Did some finger weaving today

I have a problem/question!!!! According to Candace Crockett and written in her book Card Weaving ISBN 0-934026-61-0 PAGE 20,, Card Weaving Today, second sentence,Card Weaving was introduced to the United States by Mary Meigs Atwater in the 1920'S. However it was not until the 1960 Card Weaving did it gain National Recognition. When I read that there is a time frame for some event I have to wonder about P/C,H/C/ and the like. I Inkle and have tried Card and working on Tape Weaving,,Need help,

jrmflintlock said:

Thank you Grenadier! That's what I wanted to know!! Since I no longer have the Inkle Loom I will make a Tape loom.

And Also get back into Finger weaving, since that is what this post was about! Thanks again for the video!!

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All types of weaving have one common factor that will determine the quality of the item.....tension. If consistent tension is not used it will show in the work....that can be a problem with a project like a large sash that takes a year to weave. I find when weaving a time consuming project that at minimum I need to "get my fingers into the work" at least weekly or I start to lose my set tension.
As to fingerweaving, another area that will greatly improve the quality of the product is to use fine materials. This sash was woven using 2 ply wool yarn that is small enough that 8/0 white beads are strung on the yarn and pushed into place to create the design, a common feature of 18th century Woodland woven art.....In the case of this sash, Southeastern.

For those who have done finger weaving as well as on a loom with wool, how do you keep the stands from sticking out feeling together as they are moved back and forth? I started a sash a year or two ago and ran into that problem and ended up undoing the 6in I did do because it tangled so bad. Restarted on a inkle loom then moved it to a backstrap loom to finish. It's very uneven which I will have to work on on later projects as well as using hemp. Thanks for the info

running horse said:

For those who have done finger weaving as well as on a loom with wool, how do you keep the stands from sticking out feeling together as they are moved back and forth? I started a sash a year or two ago and ran into that problem and ended up undoing the 6in I did do because it tangled so bad. Restarted on a inkle loom then moved it to a backstrap loom to finish. It's very uneven which I will have to work on on later projects as well as using hemp. Thanks for the info

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When fingerweaving it is just part of the process that you have to untangle the strands as you weave.....starting in the middle of a sash helps due the the extra length added to the yarn to account for what is taken up in the weaving process plus what is lost in making the two ply fringe.
When using a rigid heddle with a back strap loom, I have no problem with the wool warps getting tangled up. The pictured garters are heddle loomed , they have red 2 ply warps with 8/0 black & white beads on a linen weft. There also "beaded belts" similar to wampum belts constructed in this manner
David

Vomir le Chien said:

I have a problem/question!!!! According to Candace Crockett and written in her book Card Weaving ISBN 0-934026-61-0 PAGE 20,, Card Weaving Today, second sentence,Card Weaving was introduced to the United States by Mary Meigs Atwater in the 1920'S. However it was not until the 1960 Card Weaving did it gain National Recognition. When I read that there is a time frame for some event I have to wonder about P/C,H/C/ and the like. I Inkle and have tried Card and working on Tape Weaving,,Need help,

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Card weaving is one of the enigmatic forms of weaving. It is a very old method of weaving that went out of fashion sometime in the 17th century. Items woven by the card weaving process just don't exist in the 18th and 19th century. Card weaving had a resurgence in the 1920s. Candace Crockett covers this in her book.

Tape woven on looms do show up in the 18th and 19th century. Finger weaving is done without a loom and is associated with native American textiles and seldom is seen as an article of European wear.

Toklo Etee said:

When fingerweaving it is just part of the process that you have to untangle the strands as you weave.....starting in the middle of a sash helps due the the extra length added to the yarn to account for what is taken up in the weaving process plus what is lost in making the two ply fringe.
When using a rigid heddle with a back strap loom, I have no problem with the wool warps getting tangled up. The pictured garters are heddle loomed , they have red 2 ply warps with 8/0 black & white beads on a linen weft. There also "beaded belts" similar to wampum belts constructed in this manner
David

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It did go much quicker with a stiff heddle on the backstrap loom, I still ended up with some tangling due to fibers balling up at the hole and grabbing the yarn. Looks like you're doing a great job, keep it up

What i have done with some success, is to ball all the strands so they are not as long. then as you weave, you pull more from the balls. I believe a wooden wrap board (for want of a better term) would work as well. Tangling with finger weaving is a pain and just part of it. Go slow and try not to worry, it will all work out.

Ketchakah said:

What i have done with some success, is to ball all the strands so they are not as long...

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Leather braiders, and especially bullwhip makers, make "tamales". Wrap each lace in a figure eight around your spread out thumb and little finger. When you get to the end, tie the outside end around the center. Then pull the end that you started the wrapping with out from the inside to start working. As you go and more is pulled out, snug down the end that's tied around it. When done properly, it never tangles or collapses as you work.

A twelve foot bullwhip is made of thirty foot laces, and there can be sixteen or more of them. Imagine trying to work with those hanging loose.

Nyckname said:

Leather braiders, and especially bullwhip makers, make "tamales". Wrap each lace in a figure eight around your spread out thumb and little finger. When you get to the end, tie the outside end around the center. Then pull the end that you started the wrapping with out from the inside to start working. As you go and more is pulled out, snug down the end that's tied around it. When done properly, it never tangles or collapses as you work.

A twelve foot bullwhip is made of thirty foot laces, and there can be sixteen or more of them. Imagine trying to work with those hanging loose.

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Excellent tip!

This is the split river cane heddle that I made several years ago. I used a musket ball pounded flat with a hole to help keep the heddle vertical.
David