Margins Scarf
The rhythmic and meditative process of weaving is a great way to end a long day, and our new Margins Scarf is the perfect project to come home to. Making it will put you in a happy place, and in the end, you will have a beautiful scarf, made by you!
Don’t be overwhelmed by weaving’s machinery and set up. It’s all a lot easier than you may think, and the amazement you’ll feel when fabric grows before your very eyes will make the small hurdle of learning very worth it! Start with Schacht Spindle Co’s tabletop Cricket Loom. A wonderful first loom, it is functional, compact, and beautifully engineered.
Weaving’s joys are always deepened by using really gorgeous yarns. For our Margins Scarf, we warped on with our new Cattail Silk and used our classic Line Weight for the weft. Beautiful fibers and a spare and lovely design, this is a project that welcomes you home for a happy night of weaving! -Jake
Materials
- To make your own Margins Scarf you will need…
- Warp Yarn A: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk, 100% silk. We used Porcelain White.
- Warp Yarn B: 1 skein of Cattail Silk. We used Wild Mulberry.
- Weft Yarn: 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool. We used Heirloom White.
- Schacht Spindle Co’s 15-inch Cricket Loom
- 15-inch, 12 dent Cricket Reed
We also found these tools from Schacht Spindle Co helpful. They aren’t necessary, but they do make the weaving go a bit faster!…
Structure
Weft Faced Plain Weave
Warp
Warp Length: 96 inches (includes 18 inches of loom waste)
Warp Ends: 156
Width in Reed: 13 inches
Ends Per Inch (E.P.I.): 14 E.P.I
Picks Per Inch (P.P.I.): 20 P.P.I.
Size
Finished Dimensions, On the Loom: 13 inches x 76 inches long with a 1-inch fringe
Finished Dimensions, Blocked: 10 3/4 inches x 74 inches long with a 1-inch of fringe
Note
The fabric of this scarf is a Weft Faced Plain Weave, which means there are more Picks Per Inch (think “rows”) than there are Ends Per Inch (think “columns”). In this case, the resulting density is slight but adds softness and drape to the fabric. To achieve the pattern’s 20 Picks Per Inch, be sure to lightly beat each weft strand twice.
Pattern
Warp The Loom
Set up the warping peg 96 inches from the back of the loom. Note that, at this point, the back of the loom is clamped to the far edge of the table and so is the side farther away from the warping peg.
With a 12-dent reed in place and using Warp Yarn A, begin threading the heddle by pulling the first loop of yarn through the 5th slat from the right end of the reed.
Working from right to left, thread Warp Yarn A through the next 6 slats. Cut yarn.
Warp Yarn B Step: Tie Warp Yarn B to the back apron bar and thread it through the next slat in the reed. Cut yarn and tie it to the back apron bar.
Tie Warp Yarn A to the back apron bar and thread it through the next 3 slats. Cut yarn and tie it to the back apron bar.
Repeat the Warp Yarn B Step.
Tie Warp Yarn A to the back apron bar and thread it through the next 57 slats. Cut yarn and tie it to the back apron bar.
Repeat the Warp Yarn B Step.
Tie Warp Yarn A to the back apron bar and thread it through the next 8 slats. Cut yarn and tie it to the back apron bar.
You should have a total of 78 slats threaded and 156 total warp threads, with 2 Warp Yarn B threads in slats number 8, 12, and 70 from the right.
Finish the warp according to the Cricket Loom instructions, transferring one strand from each slot to the hole to the right.
Tie on the warp to the front apron bar. Try to waste as little yarn as possible for the tie on, but do make sure the warp is secure.
Weave
Wind both of the shuttles with the Weft Yarn.
With scrap yarn, or using the Weft Yarn doubled, weave a couple of inches until the warp threads are evenly spread out.
Beginning with the reed in the up position, pass the shuttle with Yarn A through the shed from left to right, leaving a 36-inch tail (which you will use at the end for finishing).
Continuing with the Weft Yarn, weave in weft faced plain weave for 76 inches, beating each weft twice.
Cut the Weft Yarn, leaving a 36-inch tail for finishing.
Finish
For a complete how-to on this step, visit our Finishing with Hemstitch Tutorial.
Use the 36-inch tails to finish each end of the scarf with a hemstitch.
Make the hemstitch around groups of 4 warp ends across the width of the scarf.
Cut the fringe 1 inch from the end of the weaving.
Weave in the hemstitch tails and gently hand wash your finished scarf in cold water, laying it flat to dry.
Do you have a price on the bundle with just the yarn? I am a new weaver and would like to make this scarf. I have a cradle loom and a rigid heddle so do not need the loom.
Thank you
Judy
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! The Margins Scarf Bundle includes 2 skeins of Line Weight and 2 skeins of Cattail (1 in each color required) and sells for $97.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Do you have a knit pattern for thisscarf?
Hello Ann,
Thanks for writing in! We do not have a knit version of this scarf but I will certainly pass along your request.
Warmly,
Marilla
This looks lovely!! I just bought the yarn to make it!
Is the yarn coated? I am a novice weaver. I recently took a weaving class and my instructor said that regular yarn will break and we need to use coated yarn (and then after you finish weaving you wash the coating off). Your yarn is so beautiful and I really want to make this scarf. Do you ever have problems with uncoated yarn?
Hi Nora,
Thanks for writing in! Our yarn is not coated. We use the same yarn to weave as we do to knit and thus it is not coated as some yarns prepared just for weaving. We do not find that there are issues weaving this and our other projects with non-coated yarn.
I hope that this answers your questions!
Cassy
Hi, i bought a lightblue skein of wool “line weight ” last year and need some more for my weaving project. At least one more skein of this wool .do you have any suggestions where i can find this colour ? May be use a different type of yarn with the same qualities ?
Hi Lidwine,
Thanks for writing in! sadly, the color that you purchased has been discontinued. While we have none left, you may want to try to see if anyone on Ravelry has one that they are willing to part with. Alternately, you could try using a contrasting color of Line Weight to complete your project.
Best of luck!
Cassy
I’m allergic to wool. Instead of the Line Weight 100% merino wool, could I use 2 skeins of the Cattail Silk – maybe in Moon White? I’m open to any other suggestions.
Hello Nora,
Thanks for your question! I don’t see why not – go for it.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
I love these patterns and would absolutely love a pattern for a woven blanket, sewn together from smaller panels woven on the 15″ loom. I know it’s possible , but since you are so amazing at thinking of colors and patterns would be thrilled to get a pattern from you. The watercolor scarf seems like it might work 🙂
Thank you!
Lotta
Hi Lotta,
Thanks for writing in! What a great idea! We do not have such a pattern at present but you could certainly make several of these scarves and sew them together. We will certainly keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Cassy
Thank you VERY MUCH for your clear step-by-step warping instructions. This will be my very first project and I was feeling very intimidated about the warping process. I feel much more confident now!
Would it be possible to turn this into a table runner? What would have to change in the pattern or yarn choice? Thank you!
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! I think this pattern would be lovely for a table runner! Depending on the dimensions of the table you would be making this for, I would recommend increasing the width to suit the width of your table, from there you can work until you have reached your desired length. I would also recommend substituting the Line Weight out for a fiber with easier care (machine washable) like our Buttercup Cotton, Field Linen, or even Santolina! I think all three would work great with the Cattail Silk accent.
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Gianna
I purchased skeins of Field Linen and Cotton Pure in reds for the woven bag pattern (so excited!). I got an extra skein of the linen thinking I might weave a scarf with a touch of the red to match the bag.
Do you think Field Linen in cream/red would be a suitable sub for the silk yarn in this pattern? Thanks for the advice!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for writing in! I love the idea of weaving your scarf to match the bag!
Using Field Linen would be a very nice substitute for Cattail silk. The subtle shine of the linen would really lend itself to a Margins Scarf!
Happy weaving!
Carly