What is krokbragd weaving and how do I get started with it?

Kelly

6 years ago

Krokbragd weaving has captivated my weaving heart and mind ever since I first laid eyes on it. So, what is it krokbragd? And how is it pronounced?!

Krokbragd is a twill weave structure that originated in Sweden. It is usually (but not exclusively!) woven on 3 shafts and is weft faced (meaning the weft is dominant, covering most of the warp). I have heard it pronounced in several different ways, from “croak-brod”, to “croak- brog” or “crok – brag”.

This weave structure produces bold and colourful patterns. The weaving sequence has three simple steps and does not change, so the patterns are formed by changing colours. It’s quite magical!

The more you experiment with krokbragd, the more you feel that the possibilities are really endless.

Because the weft is packed in, krokbragd produces a dense, heavy fabric.

Historically, in Scandinavia, items with this structure were mainly heavy duty pieces such as chair and travel cushions as well as for warmth in the form of bed coverings.

It was also used artistically, mainly for wallhangings. It is likely that some wallhangings served a double purpose of keeping the home more cosy, as hangings were sometimes used as door coverings to keep out cold draughts.

Krokbragd lends itself beautifully to the rigid heddle loom and there are a number of ways you can set up your loom to achieve the three shafts you need for basic krokbragd.

If you find this weave structure as fascinating as I do, you may want to visit my free krokbragd tutorials for the rigid heddle loom on Youtube.