Finger-Manipulated Weaves

When I think of weaving, I think of the shuttle gliding back and forth through the warp. I think straight lines, even beat, and smooth texture. Even when I use pick-up sticks the lines are crisp and clean…and the weaving flows! But if you are willing to slow down and use your fingers (and a few extra tools that you probably already own), you can add curves and texture and dimension using only your rigid heddle loom.

Finger-manipulated techniques allow you to use your hands, shuttle, and a few tools like crochet hooks, chopsticks, or knitting needles (instead of only the loom’s heddle) to manipulate the warp or weft threads. And the results are truly amazing!

What Makes Finger-Manipulated Weaves Special?

Unlike regular weaving where the shuttle glides straight across the loom, finger weaves demand that you get your hands right into your work! You will use your fingers to twist, wind, wrap and pull the warp and weft to make curves, loops and angles.

Here are a few examples:

• Leno – twisting warp threads to create a lacy, open effect.

• Brooks Bouquet – wrapping the weft around bundles of warp to form little “bouquets.”

• Soumak – wrapping the weft across the warp for a braided look.

• Medallions – using the weft to wrap around previous rows, forming rounded, jewel-like shapes.

• Loops – pulling weft up into soft raised loops for a very tactile experience both on and off the loom.

Each method adds detail or texture that transforms even the simplest project. They can edge a tea towel with a decorative border, bring life to a scarf, or become the focal point in a cushion or table runner and even throw mats and garments!

Why Try Them?

Finger-manipulated weaves force us to slow down. It’s easy when weaving a plain weave project to send the shuttle through, zip, zip, zip, and not really pay attention. Weaving medallions or shaping loops brings our full attention to the loom. We feel the yarn in out hands: the texture, the strength, and the density in ways we don’t normally. We learn about the yarn and how the warp and weft intersect. If you want to practise mindfulness in your weaving, this is the perfect way to get started!

Bringing It Into Your Weaving

I have no written patterns that use finger-manipulated weaves on my website…yet! But I’ve been playing with them all summer and I know I’ll be writing some up as patterns. But in the meantime, try adding Medallions to the edge of a plain weave tea towel. Try some Brooks Bouquet or Leno Lace on the edge of a scarf. Or weave a sample piece using all the techniques and sew it into a pillow cover. The possibilities for these techniques are truly endless: let your imagination and creativity loose!

Also, check out Little Looms Spring 2025 for Tropical Sea Soap Savers (one is a loopy bag) and Spring 2020 for the Forest Floor Mat.

Colour Challenge(d)

I hate Monopoly. From the first purchases of houses and hotels, I know I am on a very slow, very long journey of losing. While everyone else amasses empires, I am struggling and just hoping I will make it to Go and Collect $200 without landing on Park Place. I can’t quit, because that would mean being a sore loser, but I also can’t overcome my desire to take the safe route. (What? Mortgage a property to buy a more expensive one?! I don’t think so!)

When I started weaving, I made a lot of decisions about how to conduct my weaving life. One was to remember that my materials are only yarn. If a project doesn’t work, it really doesn’t matter. Yes, it might be sad for a moment, but there was no real risk involved.

I’ve done pretty well…I’ve only got 2 skeins of yarn in my stash that I’m afraid to use because they are so pretty! And it’s only the one with the lovely texture I’m afraid of.

Colour is a little different matter though. I struggle with taking risks with colour. Sometimes I look to you for help…do you remember this picture from social media? I gave you 2 choices…and most of you picked a 3rd option!!! (The Turquoise and the Lime Green). I almost went with your choice, but, that was the safe choice. I wanted something that would challenge me.

I wove up the bottom selection…it still seemed a safer choice than the top. I’m pretty happy with the results. But I should have taken a little more risk and used a different shade of turquoise. it would have had a little more zing I think.

Colour is hard! So here are my four favourite ways to choose what colours to put together:

1. Look at my stash of variegated yarns. What colours have the dyers put together, and in what quantities? I will build a whole scarf around a single skein of yarn (I do this a lot with my Wabi Sabi scarves). If you don’t have variegated skeins, look at the clothes you wear, and the clothes others wear. When you go shopping, don’t hesitate to take a picture of something that you love the colours of (even if you could never see yourself wearing them!) Remember, you can benefit from the research other people have done…and you know there are designers behind the clothes and logos whose sole job is to figure out what colour combinations are pleasing to our eyes! Living in a Maritime province, I also take pictures of houses…we have some very colourful houses.

2. Take a look at nature. None of us has ever looked at a flower and wondered who thought putting those colours together was a good idea! Or complained that the colours in the sunset clashed. Even when they are orange and pink! Check out the colours of wildlife…brown pheasants with a flash of red and gold, butterflies, even snakes and spiders have interesting colours. My Sunrise Tea Towel was inspired by a picture I took after a storm.

3. Pinterest…I use it a lot for inspiration. Especially if I have a limited selection of colours (like right now when I’m trying to use what I already have). I can put in my main colour, for example Lime Green colour palette, and I will get so many possibilities! Sometimes I'll pick 2 colours that I don’t think will work, and see what Pinterest has to say. It almost always comes up with something I can work with! The Doldrums colour scheme came from entering orange and eggplant together. I don’t even like orange, but I love these towels!

4. Social Media! Don’t be afraid to seek advice from the multitude of weavers out there. Every time I ask for colour advice online, with options, I get so much great feedback and suggestions I would never have otherwise considered. You don’t have to agree with everyone, but you will be positively challenged. And weavers know colours work differently in weaving than in any other craft. Harness the power of weavers!

This is what keeps me coming back to weaving with joy. There is no wrong answer, just different answers. And if you don’t like the combination, I guarantee that you have a friend who will love it! Weaving is a safe place to try new things: the risk is low. I think that taking risks in my weaving life has helped me take more risks in the rest of my life too. Well, the rest of my life pretty much is weaving…but outside of the actual weaving…like teaching, and Zoom and writing patterns.

But this is not just good for me…I’m pretty convinced that if you get brave in your weaving choices, you will get braver in your daily life too. And who can’t use a little more bravery in our lives?

PS. Please, never ask me to play Monopoly with you, I’m not that brave!