Keeping Track of Repeats in Weaving Drafts: The Weaving Pattern Repeat Abacus
The Challenge of Counting Picks
When I sit at the loom, I want my focus to be entirely on the warp, the weft, and the unfolding cloth—on the creative energy of the design. But as any weaver knows, the need to constantly count picks, even on simple patterns, can shatter that quiet focus. It disrupts the mindful flow and, worst of all, can lead to costly errors and wasted yarn. That's why I rely on the Weaving Pattern Repeat Abacus. This simple tool keeps the meticulous count for me, so I can keep my concentration right where it belongs: on the beauty of the weaving process.
How the Abacus Tool Keeps Your Focus on the Craft
Because plain weave, or tabby weave, is one of the simplest weaving structures, involving an alternating over-under pattern, no doubt you find, as I do, that it requires less mental effort to track the weaving sequence.
This is the beauty of plain weave because I can devote all my creative energy to weaving the design, the color, the weft waves.
In this video I describe a practical way for tracking weaving progress when working on fiber art.
In the video, I am using the Theo Moorman technique to incorporate block-printed rice paper into a plain weave ground cloth.
Plain weave or tabby weave patterns are simple enough I can treadle between shafts 1 and 3 and shafts 2 and 4 to create the plain weave.
However, with the addition of other elements (in this video, strips of an image printed on rice paper) requires more precise monitoring of the number of picks (weft insertions) between each strip.
To help me count the picks, I use the “weaving pattern repeat abacus”.
Demonstration: By moving an abacus bead each time a pick is woven, I am able to keep an accurate count without losing focus on the weaving process. The abacus ensures that I have the correct spacing and placement of the rice paper pieces within the fabric.
Demonstration of the Wooden Weaving Pattern Repeat Abacus tool.
Improve Weaving Efficiency: Why Use a Manual Pick Counter?
The Weaving Pattern Repeat Abacus is designed to work seamlessly with your existing setup and is the ideal companion to The Weaver’s Perfect Memory.
When weaving, I use the abacus to keep track of the weaving pattern repeats. In the video above, see how The Weaver’s Perfect Memory is sitting on the castle and the pointer is horizontal, keeping my place as I weave this gamp.
Quick Take-Aways: Plain weave fabric may not need The Weaver's Perfect Memory to follow the weaving draft due to its simple tabby structure. However:
An abacus serves as a useful tool for maintaining an accurate count of picks.
In this case, eight picks have been woven, with the ninth pick marked by a bead.
The bead acts as a visual and tactile aid, ensuring easy and precise tracking during weaving.
Ready to Stop Counting and Start Creating?
If you struggle to keep an accurate count of picks, especially when integrating pattern repeats or special techniques, the Weaving Pattern Repeat Abacus is your screen-free solution.
The weaving pattern repeat abacus is an affordable, simple, and accessible tool that weavers of all levels will find to be a useful tool to add to your weaving studio, regardless of the complexity of the weaving draft. In the next post, I will talk about this.
Check out the How to Use page for more detailed pictures, videos, and information about using the Weaver’s Perfect Memory. Send us a note if you would like more information.
