Big & Little Brother Blankets: Planning Problems

 So the actual yarn turned out to be finer than I anticipated, more like sport weight than a worsted weight knitting yarn (terms they don't use any more). 

Worsted weight works well at 8 ends per inch, but I will need a higher sett for finer yarn. Since I bought all they had of the colors I chose, I need to do some calculating to decide what to do.  

Wraps per inch was 14. I found some helpful charts at The Woolery website, that classified it as sportweight or fine yarn and suggested a sett of 10 dents per inch. So I need to recalculate.

Of the variegated yarn I have 2262 yards.

Of the solid green yarn I have 1131 yards. 

This comes short of the yardage I calculated at 8 e.p.i., and with a closer sett I'll need even more to get the same width and length. So I either need to find more yarn in these colors, or add another solid color. Hobby Lobby is just down the road from the library, so I'll pop over there later this week and see what I can figure out. 

Big & Little Brother Blankets: Planning Problems

© 2025 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

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Big & Little Brother Blankets 

Big & Little Brother Blankets

 This is a project I've had in mind for my grandsons. The "big" brother is 3 years old and the little brother is 1 month old. I doubt either one will actually appreciate the gesture, but a handwoven gift from their grandmother is something I want to do! And with the Glimakra set up with a new treadle tie-up system, I'm anxious to see how that goes.  

I've done my yarn calculations a bit backwards. Rather than start with a finished size, I'm starting with an on-loom size. I have an idea of the draw-in and shrinkages, and the final size really isn't technical; in the ball park baby blanket size will do.

Warp

• on-loom width: 40 inches
• sett: 8 e.p.i.
• on-loom length: 40 inches
• crochet edges so no fringe: 3-4 inches between blankets
• loom waste: 28 inches (I'm never sure about this with the Glimakra)
• Total warp yardage: 2960 yards

Weft

• length for each blanket will be same as width, 40 inches
• on-loom width 40 inches x 8 p.p.i. = 320 inches for 1 inch of fabric
• on-loom project length: 80 inches
• 320 x 80 = 25,600 inches = 712 yards

Total yarn for project (warp + weft) = 3672 yards

Not included in the above yardage is the crochet edging. I will edge each blanket in a different color, so I'll wait on that.

I want to use Hobby Lobby Baby Bee Sweet Delight because it's cuddly soft and washable. And this week it's on sale for 30% off, so now's the time to buy. Hopefully, I can find enough skeins to pull it off.

Big & Little Brother Blankets 

© 2025 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

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Big & Little Brother Blankets: Planning Problems 

Treadle Tie-Up From the Top: Installing the Texsolv Cords

8 bunches of 10 cords each

This will be the last time I will have to get down on the floor and hunch over to thread the treadles and lamms! Once I'm done, the cords will be a permanent fixture and easy to arrange from the top on a comfortable seat. No more backache!

Each cord is threaded through the bottom of each treadle hole, where the pony bead secures it.

up through the lower lamm holes, 

then up through the upper lamm holes, and knotted at the end so they don't slip back down. 

Here's what it looks like with all the cords in place.

Next, I need a warp on the loom to try out my new tie-up method. I have a project in mind, but harvest and canning season is heavy upon us. Warping the loom will have to wait until I have some free time. 

Treadle Tie-Up From the Top: Installing the Texsolv Cords 

© 2025 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

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Treadle Tie-Up From the Top For My Glimakra: Resources

Treadle Tie-Up From the Top: What I'll Need 

Treadle Tie-Up From the Top: Preparing the Texsolv Cords