Inkle Weaving with Ann Mullican

This weekend, Ann Mullican (seated left) shared her excitement for weaving and her expertise with the inkle loom at a workshop sponsored by the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild.

Starting with special graph paper and colored pencils, participants designed weaving patterns in preparation for warping tabletop inkle looms with 3/2 pearl cotton threads.

Inkle weaving creates a warp-faced weave in which the long, colored warp threads are what create the pattern of the woven fabric. Narrow bands are produced which are commonly used for belts, trims, handbag straps, cuffs and bands. For this workshop, the woven strips were sewn into a tetrahedron to form a doll or pincushion.

Designing with colored pencils and graph paper.

Measuring string used for the heddles.

Warping the inkle loom.

Checking the warp threads.

One up, one down, up, down . . .

Workshop participants hard at work.

Inkle woven "dolls with character."