Leno (leeno or lehno?)

Lace in weaving. Lace on weaving. Weaving in lace. Mmmmmmmmm

One section of the sampler we’re to work on in the workshop next week is a technique called leno. (in all the pronunciations you know) It’s a little lacy as weaving goes. I’d never done finger manipulated warps before, so I decided I’d better at least fumble my way through a bit on this trial warp. The gist of the technique is to twist warp threads, lay a pick, and beat lightly. Sounded yummy. I think it looks quite nice. I could see curtains using this technique hanging to either side of the front door.

far left set is 3 threads twisted, the center 1 thread and the far right set 2 threads

It’s about as fiddly as a Lark’s Head Picot Join. Perhaps after the Holidays, say in February I’ll revisit this idea.

Mmmmm.  There was still a yard or so of warp. I was musing on that as I sat in my tatting chair. Now, one thing about moving with pets. The “rules” change. The cats began using the upholstered arms of the chair as a scratching post. “Out of sight, out of claws” works, so I just threw an old towel over them. Not a permanent solution, but everybody was calmer.

The next time I passed the loom, I thought, maybe I could do a diamond pattern of leno in the midst of plain weave. And an idea was hatched.

cover for arm

I also wanted to brush up on hemstitching. I like tatted edgings on hemstitched fabric. So, if I’m going to weave and tat together, I wanted to hemstitch also. Turned out quite nice.

On to the next warp.