The Winter Solstice is a time for new explorations. This year started with pulled warp baskets. It’s a straight forward technique, with intriguing possibilities and as yet unknown variables.
As for the technique, I’d taken a two day course with Terry Olsen and created a basic 2×2 basket. Basically the fabric is a flat-woven weft faced piece with selected warp threads unwoven. When the woven piece is removed from the loom the warp is pulled, closing the gap created by the unwoven warps.
And now for the fun part, the variables!
- Warp width – this determines the width of the basket
- # of uncovered warps
- Height of regular weave
- Weft Yarn – A little give in the yarn might be preferable to a straight tapestry-type yarn. At least the side seams on the basket woven with Targhee singles came together better than the less-elastic rug yarn used for other baskets.
- Pattern possibilities!
The first pulled warp basket just off the loom. The Uncovered warps are visible in the triangular 4 triangular indents.
When the warp is pulled, the covered warp sections are drawn together making the middle section of the fabric the basket bottom, and the rectangular top and bottom, the basket sides.
Pulling the warps
Finished first basket!
Klamath Basin Wool Works 