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Sunday, June 01, 2008

Woven Baby Blanket

This little blanket was woven on a Beka rigid heddle loom using a 10 dpi heddle. The woven part is variegated Bernat Softee Baby in the "pink parade" colourway. The crocheted edge is made in the same yarn but in the solid pink colour.

The woven portion has a beautiful, soft drape. To improve the drape of the edging I used a relatively unknown technique for blocking acrylic yarns. I "killed' the finished edging by blocking it with steam before it was machine sewn to the woven section. Now it's as soft and flowing as the woven part.

9 comments:

PJ said...

That is an absolutely precious blanket and I looove the crochet edging :)Love the gentle pink colors!

Peg in South Carolina said...

I always "kill" acrylic baby blankets. You are right, killing it makes a wonderful fabric.

Marlene said...

Thanks PJ! The one thing I am not too happy about is the center seam (not visible in the picture). My loom is only 24" wide so to get a good baby blanket side I had to seam it. I did it as inconspicuously as possible though by carefully hand stitching the weft "loops" together at the selvedges.

Yes, Peg it really makes a difference doesn't it?

Suzanne said...

Isn't it possible to make a double wide fabric on a loom somehow?

Marlene said...

Yes Suzanne, it is possible, but on a rigid heddle loom it requires a second, same sized heddle. I only have single heddles of each size.

On a floor or table loom it requires twice the number of shafts. So to make a pattern that typically requires only 4 shafts you would then need 8 to do it as double weave.

Ruinwen Dagorielle said...

That came out so beautiful! I love the crochet edging! I didn't know about the "killing fiber" tip...so thank you for sharing! :)

Nicole said...

Intriguing. I think I will have to try this.

Knitting Bee said...

That looks so beautiful and delicate, love it!

Marlene said...

Thanks Knitting Bee. The blanket was made a long time ago. The infant that received it is now a big girl!