Hetty Wickens

Wickens, Hetty; Weaving: Designing with a Rigid Heddle (Dryad leaflet), Dryad Press (1978), Pamphlet
During 9 minutes of dwell time at Reading Station, i started reading some of Hetty M.Wickens's Weaving: designing with a rigid heddle, published by Dryad Press in 1978 as Dryad Leaflet 527. So interesting it was that I felt the urge to consult the other 526. According to Wickens her heddle is useful. It had three positions: level, pushed down and lifted up. Its specific use is 'to separate warp threads and form a shed through which the weft passes' (page 2). I found most of the book difficult to understand as I have no knowledge or experience of weaving. The advice on page 15 is to start with a narrow heddle. They come in different sizes or at least widths some as wide as 51 centimetres. The booklet is well illustrated and for an accomplished heddler will be a great boon. I am still struggling with the meaning of 'shed'. We have one at the bottom of our garden and my Dad once got very annoyed when my aunt referred to it as a little shed.… (more)