Pick-up sticks can be a game-changer for rigid heddle weaving. These simple tools expand your loom’s capabilities, allowing you to create intricate patterns beyond plain weave. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to elevate your skills, this guide will help you understand how to use pick-up sticks effectively.
A rigid heddle loom has 2 shafts, essentially the hole threads and the slot threads. These 2 shafts allow you to work plain weave, which is a perfectly lovely weave structure on it’s own, but most weavers will begin with plain weave and then want to increase their own skills and their loom’s capabilities.
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This is where pick up sticks enter and shine. Basically, they are simple, flat and smooth lengths of wood. You pick up warp threads and operate the stick/s from behind the heddle/reed. Your pick up sticks need to be longer than the width of your project, or they won’t hold the picked up threads. For my 24″ rigid heddle loom I use 24″ pick up sticks. I can use these same sticks whether my project is narrow or full loom width.
Incorporate one pick up stick and you can weave on 3 shafts. Incorporate two pick up sticks and you can weave on 4 shafts. And you can keep going from there, although you will probably want to learn about installing heddle rods to increase time efficiency. I happen to have a video showing you how to do that:
If that is a bit much for you at the moment, you can run with the knowledge that pick up sticks allow you to weave pretty patterns!
One of the rules of picking up warp threads with a stick is that your heddle needs to be in the “down” position. The threads we want to pick up must be slot threads, as the hole threads are already committed and are therefore inflexible.
Trying to pick up hole threads would be like trying to pick up the same threads twice! The slot threads are normally our shaft 2 threads and when we place the heddle in down position, they are raised.
Because we push our pick up stick/s to the back when not in use and they lay flat between the warp threads, they do not hinder you from being able to still operate shaft 2, as well as an additional shaft when the stick is engaged.
But I don’t think that you need to understand any of the above in order to use one or two pick up sticks, I certainly didn’t know what I was doing when I started with them. I just played around and liked what I saw and you can do the same!
Even if you are using a written pattern, you still don’t need a lot of understanding to follow them. If you see the instructions “1 up, 1 down” for your pick up, it simply means 1 warp thread will sit on top of the pick up stick, the next will sit underneath it and this will repeat across the warp.
The instructions for the actual weaving will be a little different, but easy to follow. Here is a simple weaving sequence as an example:
- Up (heddle up)
- Down (heddle down)
- Up, pick up stick (heddle up and slide pick up stick behind the heddle, leaving flat).
If you want to see pick up sticks and examples of pick up patterns demonstrated, watch my free Youtube video:
If you’re interested in exploring pick up in the form of a project, I can help! My Kitchen Cloths on a rigid heddle loom project is available as an online class.
In my Etsy shop, you will find my Lux Hand Towels pattern, which also uses pick up.
Oh, and let’s not forget the free pattern you receive when you sign up to my email list, the Moroccan Dream Scarf, which is easy enough for beginner pick up stick adventurists and can look so varied, depending on the yarn and colours you decide on.
I have some really cool pick up patterns for free, along with a video tutorial in this post.
I’m quite sure that you will be interested in taking a look at my Pick Up Stick Playlist on Youtube:
I also have a comprehensive course, Pick Up Perfection, available for purchase. If you have a membership to the Online Weaving School, this class is included for free.
I hope this has helped you to understand how pick up sticks can be utilised in your weaving. If this post has been useful to you or if you have any questions, please leave me a comment, I love to hear from you 😊
Until next time…
Happy Weaving!
Hi am a member of your school. Anyway I found a pattern on handweaving.net #742226 and was wondering would I be able to do this on my 19 inch wide ridgid heddle loom using two pickup sticks? love your videos
Hi Carolyn, I searched for that draft number but it doesn’t come up with anything for me 🤔
I love the runner sampler in your picture. I’m currently weaving a p/u stik pattern on my Cricket loom, actually. In your runner sampler, I’m looking at the pattern that looks like it criss crosses, or makes diamonds. What pick up stik pattern would that be? I’m dating this comment, because I see a previous comment of mine. I’ve progressed a bit from that time, with a lot of your help & care & videos & wonderful instruction, Kelly. Thank you a lot. : ) Liza Allen 5/22/21
Yes, I love the criss cross one too! I actually have a Youtube tutorial for this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KssS7xLH68g&t=12s
Looks like fun! I’m very happy with plain weave, but I would like to make some waffle weave facewashers. Thanks for the video.
You’re welcome! It sure is fun 😊
Kelly help me. I have Jane Patrick’s book and the drafts make no sense whatsoever. Thanks
Most of the techniques in the book are also given as steps, so you don’t necessarily need to understand the drafts.
I have a 20″ Schacht rigid heddle loom. What length pick up sticks should I get?
Your recent Slow Learner video has inspired me to take a hold of my confidence & move ahead. You’re a terrific teacher who really knows how to isolate the subject & explain simply, step by step teaching. Your videos & camera & sound work are excellent. No distractions with music or “fancy fingernail designs”. Thank you for all these important things to really teaching so I can get down to learning what I’m interested in. Best wishes for a happy, healthy new year to you & your family.
Hi Liza,
For my 24″ RHL I have 26″ pick up sticks and they are the perfect length.
I do love your “fancy fingernails” comment, that is something you will definitely never see on me, I’m way too practical for that! 😀
Happy new Year to you and thank you for all your support this year!
Thank you Kelly! The best explanation of using pick-up sticks I’ve seen.
Thank you so much Debby!
Kelly, Thank you so much! Many would have left it as it was. Your honesty and recognition of the error, even though completely understandable and unintentional, are just a few of the many things that make you – you! Can’t wait to get the time to watch the new video.
Oh thank you Emily! I have gained a very good understanding of copyright through having my online business, and honesty is definitely the best policy!
Thank you, Kelly, for the time you put into these videos. I hope to someday buy pickup sticks to use with my rigid heddle loom. Your explanation on how to use them was very clear.
Audrey, you can use anything you have around. A ruler. I actually prefer a knitting needle to count the pickup pattern then slide whatever under them. A stick shuttle works too. Or cut and double/triple up some cardboard and wrap it with tape in the length and width you need.
Absolutely, there are many ways to improvise and I always tell new weavers “you don’t need to buy all the things!”
Thank you Audrey 🙂
Thank you! This is perfectly in time with the delivery of my first pick up sticks yesterday 😊
Oh, wonderful! 😊
This is so like you: making lemonade out of lemons! Thanks for the extra effort! 🙂
Thank you Joyce 😊