Denting and Cramming

As I mentioned before, I am participating in Jane Stafford's online guild. JST Guild  This is the 3rd year that she is making videos and projects to weave.  Even as an experienced weaver, I am learning a lot and getting inspired to try new things.

This year Jane is talking about various denting techniques, cramming or using a very high sett and denting or spreading the sett out.  By using these techniques she is creating some interesting fabrics.

While weaving, the fabric looks like it will not be usable due to the very open sett; however, by selective use of crammed denting, the fabric is held together.

Here is a picture of it off the loom with a black background.  You can see the shifting of the threads where it went over the beam.  These will adjust themselves in the finishing wash.


After wet finishing, the cloth changes quite a bit and becomes stable.  Because this is wool, I can control how much fulling happens when I wash it.

After I wove the first scarf I changed the weft to a thick silk and linen.  I wove 2" segments with the silk/linen and 2" segments with the thin wool.












For the third scarf I cut the first two off and changed the denting.  I re-sleyed using the skip denting technique.  Threading 12 ends then skipping 6 dents.










I used the same wool to weave the weft and the same spacing which leaves large holes in the fabric.

 The scarves are light weight, airy and beautiful.  I used a wool purchased from WEBS a few years ago.  It was a mill end and I don't remember the exact info on it.  All I know is that it is very thin.  I estimated a tabby sett to be about 30 EPI.

JST Online Guild

Jane Stafford's Online Guild

I recently joined JST online guild and it is the best thing I have done for my weaving.

Joining a guild is something that I have wanted to do, but there is not one close to me and attending would be difficult.  I think a local guild would be fun & interesting to go to and a great way to learn.

If you are in the same circumstances, I highly recommend Jane Stafford Textiles online guild.  This is the second year of her guild which you can find at this link:  JST Guild

Jane is making a series of video lessons that are released in segments throughout the year.  It is like you are attending a weaving workshop, but better.  You can choose when to watch the lessons, download projects and lesson information, and take your time weaving samples and projects.

If you have questions, there is a forum where you can get them answered by Jane and her assistants.  The forum also allows you to share what you have woven with everyone in the guild and see what others have done as well.  The forum is also a great place to research questions and answers from the past.

You can join the guild at any time.  Your subscription is 1 year from when you join and the best thing is that you have access to ALL of the lessons for the entire year.  You can watch them as many times as you want and do the projects on your schedule.   I was able to watch all of last year's lessons and start on this year also.

The cost is $75. Canadian, so a little less in USD and it is well worth it.  I have improved my weaving greatly since joining.  My selvedges are beautiful and I have stopped using a temple.  Jane has a contagious love of weaving and a relaxed, enjoyable way of presenting everything.  I look forward to each new episode.

Jane does sell kits for making the projects.  The kit has the project notes and full cones of the yarns needed, but you can use you own stash or buy your yarns from your favorite source.

After weaving for 5 years now, I did not think I would learn much about looms, warping and dressing the loom, but, boy was I wrong.  There were so many little things that Jane talks about and shows you that you need to watch all of the lessons.

Here is a Video from Jane explaining the guild:  View Video

This is a list of future guild subjects:

2018. The Full Colour and Design Workshop : seven amazing samples and I unload my entire process for you to scoop up and make your own,
2019. Pushing the Boundaries of Plain Weave 1 : Warp Faced, Weft Face, Denting, Cramming and Denting and Supplementary Warps,
2020. Introduction to Collapsible Fabrics and Double Weave,
2021. Twills on 4 Shafts: Small threadings, large threadings, tie-ups, basketweave and twill combinations, undulating twill, double faced twill,
2022. Lacey Places: Canvas Weave, Huck, Swedish Lace, Bronson Spot, Bronson Lace
2023. Units, Blocks and Profiles: Overshot, Monk’s Belt, Summer and Winter, M’s & O’s