Continuous Weave Method

A weaver just asked me how to weave on the Triangle Loom. She couldn't figure out what to do with the shuttle. Since I just wrote out a nice set of instructions for her, I figured I'd better post it here to for everyone else as well. I'll take pictures next time I start a project and add them to these instructions.

First a few definitions for those who may not know these terms yet.

Shuttles
If you've ever woven on a loom (floor loom, tapestry loom, etc...) then you know what a shuttle is. If you don't know what a shuttle is don't worry about it. I'll define it at the end in case you're curious. For Triangle Loom weaving, you don't use a shuttle. A crochet hook works well - the longer the better. But you don't even need that if you don't have one. You leave the yarn as a skein or ball and work strait from that. There really is no waste and absolutely no need for a shuttle.

Warp
The yarn that goes strait across the loom. This is what you will weave over and under.

Weft
The yarn that weaves over and under the warp.

Starting Your Shawl

1. Let your skein or ball of yarn rest in a box or basket on the floor below your loom. This will keep it from rolling around as you work.
2. To start, tie the end of your yarn onto the left corner at the top (assuming you are putting the long side of the triangle at the top). If you are planning to have fringe on your shawl make the tail end of that knot the length you plan to make your fringe. It will become part of your fringe and you won't have do do anything more with that end when you're done.
3. Pull the yarn across to the right corner. You've created your first warp. Don't pull it too tight - when all the wefts weave across this it will tighten up. I usually leave mine drooping about an inch or two below the nails at the center on my 7 foot loom - less on my smaller looms.
4. Now go around the nail next to that right corner on the top rail.
5. Then go down to the nail just under that right corner on the side rail. You've created your first weft on the right side, the yarn going over the warp.
6. Go back across to the nail just under the left corner nail where you started with the knot. You've created your second warp.
7. Now go up to the nail on the top rail next to that left corner. You've created the first weft on the left side.

Weaving your Shawl

1. Notice how your first weft went over the first (top) warp. Your next one will need to go under that first warp and over the second warp.
2. Use your crochet hook to weave up through the two warps you created. Pull a loop of yarn down through. (If not using a crochet hook, just use your fingers to weave a loop of yarn down through).
3. You spread that loop out to each side to the nails just under the previously used nails on the side rails. So the left side of the loop becomes weft on the left, the bottom of the loop becomes the next warp and the right side of the loop becomes weft on the right.
4. If the yarn catches in the nails on the top rail as you pull it across, just lift it over. It should end up next to the nail you previously used on the top right.
5. Then you start at the top (now on the right side - you'll see what I mean) and weave another loop down... So your fabric forms at both sides and works in towards the middle instead of starting at the bottom and working toward the top like other looms.
   

For those of you still wondering what a shuttle is...
It's a tool that the weft yarn is wrapped around. On looms that use shuttles, the warp yarn and the weft yarn are two separate yarns. You then attach the end of your yarn on the shuttle to the warp already on your loom. Then you weave the shuttle through the warp back and forth. This pulls your weft yarn through and creates the fabric.