How to Figure Warp and Weft for a Weaving Project
One of the most difficult things to calculate when planning a weaving project is the length of the warp and weft. There are several factors to consider when calculating warp and weft lengths, including the yarn thickness, the number of times the weft and warp will cross per inch and the length and width of the finished piece. An online calculator such as the one at the Haley Studio website can make short work of warp and weft calculation.
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Warp and weft yarn
- Pencil
- Paper
- Haley Studio online warp and weft calculator
Instructions
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Measure your loom and decide how wide and long you want your finished woven piece to be. The piece has to fit within the confines of the loom. Write down the length and width you want the finished piece to be, remembering that the piece will be larger on the loom than when you remove it.
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Figure and write the percentage of shrinkage the piece will experience due to the fiber content of the yarn. If you use a wool yarn with a lot of stretch, there will be more shrinkage than with a cotton or other plant-based yarn. Average shrinkage on wool woven articles is 10 percent.
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Figure and write down the take-up and draw-in that will occur within the woven piece. The average for both figures is 10 percent, so you can use that figure if you do not want to weave a sample section to determine the exact take-up and draw-in. To figure the exact numbers, weave a sample length of fabric that is 2 or 3 inches square using the same yarn you intend to use for the finished piece. Measure it on the loom and after it is removed, then account for the shrinkage.
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4
Figure and write down the number of picks per inch on the weft and the sett for the warp. If you are using a weaving pattern, these numbers will be on your pattern instructions. If you are freehand weaving, the picks per inch are how many times the weft turns on the warp in an inch, and the sett is how many warp strings are in an inch of the weaving.
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Plug all the figures you wrote down into the appropriate boxes on the weaving calculator at the Haley Studio website. Add information for any fringe and test weaving allowance you may have, as well as the yards per pound from your yarn label and the cost per pound.
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Press "calculate" on the weft section first, then on the warp section. The calculator will give you measurements for the length of each warp and weft string, the total number of warp and weft threads you will need, as well as the total yardage of yarn you will need for both the warp and the weft and the cost of the yarn.
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Tips & Warnings
Weave a sample to see how the yarn behaves when weaving. This will help you get more accurate measurements for shrinkage, draw-in and take-up.
Calculate the measurements carefully, as a miscalculation can lead to your piece being smaller than you desired or running out of yarn before the piece is finished.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
