Comments on: Tuesday’s Weaving Tip – Using Fishing Line for Your Selvages

By: Krysta

Krysta — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:44:00 +0000

Put the floating selvedges in slots on a rigid heddle loom. You may have to pay attention to make sure your weft catches this selvedge on each pass. I would use the warp yarn and the fishing line as one and pull the fishing line out after the project is off the loom.

By: Diana

Diana — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:50:00 +0000

I also want to know this! I’m new and using a Kromski 24″ Harp. I’m kind of of the mindset of the fingertape on the violin, you can learn to play with out it, but it really does help you get better faster. I’d like to give this a try, but maybe after I’ve learned how to make a better looking selvedge from scratch first?

By: Dena Childs

Dena Childs — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:41:00 +0000

I’m not sure how this would work for rigid heddle weaving since the reed and the heddle are not separate. Rigid heddle weavers, any suggestions for Pam?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:34:00 +0000

I’ve seen this before. I won’t say I’ll NEVER use fishing line, but it is plastic and something that then has to be disposed of. I have difficulty using disposable plastic. I’d rather live with a little imperfection in my life– handwoven things don’t have to look like they were woven by a machine.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:03:00 +0000

The article says she pulled the fishing line out after finishing. You cannot do that if it’s a twill or other weave structure that would result in floats along the selvages. Perhaps with those weave structures, you could have a yarn floating selvage AND the fishing line through the same dent in the reed and then only pull out the fishing line, leaving the yarn selvage in place to prevent floats.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:05:00 +0000

I have a Cricket loom and am new to weaving. Do you put the fishing line through the heddle with the outermost warp? or is it in either the slot or hole by itself? I hope this question makes sense.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:57:00 +0000

I’ve been doing this for a while now–the fishing line floating selvage makes things SO much easier! (Use the lightest gauge fishing line; wrap the extra around a little piece of cardboard and stick the cardboard in a film canister–remember those?!?–and put on the cap. Then hang weights off the line just above the canister. Unwind more line as needed from the cardboard and put the cap back on.)
I’ve been told you can do this with all-polyester sewing thread, too–and the sewing thread doesn’t need to be pulled out afterward. I’m going to try that next…

By: Debknits2

Debknits2 — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:01:00 +0000

Can you post pictures?

By: Debullman

Debullman — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:53:00 +0000

Love the weaving tips. Do you also use a floating selvage of warp thread?

By: Dena Childs

Dena Childs — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:23:00 +0000

20 lb