rug weaving. The […]
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