How to Plan a Weaving Project

Planning a weaving project takes the guesswork out of the weaving process. There are several things to consider when beginning to plan a weaving project, such as the size of the project and the type and amount of yarn. Planning the entire project ensures that the completed project is the right size and that there will be enough yarn to finish.

Instructions

1. Decide on the final size, both the length and width, of the project that will be made. Break down this measurement into inches. Remember to include the amount of take up that will be created by warping the loom and in the weaving.

2. Pick the yarn that will be used for the project. Choose yarn for both the warp and weft.

3. Find out the WPI (wraps per inch) for each yarn that is going to be used. To find the WPI for the yarn, take a pen and wrap the yarn around the pen, tightly, pushing the yarn together until it measures an inch. Then count how many times the yarn is wrapped around the pen in that one inch area. This gives you the WPI.

4. Multiply the WPI and the width of the project in inches. Then multiply that number by the length in inches. This will give you the amount of yarn that you need for the project. For example, if the WPI is 10 and the width of the project is 15 inches, you get 150. 150 refers to the number of threads you need to create the warp. Multiply 150 by the length of your project and you have the total amount of yarn (in inches) that you need for the warp of the project.

5. Multiply the WPI and the length of the project. Once you have that number, multiply it again by the width of the project. This will give you the total amount of yarn (in inches) that you need for the weft. For example, if the WPI is 10 and the length is 60 inches, you get 600. That means that there must be 600 threads to weave the total project. Multiply that by the 15 inches that are width of the project and you have 9,000. This is the total length of yarn in inches that you will need.

6. Begin the weaving project once you have the amount of yarn that is needed for both the warp and weft.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a weaving project worksheet so that all the information needed is written down.

• To figure the amount of take-up in the weaving add on 15 inches to the width and 120 inches to the length.