I’m so curious about weaving and how weaving works. Usually when I start a new craft I jump in the deep end and just start thrashing around. I do a lot of guessing with mixed results. What I realize after all of these years is that by not doing any methodical learning, it takes me twice as long to learn things; I stay an advanced beginner for a long time.
This time around with weaving (the first time around is a story for another day – there was a lot of thrashing) I am vowing to be more methodical. But I also love a short cut (I’m lazy that way). Which is why Liz Gipson’s new Sett Checker is perfect for me.
This handy dandy new tool lets me peek at three different setts for a any yarn. A sett is how many ends per inch (EPI) are in a warp (the vertical threads on a loom). Really, if I was being completely methodical, I would weave small samples to check the sett, and if I were thrashing about I would just pick one because it sounded good that day.
These Sett Checkers are made by Purl and Loop, who also collaborated with Liz on the 3 in 1 Swatch Maker Loom, and are the fine folks who make the amazing Bracelet Looms, the Stash Blaster Looms, and the Swatch Maker Weaving Looms.
This Sett Checker is as easy to use as a WPI gauge. It works great with commercial or hand woven yarns.
I will caution you that just like a WPI gauge, you can make the Sett Checker lie. If you pull tightly when wrapping your yarn on, it will change how your sett looks. Take a look at this handspun. I wound it on with just a little tension for the first 3 slots, then pulled it taunt as I was wrapping. Big difference. Don’t be in a hurry or feel like pulling things tight when you check your sett.
My weaving right now is all on my rigid heddle loom (I have a Schacht Cricket). I’m just starting to experiment with dyed handspun yarn and weaving and boy is it a fascinating rabbit hole. I’m doing a lot of following along with Liz’s weaving column that she wrote for Knitty for three years, Get Warped. Liz is a fantastic teacher and really understands the balance between jumping in and being methodical. She’s set herself up an online weaving school this year. You can find her school, her teaching calendar, blog, and shop on her website Yarnworker.
