Four Hands Scarf
Designed and woven by Stephanie Flynn Sokolov
The unique opportunity to direct peg warp on a rigid heddle loom gives us the chance to weave with a clasped warp. Many weavers have created beautiful patterns with clasped warps and experienced the joy of a very organic way of warping. The pattern develops as you weave. The creativity factor of the Four Hands Scarf mainly happens at the beginning during warping, when you’ll find yourself wishing you had a second pair of hands, hence the name. Another name I considered was the Friends Scarf because it, like many IKEA instructions, begins with two people with happy faces working together. No matter the name, the warping process is best experienced with an extra set of willing hands.
Hopefully you will find a friend and try weaving this scarf. It would make a most excellent gift for the second set of hands. Happy weaving.
Project Specs
Finished size: 78" x 9" including 8" of fringe on each end
Weave structure: plain weave
Total warp ends: 160
Warp length: 97"
Width in reed: 10"
EPI: 16
PPI: 8
What You'll Need
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Warp yarn: 1 skein Berocco Medina (100 g/295 yards) in 4763 Algiers, and 1 skein Berocco Medina (100 g/295 yards) in 4780 Timgad.
Weft yarn: 1 skein Berocco Ultra Wool DK (100 g/292 yards) in 83140 Driftwood
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rigid heddle loom with at least a 10" weaving width
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8 dent rigid heddle
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stick shuttle
Materials
Equipment
Directions
Warping
Note: This warp does balance both of the warp colors fairly equally. Because you will use almost all of both warp skeins, it is best to plan out how you choose to balance the colors. This is done by warping equal areas of both colors.
Set up your loom for direct peg warping a length of 97".
Tie on the Algiers to the rear apron bar, and tie the Timgad to the warping peg. Pull the Algiers through the first slot of the rigid heddle. Instead of placing this loop around the warping peg, loop the Timgad through the loop of Algiers and walk back to the warping peg with the Timgad. Before using the Timgad again, be sure that it is wrapped around the warping peg.
Set down the Timgad and move back to the rear apron bar. Go around the apron bar with the Algiers and pull it through the next hole in the rigid heddle. (Note: this differs from traditional direct peg warping. You will warp through the slots and holes at one time.)
- Bring the Algiers forward and loop the Timgad through the loop you would usually bring to the warping peg.
- Thread the full width of the rigid heddle, filling both slots and holes. Place the clasps along the warp using the balanced pattern you decided to follow (Figures 1 and 2).
- Tie the end of the Algiers to the rear apron bar and tie the Timgad to the warping peg.
- Lift the Timgad threads from the warping peg and cut. Tie an overhand knot at the end to secure.
- Begin winding on to the warp beam. Use separating paper and hand manipulation to wind on with even tension.
- Stop winding when the Timgad ends come over the front beam. Tie the threads on to the front apron bar, being sure to bring the apron bar over the front beam before tying on.
Weaving
Wind the stick shuttle with header yarn and weave a header allowing for 8" of fringe.
Leaving a tail 4 to 5 times the width of the warp for hemstitching, weave 4 picks with the Ultra Wool. Hemstitch in bundles of 2 wefts and 4 warps using the long tail.
- Weave 66" in plain weave.
- End the weaving with the weft on the right hand side and hemstitch in bundles of 2 wefts and 4 warps, like the beginning.
- Remove the scarf from the loom, leaving at least 8" of warp on each end for the fringe.
Finishing
Hand wash in hot water with mild soap. Allow to air dry, then steam with a very warm iron.
Cut fringe to 8".
