We like to begin each new year by traveling down memory lane and looking back at the old year. What did we write about? What did you want to read? With that in mind, the following list shows your most-read posts of 2024, ranging from project drafts to techniques to equipment to weaving news. If you missed any of them, here‘s your opportunity to bring yourself up to date.
10. A Sad Farewell to Zephyr, Super Lamb, and More
Jagger Spun’s Zephyr 2/18 wool/silk blend has been a staple yarn for handweavers. Photo courtesy Camilla Valley Farm
In September, Jagger Spun, of Springvale, Maine, announced that it had ceased all yarn production and would sell off its inventory, likely by the end of 2024. In a letter to customers, the company said materials and labor cost increases are behind the closures.
Read the full story here. If you‘re fortunate enough to have Jagger Spun yarns in your stash, the story includes links to projects that use them. And if you‘re lucky, you may still find some yarn at the retailers listed.
9. Notes from the Fell: Choosing and Caring for Your Reeds
Tom shows off reeds from his collection. A very old bamboo reed is in the background, an old carbon steel reed is in the middle, and a new stainless steel reed is in the front. Photo by Long Thread Media
Reeds are a vital—and expensive—part of a loom. Tom Knisely explains how to choose the right sizes for your weaving, gives some tips about caring for them, and explains when old reeds aren‘t worth saving.
8. How Jane Austen is Breathing New Life into Silk Ribbon Weaving
A silk ribbon warp being wound at Whitchurch Silk Mill. Photo courtesy Whitchurch Silk Mill
Jane Austen, the famed author who was born nearly 250 years ago, is helping to breathe new life into silk ribbon weaving in the UK. In 2024, living history museum Whitchurch Silk Mill collaborated with Jane Austen’s House, to design and weave silk ribbons inspired both by her home and by objects from its own collection.
The mill’s next ribbon project, now in development, was inspired by the Netflix Bridgerton series.
7. Fancy Hemstitching Adds Pizzazz to Your Handwovens
The Summer Mug Rugs by Suzie Liles are perfect for showing off ladder and trellis hemstitching. Photo by George Boe
Most weavers have run a line of simple hemstitching at each end of a piece, and followed that up with a fringed finish of one sort or another. The hemstitching virtually disappears from notice while quietly keeping the weft tidy.
But what if you want more from your hemstitching—more presence, more graphic pizzazz? We gathered our top resources and bonus patterns to help you learn three new methods for fancy, and fun, hemstitching. Every item in this guide is a part of your All Access program and will help you get the most out of your subscription.
6. City Chic Scarf
The motifs on Susan‘s scarf are reminiscent of skyscrapers and windows. Photos by Matt Graves
The wonderful drape and sheen of Tencel make designer Susan Capeheart‘s City Chic Scarf feel as good as it looks. The draft, free to subscribers, tempted thousands of weavers into taking a closer look.
5. Making Plarn from Plastic Grocery Bags
Thea Nortness’s Bags on a Budget are woven with plarn weft. Photo by Matt Graves
Thea Nortness showed us a clever technique to give disposable plastic grocery bags new life: Create a long strip of plastic from each bag, and then use it as the weft in her sturdy and attractive bags. No plastic bags? A stockpile of old t-shirts would also work.
4. Video Tip: What are Damascus Edges, and How Are They Made?
The full Damascus edging (left) results in fringe, while the half-Damascus edging (right) produces an unfringed edge. Photos by Joe Coca
This quick video tip by Tom Knisely shows two ways to secure a rug‘s warp ends. After you watch it, head over to see his newest video, How to Weave a Rag Rug: Techniques for Creating an Exceptional Rug, which provides start-to-finish instructions for preparing materials and weaving rag rugs.
3. Zebras on the Serengeti Scarf
Zebra stripes sit on a background of variegated greens in this design inspired by nature. Photos by Matt Graves
The second scarf on our top ten list, designed by Carla Jeanne Hubbart, is a striking design inspired by the natural world. The draft for Zebras on the Serengeti, which uses asymmetry in both warp and weft, is available for download by subscribers.
2. The Souvenir Skein: Is There Enough Yardage for a Scarf?
Will you be able to make what you want from your special souvenir skein? Photo by Susan E. Horton
Based on the clicks we recorded, thousands of weavers have bought a pretty hand-dyed skein, but aren‘t sure what they can make from it. A bit of math will give you a better chance of success than blindly putting it on the loom and hoping for the best. Susan E. Horton explained how to estimate the amount of yarn your project will need.
1. Taming the Woven Edge
Camoflage is a great selvedge trick. Matching the weft and the edge of your weaving can help hide a rough edge. Photo by Katrina King
The most popular post of 2024 addresses a perennial question that plagues weavers of all skill levels: What‘s the best way to weave good selvedges? This article offers five ways.
What was your favorite article of 2024? Please let us know at [email protected].