Rigid-heddle Mardi Gras Scarf

Sometimes two things come together and make a design come to life. That’s what happened when Angela K. Schneider looked at a rigid-heddle warp she had designed for a class and saw the colors of Mardi Gras. By threading the heddle with gaps and leaving similar gaps in the weft, she transformed plain weave into a textured Mardi Gras scarf. —Susan

Structure: Plain weave.

Equipment: 2-shaft loom, 8" weaving width, 12-dent reed; or rigid-heddle loom, 8" weaving width, 12- or 12.5-dent heddle; 2 shuttles.

Yarns: Rayon bouclé (98% rayon/2% nylon; 1,200 yd/lb; Strings and Things).

Other supplies: Tapestry needle; ¼ " x 8" strip of heavy paper or card stock; 24–36 assorted beads (optional).

Sett: 12 or 12.5 epi

Width in reed: 78/12" in a 12-dent reed or heddle, 79/25" in a 12.5-dent heddle.

Woven length (measured under tension on the loom): 72".

Finished size after washing: 6" x 66" plus 6" fringe at each end.