Double-weave is where you actually weave 2 separate cloths at the same time, one on top of the other on the loom. It can be done several ways. You can weave the cloths separately, join one side so you can open it up to be one cloth twice as wide. This is useful if you want to weave something twice as wide as your loom. You can also close both edges and create a long tube. Both layers can also be tied together. This gives the weaver more color combinations in the cloth.
Front side of fabric.
Back of fabric
As I said, I have not woven in double-weave. I purchased the video Doubleweave by Jennifer Moore. There is also a book available but I think actually seeing what she is doing is more helpful. The smart thing to do would be to follow the video and do the sampler to learn all the ways one can do double-weave.
I too eger to start a project to do the sample. I hope I am not sorry.
So.....I chose a Piano Keyboard Scarf to do as my first double-weave. I found this in Handwoven Magazine Nov/Dec 2011. Page 64.
My first challenge was that the draft for this scarf is a profile draft. I've never done a project from a profile draft before. I am familiar with what it is and how it works. This pattern is a block design. There are three blocks.
1. All white keys.
2. Black key about half way then the rest white.
3. A black line to separate the white keys.
Threading: since there are just two colors, black & white, this was easy. The draft calls for the white and black to alternate. I slayed 4 threads in each dent in a 10 dent reed using Tencel.
Weaving: I used two shuttles, one with white, the other black. This is an eight shaft pattern that uses 10 treadles. Some of the treadling requires two feet at one time. Because there are 4 ends in each dent in the reed the shafts did stick a little. In need to push one treadle at a time to open the shed and get both treadles down and it took longer for the shafts to drop when changing the shed. This sticking did cause a few long floats which I needed to repair. I found I needed to run my fingers over the bottom layer to check for these floats. Some people use a mirror to see the underside while weaving.
Over all I am happy with this scarf. I made this for someone who is a music teacher so I think she will enjoy this pattern.
This was a good learning experience in Doubleweave. I can't wait to try it again using either deflected doubleweave or double wide.
