4/13/2020

Houndstooth Shawl with Optional Closure by Nancy Tranter a Closer Look at the Rigid Heddle Weaving Technique

English Houndstooth, French "Pied de poule", Dutch “Hanevoet”, is one of the most classic patterns for fabrics. Take a look a closer look at the rigid heddle weaving technique.

Whether on a houndstooth scarf, coat, skirt, purse, chair, blanket, or umbrella, the houndstooth never seems to go out of style. If you have it in your wardrobe, you will have a piece that will always be fashionable, at least in pattern. Although the pattern must have been known for centuries, it was made famous mostly by Christian Dior and is still frequently used in many variations. It is a non-exhaustible source of inspiration for fashion designers.I am using a 24" rigid heddle loom for this oblong shawl; however, the houndstooth pattern may be created in the same way on many other types of looms. You should only need to adapt it to your loom’s particular warping method. Weaving the Houndstooth is the process of creating a fabric from 2 perpendicular thread sets. One set is called the warp (vertical), the other the weft (horizontal). The weft thread crosses either over or underneath the warp threads and the precise about rule where to cross over and where to cross underneath determines the weave type of the fabric thus made.This weave is the simplest version of houndstooth – a 2×2. This size is also known as pinwheel and puppytooth. The addition of Reindeer antler buttons are supplies from my Sami bracelets inspired from Swedish Lapland.