Inkle Looms & Card Weaving

Tired of making your own inkle loom heddles? Take some of the work out of warping with a pack of 100 Texsolv Heddles (Green 8 5/8") for use with the Schacht Inkle loom. 

The heddles come strung together in a continuous strand bundle that are tied off with green twist ties. In order to use the heddles for inkle weaving, they must be separated by cutting them apart at the top and bottom in the middle of the 1.25" loop. 

Once separated, the heddles are used the same way as homemade double heddles. Simply fold the heddle in half, place it over the warp strings and loop both ends on the warp peg. These are regular Texsolv heddles that have an inserted eye in the middle of them. Ignore the inserted eye for inkle weaving. The inserted eye will NOT have any warp threads threaded through it. 

For more information on how to warp your Schacht Inkle Loom, please refer to the publication Inkle Weaving, by Naomi Binsfeld.

The Inkle Loom is a loom every weaver should have. It is great for weaving belts and bands.

Inkle looms are great for start-up weaving programs because they require little additional equipment, are easy to use and understand, and are easily stored.

Our Inkle loom is built with years of heavy use in mind. It has one open side for ease of warping. The tension bar has an easy grip knob for adjusting the warp tension during weaving. Warps can be up to 4.5″ wide and 8.5′ long. The Inkle Loom is made of hard maple and left unfinished.

Card weaving (also known as tablet weaving) is a way to create patterned woven bands that are thick, sturdy and beautiful. Though cards are often regarded as a simple tool, the weavings they can produce are infinite in design and complexity. The portability of these cards gives you the possibility of carrying a four harness loom in your pocket.

You can use the cards on their own with a simple tensioning device, such as tying the yarn to a door knob and tensioning around your waist. Or use the cards on a loom. An Inkle Loom is an ideal companion, but you can also use them on a Cricket, Flip, table, or floor loom.

Schacht has developed a card that, at 3-1/2″ inches square, is comfortable in the hand without being bulky. Colored bands and stripes are printed along each edge to help you keep track of the card’s position. Made of sturdy yet flexible 24-point card stock, these cards will serve you well over many, many warps.

The cards come in packages of 25—more than enough for a range of projects. All you need to add is yarn and a belt shuttle. You can start weaving complex bands at less than the cost of two coffees!

From expert weaver Anne Dixon is The Weaver’s Inkle Pattern Directory–the ultimate resource for inkle weavers. Inkle weaving is a simple technique that offers ample opportunity for experimentation by beginners and experienced weavers. This book provides 400 patterns for loom enthusiasts and is the most comprehensive tool available to weavers.

You’ll discover:

• An overview of inkle weaving’s history and traditions.
• Instructions for loom set-up and simple techniques.
• An astonishing 400 woven patterns–some making their first debut.
• Illustrated samples and charts.
• Drafts provided throughout the entire guide.
An incomparable guide, Anne Dixon offers all of the tips, tricks, and techniques to these traditional and modern patterns and introduces a bounty of new, innovative designs as well. Inkles can be used for a variety of projects ranging from belts and braces to trims and neckpieces. They can be stitched together to make bags, mobile-phone purses, cushion-covers, table-mats, and much more.

Also included is a foreword by Madelyn van der Hoogt, the editor of Handwoven magazine and the author of The Complete Book of Drafting and The Weaver’s Companion (Interweave). She opened the Weaver’s School in 1984 and teaches weaving workshops throughout the United States and Canada.

Hardcover, 173 pages.