Clasped Warp? Challenge Accepted! – Blog Post
Trying new techniques can be fun. Perhaps it’s a little intimidating too. But there is so much joy when you complete that new thing! This spring we challenged ourselves to a Loonie Challenge. All of us made something with those yarns and we encouraged each other to try something that we have never done before. Jenne took on the challenge of learning about Clasped Warp on her Rigid Heddle Loom. Read along as she explains how and why she chose to learn this “new to her” technique.
by Jenne S.
Inspiring Reading
I was inspired by a project in Little Looms Magazine from 2022 by Robin Lynde on Clasped Warp. Before reading this article, I had seen a few other clasped warp woven projects, and my mind was blown with how cool those projects looked. I thought it had to be difficult, so I threw it to the back of my brain. But after Robin’s article and the wonderful picture showing how to create the yarn interlacements, I decided to give it a go!
To do some additional reading before jumping into the warping, I went to the Lunatic bookshelf. Deborah Jarchow has a clasped warp scarf project in her book “Rigid Heddle Weaving: Basics and Beyond.” Her tips and tricks for warping made it sound like warping would be a breeze!
Little Looms 2020, used with permission of Long Thread Media. Photo by Matt Graves.
To the Rigid Heddle Loom!
I usually love using a 4.5 yd warping board to wind my warps on a rigid heddle loom, but for this project using the warping peg was vital. You need to adjust where the warp threads clasp: you need to be able to pull the tension between both yarns. Using the peg made this easy. With clasped warp projects you double the threads in each slot and hole. This is a bonus on the rigid heddle loom, there’s no need to rethread into the holes! As you begin warping you will see that those doubled threads hold the alternating warp yarns in place.
Loonie Challenge Accepted!
My color choices came from the Loonie Challenge collections. The challenge was to use any or all the colors of 8/2 unmercerized cotton yarn collections, and to come up with a project and weave without input from the rest of the Lunatics.
I chose to use two colors: Brun Moyen and Peche. These colors aren’t ones I normally choose. I tend to weave with vibrant bright colors. But as I learn new techniques, I try to encourage myself to step out of my comfort zone. I also knew that these 2 colors would go well in my grandparents’ western decorated home, so I knew I could use this project as a gift for them. Learning about Clasped Warp and making the project without talking about it was a challenge for me because I am used to working together on team projects in our business. But I was determined to do this project all by myself!
I’ve Got to be Warped
I decided to make a runner or scarf. So, this project was going to be long and narrow on the loom. I also wanted a random placement for my warp stripes, although both ends of the project needed to be balanced. One end would have solid Brun Moyen, the other end would have solid Peche and in between would be the varying stripes of Peche and Brun Moyen.
As I started creating the interlacements, I enjoyed putting longer stripes of one color in between shorter stripes. At the beginning, I had a preference for the Brun Moyen color and wasn’t too keen on using Peche. However, as I started interlacing the 2 warp colors, I began to get excited with the way the warp turned out, and Peche turned out to be about half of the warp.
Weaving was a Snap!
Weaving this clasped warp project was simple. I used Brun Moyen doubled on a bobbin to create a balanced fabric. I wove Brun Moyen through the project. And as I was weaving, it became a table runner, and I could see it on a table in my mind as I was weaving!
I think the runner came out pretty well, but I am not too impressed with the way the Peche looks pixilated with the Brun Moyen. I found out after weaving this runner I could do a clasped weft on it so that the colors could match up where they meet in the warp. This is a project for another day, and one I am very intrigued to do!
Little Looms Summer 2025, used with permission of Long Thread Media. Photo by Matt Graves.
And a Little More Inspiration
After finishing my table runner, I opened the newest Little Looms magazine (Summer 2025) and saw Robyn Lynde has done it again! Her newest project is called “Colorful Clasped Scarves” done with 5/2 Tubular Spectrum™ cotton. Both colorways are gorgeous! Special shoutout to Robyn for inspiring me to try new things!
Thanks for the accolades! Clasped warp is sure a fun project!