Yarnworker Project Planning Sheet - Yarnworker - Know-how for the rigid heddle loom

Take-Up and Shrinkage
Take-up is the amount the fabric will rebound once it is released from the loom. Shrinkage is how much the fabric will change once it is washed. The amount of take up and shrinkage, depends on the fibers used and yarn construction. A general rule is to allow 10% for cotton, 15% for wool, and 20% for highly elastic yarns.
Sett
Sett is often discussed in relationship to a guesstimated balanced plain weave (BPW). A BPW has the same number of warp and weft yarns per square inch. To guesstimate a BPW sett, wrap a yarn around a ruler using light tension that mimics how the yarn will behave when relaxed. I like a wooden ruler that has a little grip so the yarns don’t slide easily, causing them to pack unevenly. Count the number of wraps and divide this number by two. By taking half the yarns away, you allow room for the weft to interlace with the warp in equal proportion—assuming you are using the same weight weft. This is just a place for you to start. You need to take into account the setts available to you and the desired look of your fabric.
Wraps Per Inch
Guesstimate of a plain-weave sett
Warp Length
The total length you would like your project to be, plus the percentage of take-up and shrinkage (see above), plus extra length called loom waste, to tie onto the front and back apron rods. For rigid-heddle weaving, 18″is generally accepted as an average loom waste, but the amount can vary depending on your loom and your project. Keep in mind that loom waste can be used for fringe.
Finished Length in Inches
Take-up and shrinkage
10% (1.1) cotton
15% (1.15) wool
20% (1.2) highly elastic yarns
Loom Waste
Warp Length
Number of Warp Ends
Finished Width in Inches
Take-up and shrinkage
10% (1.1) cotton
15% (1.15) wool
20% (1.2) highly elastic yarns
Sett
Warp End
Warp Yardage
Number of ends
Warp length
Total yards for Warp
Weft Yardage
Warp yardage
Total yds needed for weft
Woven Length
Finished length
Take-up and shrinkage
10% (1.1) cotton
15% (1.15) wool
20% (1.2) highly elastic yarns
Woven length
Tips for Using This Worksheet
Sett
Sett is often discussed in relationship to a guesstimated balanced plain weave (BPW). A BPW has the same number of warp and weft yarns per square inch. To guesstimate a BPW sett, wrap a yarn around a ruler using light tension that mimics how the yarn will behave when relaxed. I like a wooden ruler that has a little grip so the yarns don’t slide easily, causing them to pack unevenly. Count the number of wraps and divide this number by two. By taking half the yarns away, you allow room for the weft to interlace with the warp in equal proportion—assuming you are using the same weight weft. This is just a place for you to start. You need to take into account the setts available to you and the desired look of your fabric.
Take-Up and Shrinkage
Take-up is the amount the fabric will rebound once it is released from the loom. Shrinkage is how much the fabric will change once it is washed. The amount of take up and shrinkage, depends on the fibers used and yarn construction. A general rule is to allow 10% for cotton, 15% for wool, and 20% for highly elastic yarns.
Warp Length
The total length you would like your project to be, plus the percentage of take-up and shrinkage (see above), plus extra length called loom waste, to tie onto the front and back apron rods. For rigid-heddle weaving, 18″is generally accepted as an average loom waste, but the amount can vary depending on your loom and your project. Keep in mind that loom waste can be used for fringe.
Number of Warp Ends
The total number of warp ends in your project. If you are using the direct warping method, you are threading 2 ends at a time when threading the slots.
Number of Warp Ends
The total number of warp ends in your project. If you are using the direct warping method, you are threading 2 ends at a time when threading the slots.
Warp Yardage
The total amount of yarn you will need to warp your loom.
Weft Yardage
You can be more precise with this calculation by estimating your picks per inch and multiply that figure by your width in the rigid-heddle/reed, woven length, and take-up and shrinkage. I tend to cheat and just estimate a bit less yardage than my warp since no loom waste estimate is required for weft.
Woven Length
Most patterns don’t give you this number, but I like to have a ballpark figure for how much extra I need to weave to get the final length and width I’m looking for. If you are weaving one project on the warp, you can just weave until you can’t weave anymore, but if you are weaving multiple projects, it may be helpful to make this calculation.