Beach Scarf: What Now?

Last month, my nieces, nephews and I had a great time weaving a one of a kind scarf at the beach for their grandmother.

The project was a smashing success for all concerned.


The one of a kind scarf was gifted and greatly appreciated.


Now that I'm back home, I still have warp left on the rigid heddle loom.

When I dressed the loom, I considered putting on enough warp to make two scarves. I decided against it - wanting the scarf we created at the beach to be totally unique.

I did allow enough warp for sampling, a full extra yard for practice weaving and enough warp in case my mother-in-law likes a long scarf.

I ran out of sampling time - finally cutting off and doing a bit of re-sleying the very day we left for the beach. I didn't use the extra warp for sampling.

When the kids tried weaving, they did great work. They didn't need to practice.

My mother-in-law prefers a waist-length scarf.

So I have a lot of warp left - probably enough to make a second scarf.

That's definitely contrary to my original intent However, now it does seem like the best thing to do with this remaining warp is weave it as another scarf.

I'm using a fairly thick chenille weft, and I have some concerns about worming and fraying - two things chenille is known for. I figure if I make a second scarf I can experiment more with methods of finishing and find out how the chenille behaves.

I guess that will make me a member of the Full Sized Sample Club. I wonder if I get bonus points for being an after the fact sampler as well!


My weaving setup is not nearly as sweet as at the beach - where I was outdoors on a beautiful deck with the sounds of the ocean in the background.

Here I'm in the only clear corner of my studio, blocking some of my cabinets and sitting next to my neglected Toika shafts.

But weaving is fun. This is a nice project work on a bit each morning when I first get up.


I want to note that I have two badly behaving yarns in this warp. (Two is not bad when you consider that the yarn in the warp is all from the weaving guild yarn table. I have 8 yarns prominently used, with tidbits of 5 more thrown in just to use them up.)

This yarn is a blend that seems remotely woolish. It tends to stick to other yarns whenever it gets the chance, plus it sometimes breaks. It might make a better weft, although now that I know it breaks I'm more careful with it.


See the boucle loop in this picture?

It's because the rigid heddle tends to tug too hard on the boucle, so it pulls apart. The yarn stretches out at various points when I'm weaving.

My method for dealing with it is to pull those stretched bits tight, and pin them to the warp and weave on.

After the weaving is complete, I repair those loops by cutting them and using a needle to weave the ends in. (I got significant practice with that technique in the first scarf - especially when I had the boucle threaded through both slots and holes in the rigid heddle. Once I re-sleyed so it was just going through the slots, it behaved better.)

Lucky for me, a mixed, random, fluffy fabric can hide a lot of flaws.


This boucle isn't tough enough for warp on the rigid heddle. It might work on a floor loom, because the dents could be wider.

So part of wrapping up summer in my little corner of the world is finishing up this scarf with all of its beachy associations.

Related Posts:
Finished Original Scarf at the beach
Setting up my beach scarf warp