The technique of pickup with both heddled and unheddled warp threads makes it very difficult to maintain a consistent band width. (Ha, that’s a good pun.) When picking up many threads, the band will naturally want to draw-in. This happens even more the more threads picked up. One way to counter the draw-in is to drop the partner (heddled or unheddled) thread for every thread picked up. When the partner thread is dropped, the reverse of the motif will be on the other side.

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The motif on the left is the original pattern from page 38 in The Weaver’s Inkle Pattern Directory: 400 Warp-Faced Weaves by Anne Dixon. The motif on the right is the band flipped over. And as I look at reverse side picture, I see a spot where I didn’t drop a thread. Oops. Weaving goes much faster when picking up only, and for simple patterns I usually only do pickup. This motif in the book only calls for pickup. But picking and dropping threads really makes a striking band. How do you usually do this type of pickup?

Until next time,

warp, weave, be happy! ~ Jennifer