Weave Beautiful Backstrap Pick-Up Bands

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to take a backstrap rigid-heddle bandweaving class from Kate Larson, the former editor of Spin Off and Piecework and current editor of Farm & Fiber Knits. During the class, we warped and wove three bands: one plain weave, one with alternating pick-up, and one with Baltic pick-up. Perhaps just as important as teaching me how to weave backstrap bands, Kate let me try out different shuttles from her collection, including what is now my favorite band shuttle, a sword-style shuttle from TheDancingGoats like the ones in the header photo above. I now own three of those shuttles and have woven many beautiful bands with them. It was an incredible and informative class—thanks in large part to Kate’s skill as a teacher.

Patient, kind, and gifted with the ability to demonstrate and explain each step so it makes complete sense, Kate Larson really is the ideal instructor. Now, if you’re not lucky enough to catch one of Kate’s classes in person, we have the next best thing: video workshops. Two years ago, Kate made a wonderful video on basic plain-weave backstrap bandweaving with a rigid heddle, and this year, we’re happy to say she’s got a new backstrap bandweaving workshop, this time focusing on weaving pick-up.

Learn how to weave alternating pick-up designs, like the one shown here, as well as Baltic pick-up designs in our new video. You only need a few tools and a simple rigid heddle, such as this 25-thread heddle you'll see Kate use in the video.

In her new video workshop, Backstrap Rigid Heddle: Weaving Pick-Up Bands, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start weaving pick-up bands using a rigid heddle on a backstrap setup, including:

• What equipment and yarn you’ll need to weave your backstrap bands
• The difference between alternating pick-up and Baltic pick-up
• How to read the charts for each type of pick-up
• How to wind a warp and thread a rigid heddle for the pick-up pattern you want to weave
• Kate’s method for setting up and tensioning a backstrap warp
• How to weave your design by following a pick-up chart, including pick-by-pick demonstrations
• Ways to combine pick-up charts to create more complex band designs
• All the tips and tricks Kate has picked up over years of bandweaving (pun intended)

As part of the workshop, you’ll also receive eight pattern charts for alternating and Baltic pick-up designs that you can download, print, and use to create your own beautiful, pick-up bands. It’s been a while since I last wove anything using a backstrap warp and a rigid heddle, but after watching Kate’s video, I’m feeling the itch to break out my favorite backstrap supplies and my favorite sword shuttle just so I can try some out of these patterns.

If you’d like to learn how to weave some beautiful backstrap pick-up bands using a rigid heddle, you can find Backstrap Rigid Heddle: Weaving Pick-Up Bands here. I hope you enjoy it and find it as inspiring as I did!

Happy Weaving!

Christina

Thanks to our video sponsor for their support!

TheDancingGoats makes reproductions and re-imaginings of historic and prehistoric fiber arts tools. Focusing on the ancient textile traditions of the Northern Roman Provinces, the Northern Isles, and Western Europe, TheDancingGoats creates shuttles, heddles, looms, spindles, and whorls in wood, stone, pewter, copper alloys, ceramics, and glass.

The company’s advanced CNC Laser is dedicated to making fiber arts tools and folklore-inspired creations. TheDancingGoats business model is inspired by Albrecht Dürer’s life, journals, and Nuremberg School. Robin Goatey has been learning, teaching, and practicing the Heritage Arts since 1987. Learn more at TheDancingGoats.Etsy.com.