Recently, my sister-in-law had an abscess in her brain, which is devastating and life threatening.
Her friends and family rallied around her and have formed a loving caregiving team.
I decided that as part of my caregiving, I would weave healing and prayer shawls for her and some of her closest friends.
So, I warped up the Cricket Loom from Schacht (I love this loom…. it’s beautifully engineered and weaves like a dream. It’s small enough to be portable – you can weave in the car, and big enough to handle full size projects.)
Here’s the Cricket warped up for one of the healing / prayer shawls:
I put approximately 150 inches of warp onto the loom, which is pushing the limit, but there’s a reason for that.
I used Caron Simply Soft combined with some tweed weaving thread from my stash for the warp, and the tweed thread for the weft.
I used 2 strands of yarn in each of the slots and holes. I put the tweed yarn only in the holes and the mixture of yarns in the slots.
After I wove the long strip of fabric, I folded it, and stitched the ends together like this:
This forms a long loop. Trim the excess warp strands to a few inches. If you use a sewing machine, use a zig zag stitch. If you do it by hand, work a Philipine edge first to secure the warp strands
Now, fold the ends into points:
Pin the folds in place, and sew the center seam. Stitch the ends in place, and steam and press.
Voila! a beautiful healing or prayer shawl:
Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Tags: hand weaving, handwoven, healing shawl, prayer shawl, rigid heddle weaving, Schacht Cricket Loom, small loom weaving
November 13, 2008 at 2:16 am |
I’m so sorry to hear about your sister-in-law, that’s just awful.
How do I subscribe to this new blog?
thanks
Robin
November 13, 2008 at 2:47 am |
Hi Robin
Thank you so much. We are so happy that she is recovering. We feel blessed!
Yikes! I don’t know how the subscribe function works on WordPress! I tried clicking on the blog info button on the upper right hand corner, and it says subscribe to blog, but it took me off to an odd looking page.
I’ll ask a friend who knows more about wordpress and get back to you, ok?
And if anyone knows how to do it, could they please help us out? Thanks!
November 13, 2008 at 7:25 am |
I have a friend Hermi who loves her cricket loom too. I have an Ashford knitter’s loom and a Schacht flip, both of which I like to weave scarves/shawls on. I’ve used SWTC bamboo as warp, and a synthic mohair as weft for one and a S. Charles Venus as both warp & weft. That one turned out really slinky and rich looking. I’ve really enjoyed combining some off beat warp and weft knitting yarns for projects. I also like using crochet cotton #3 & 5 as warp and sometimes as both warp and weft. There is abit of shrinkage, but it doesn’t really affect the end result. I find I use my rigid heddle looms more than my bigger ones as they are so quick and easy to warp. LV weaver (Barbara) http://fiberinvestments.blogspot.com
November 15, 2008 at 5:48 am |
Hi Barbara
)
The Cricket is a lovely little loom and I am really smitten with it.
I have also parted company with all my large looms, and am a totally committed small loom weaver. The looms are small, but the projects don’t need to be!
November 19, 2008 at 5:10 am |
[...] Last week, I wrote about weaving healing and prayer shawls on my Cricket Loom, using a method that I have developed (the mitered loop shawl). Here’s the link to the tutorial [...]
November 20, 2008 at 10:29 pm |
I see that Tottie is pitching in to help you. How nice.
I pray your s-i-l has a full recovery. Scary indeed.
November 20, 2008 at 11:51 pm |
[...] How to weave a prayer or healing shawl on a narrow loom Noreen’s been weaving prayer and healing shawls on the Cricket rigid heddle loom, using a nifty technique that she has developed – a mitered loop. [...]
November 21, 2008 at 5:43 am |
Hi Eileen
LOL ! Tottie is oh so helpful!
and thank you so much for your kind good wishes for my beloved SIL – she is recovering, and we are so thrilled!
November 21, 2008 at 12:36 pm |
[...] How to weave a prayer or healing shawl on a narrow loom Noreen’s been weaving prayer and healing shawls on the Cricket rigid heddle loom, using a nifty technique that she has developed – a mitered loop. [...]
November 22, 2008 at 8:27 am |
[...] How to weave a prayer or healing shawl on a narrow loom from Tottie Talks Crafts. [...]
November 22, 2008 at 5:57 pm |
[...] How to weave a prayer or healing shawl on a narrow loom Noreen’s been weaving prayer and healing shawls on the Cricket rigid heddle loom, using a nifty technique that she has developed – a mitered loop. [...]
November 24, 2008 at 7:10 am |
[...] Weaving a prayer shawl I’ve been weaving prayer and healing shawls on the Cricket rigid heddle loom, using a nifty technique that I developed – a mitered loop. http://tottietalkscrafts.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/weaving-a-healing-or-prayer-shawl-on-the-cricket-loom/ [...]
November 30, 2008 at 5:19 am |
That looks lovely. I do hope your sister in law recovers soon.
November 30, 2008 at 6:44 am |
Thank you so much, Peggy.
We are thrilled with her progress! She is recovering and that is such a joy!
December 1, 2008 at 5:40 am |
[...] Talks Crafts explains how to weave a prayer or healing shawl on a narrow loom and how to make a recycled journal using wood from a stage [...]
February 22, 2009 at 1:03 am |
So sorry to hear of this devastating illness. My prayers to your family. Beautiful work. How long did it take for each project and what is a Philipine edge? Thanks
February 22, 2009 at 3:51 am |
Thanks so much, Dealonnia. She’s doing beautifully now, thank heavens! It takes a couple of days to weave each piece.
The Philippine edge is a way of finishing edges by interlocking the warp ends.