How To Weave Waxed Linen

Judy K. Wilson

 
Waxed linen is easily woven using correct finger and hand placement. It may seem a bit awkward at first, but after a
while, when you pick it up your fingers will automatically go where they belong. It is best to go slower at first and to
get the finger positions correct and then pick up your speed. Once this is accomplished, it is easy to weave rather fast.
What you are mainly trying to achieve is a woven basket that is very even and smooth in appearance and one that does
not pulled or too loose. Pulling to tight always mis-shapes the basket, bringing the spokes in too close together makes
it more difficult to work on. Too loose, will cause air space between the rows. You will want to work to keep the
spacing between the spokes very even and develop a rhythm as you weave. This then accomplishes the smooth, even
look.

LEFT HAND: Your middle and ring finger should lay right behind the spokes where you are working. The little finger
is on front of the basket. These fingers should be able to support the weight of the basket without the other two. The
thumb and forefinger are the only fingers that basically move to help the right hand. The other three finger slide along
as the row progresses.

RIGHT HAND: Usually you will be basically twining with two weavers. These weavers should be held loosely in your
right hand and not laid down until you stop. This keeps you from having to "hunt" for the weavers each time. I call
this "wasted motion" when you don't hold them as it is just another step that you don't need. It is difficult to pick up
any speed unless you hold the weavers in the back part of your hand. The weavers are basically held with the middle,
ring and little finger (as in crochet), leaving the thumb and forefinger free to do the weaving part.

WEAVING: Get your hands in position as above. Rest your right middle finger on the right weaver. Grasp the left
weaver with thumb and forefinger and go sideways over the right weaver (by turning your hand). Hold at the criss-
cross to hold them in place. (this eliminates packing and must be achieved). Insert right forefinger underneath the
weaver going across and lift. When it is up, grasp the next spoke to be picked up and (this will put you in position)
and hand it to the left thumb and forefinger (just now letting go of the criss-cross). Gently pull the spokes at 11
o'clock and gently pull the weaver at 5 o'clock. Press down on the weaver (the one you used) on the right with your
right middle finger. Wiggle if necessary to make it lay touching the row before. As you weave, you are gently pulling
the weaver, without excessively pulling, watch the "stitch" become the size of the previous "stitch". Do this each time
and your twines (stitch) will become uniform.

To make twining easier, every 8-10 twines or whatever it feels comfortable, gently "comb" your spokes with your
fingers, on the right to 2 o'clock and the spokes that you have used, on the left to 10 o'clock. This will leave you a
nice open spot in which to weave. When the spokes on the right "bunch" up around where you are weaving, it allows
you very little room to work and causes "air space" between the rows (And mistakes!!).

It is always most important that you make the bottom of your basket large enough as to accommodate beads and
threads. If you make the bottom too small. you will definitely have problems the rest of the basket.

When you are triple twining, it is difficult to hold all three weavers and weave with them, so picking them up one at a
time usually works best.

You will be controlling the shaping. The way in which you lean the spokes ad you weave determines the shape of the
basket (as well as how tightly you pull). If you lean the spokes in, the basket will go in. If you lean the spokes out, the
basket will go out. Slightly leaning the spoke toward you will make the basket go straight up. The portion of the
spoke to be aware of is the portion from the basket up to your left hand fingers, not the upper portion. Moving where
you pull the weaver to, will slightly change the weave. If you want to weave outward, literally aim the spokes outward
and be very aware of how much you are pulling after twining. (let up on them some). The more you pull - the tighter
the weave and the closer together the spokes. If you want to weave inward, lean the spokes inward and ever so
slightly, tighten up on the weaver.

Make sure that your basket and/or waxed linen are not left in the sun. The heat is also a factor. Both melt the wax and
the linen will become much darker. Your basket will literally melt. Keep your basket, partially done or finished out of
the sun and in a decently cool place.

I hope all these tips have helped you. If you need help, please feel free to call ma and I will help you over the phone
and talk you through it. If you are in or near Canton, Georgia please call and come by and visit. I would love to have
you and see what you have done. My door is always open.



 


e-mail judy@judykwilson.com
 

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