Band weaving with 5 pattern threads

Using a Sunna double slotted heddle with 5 pattern threads.


The double slotted heddle is available in smaller sizes of 5, 7 and 9 shorter slots for patterns threads. These heddles can be used with a back strap, in a box loom or on a larger inkle loom.



UK: London  STOP PRESS!  

Here is a new outlet for the Sunna heddle including the Sunna 5 kit. They sell rigid heddles, inkle looms and yarn in very useful small amounts.Their shop is an Aladdin's cave.  Well worth browsing the online shop or better still visit their beautiful shop in London.  https://www.handweavers.co.uk/

Handweavers Studio London.

An ideal Christmas present.

An ideal Christmas present is the Sunna 5 kit. What a wonderful gift for someone interested in trying a new craft.  The kit contains everything that is needed to start weaving. The heddle is ready warped and the shuttle is wound with thread. There is a backstrap band and a clip for weaving. Three patterns are given.
Why not treat a friend this Christmas.



The Sunna 5 Kit:  everything you need to start to learn this wonderful craft. 



Pattern draft.

Weaving with the Sunna 5 heddle.


Here is a pattern for you to try with the Sunna 5 heddle. The five white pattern threads (shown as green on the weave draft) are threaded through the 5 shorter slots on the heddle. The pattern threads are twice as thick as the background and border threads. The pattern draft only shows the pattern threads which should appear on the surface of the band.

Here is the pattern draft for the simple pattern in white on a green background.

There are 40 picks for the pattern repeat but it is very easy to learn. Remember that on the odd numbered picks the heddle should be raised and the even numbered picks the heddle should be lowered.

The white pattern threads are twice the thickness of green background threads.  The weft is green.


Top side of woven band


Reverse side of woven band


Both sides of the band have lovely patterns.

Threading the Sunna 5 heddle.


Here is the threading for the Sunna heddle with 5 pattern slots. The 5 pattern threads are numbered and are indicated in red. They should be at least twice as thick as the background and border threads. You can use as many border threads as there are slots and holes in the heddle. I have only indicated four border threads on each side on this diagram. The Sunna 5 heddle has room for 12 border threads on each side.

Threading for Sunna 5 double slotted heddle

To help beginners learn to weave, there are two useful videos from Stoorstalka. 


Weaving Zigzag pattern with Stoorstalka band weaving kit Sunna 5.

Click here to view it. https://youtu.be/1yY2Vm_xBPI

Weaving hearts with Stoorstalka band weaving kit Sunna 5.

Click here to view it. https://youtu.be/d2A1K8oEWTU

Using a standard heddle or an inkle loom.

This pattern can also be woven using a standard heddle or on an inkle loom.

Threading for standard heddle.

For an inkle loom, the heddled threads are indicated by the hole and the unheddled threads by the slot. Note that the centre pattern thread is always threaded through the centre hole in the heddle. When you raise the heddle, the centre pattern thread numbered 3 (and pattern threads 1 and 5) will appear on the surface. If you look carefully at the pattern draft you will see that some squares have small dots.  This indicates the pattern threads that will appear on the surface when you raise or lower the heddle. When using the pattern draft, you may have to bring up a pattern thread from the bottom layer or push down a pattern thread from the top layer to weave the pattern.  See my YouTube video: Weaving narrow warp faced bands.



Susan J Foulkes  November 2017




A close up of the Sunna double slotted heddle with 5 pattern slots.

The Sunna heddles and kit can be brought direct from Stoorstålka.

Stoorstålka sell rigid heddles and shuttles for weaving narrow bands. They ship items worldwide. They supply double slotted heddles (the Sunna heddles) and double holed heddles (the Beavi heddle) as well as standard heddles with long slots and holes. Their web site is https://shop.stoorstalka.com/en/start.html

If you are in the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan,  Stoorstålka have a dedicated web site at

For Norway go to  https://no.stoorstalka.com/nb/

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for your great posts and videos, I have learned a lot from them! I am currently trying my first patterned band but have the problem that the pattern threads slip underneath the surrounding threads in all places where it only crosses one row and become more or less invisible. Do you know what my mistake might be? I do use a thicker yarn for the pattern threads so I suspect my tension is wrong but I am not sure in what way. I would be grateful for any advice.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Johanna
      It is great to hear that you have started weaving. Lets tackle what is happening on your first band.
      First, I am not sure what type of heddle you are using. If you are using a standard heddle which has long slots and holes, I assume that you have threaded it according to the diagram above. When you raise the heddle, three pattern threads should appear on the surface. The centre pattern thread is always threaded through the centre hole.
      Raise the heddle and look at the background threads that are next to the pattern thread in the centre. You can see that they are threaded through the long slot and go to the bottom layer of warp. When you put your weft through, these threads close up behind the pattern thread on the surface and hide it. If you had lowered the heddle instead and tried to bring the centre pattern threads up to the surface the two background threads on either side will try to crowd out the pattern thread so that it is partially hidden.
      Check that you are raising and lowering the heddle in the correct order, This is very important.
      Your pattern threads are thicker which is great so are you pulling the weft in tightly enough?
      Do read the notes on this page as it may also help. Do let me know how you get on.
      Susan

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  2. Hi Susan,
    After some experimenting it does seem to be the order that was the problem. I am shifting the pattern as I go and could not understand why patterns that looked good in the beginning of the band suddenly didn't work. Looking closely I can see that the order had changed. Thank you! I don't think I could have figured it out on my own.
    I have had great use of you site and videos. I began with the Stoorstålka starting kit and your descriptions helped me to move on from my first wobbly band unto the point where I felt confident enough to start designing my own patterned bands. Next time I will add the order to my design considerations and make it even better. You and your site has been my main teachers and I am very grateful!
    Johanna

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