Check its key and direction
Do not assume a filled cell, dot or blank means the same thing in every book. Some charts are read bottom-up; others number rows differently. If you scan an image here, set whether Row 1 is at the bottom.
Inkle weaving · works on this device
Inkle Loom Pattern Generator
Design a free plain-weave band, download or print its numbered H/U warp order, or choose Baltic pickup for a row-by-row pick/drop sheet. Each workspace keeps only the controls for that task in view.
- 1Lay warp endsChoose a yarn and end in either order; the pair applies instantly.
- 2Check the resultCompare the exact woven order with a physical loom reference.
- 3Calculate & warpUse this saved draft for yarn totals and H/U order.
Start here
What are you designing?
Plain-weave draft
First warp
Draft auto-saved on this device
- 1Lay warp ends
- 2Check result
- 3Calculate & warp
Woven result
Warp-faced preview1. Choose yarn27 ends · Choose yarn
Warp plan
Ends 10–18 of 27
Ends 10–18 of 27
Choose a warp end and yarn color in either order. The second selection applies automatically; Mirror updates both opposite ends as one undoable step.
H/U matrix & precise edit
Numbered warping draft
Use the numbered draft for precise editing
Heddled Open Center
Baltic pickup
Design the motif, then weave it row by row
Tap a chart cell to choose which pattern thread to pick up. The weaving guide updates instantly. Read the chart-key and row-direction guide.
Setup7 pattern · 2 border each side · 8 background gaps · 12 rows
Edit visually
Motif chart
↑ Pick up
• Drop
Expert toolsImport motif text and use keyboard editing
All row instructions
Import an existing pattern
Convert it, review it, then open it in the editor
Paste chart text or scan a clear image. Nothing changes in your current draft until you confirm the preview. See how to read the source chart first.
- 1Add pattern
- 2Review result
- 3Open editor
Align the blue gridCount only motif cells, without labels.
Chart includes labels or margins?
Trim them until the blue overlay covers only motif cells.
Works best with a straight, two-color rectangular chart. You will correct the result before importing.
Your review appears here
Add a pattern on the left. The editor stays unchanged until you approve the result.
Draft ready?Your colors stay on this device.
Calculate yarn
Pattern checkDid this draft help you get ready to warp?Loading feedback…
From screen to loom
A pattern sheet that tells you what to do next
A plain-weave inkle pattern is mostly a warp color order. Every other thread passes through a heddle; the threads between them remain open. This tool keeps both rows numbered, so the preview never becomes detached from the physical setup. Use the inkle band width calculator to estimate how many warp ends your target width needs.
This tool keeps the main editor focused on warp-faced plain weave. The Baltic pickup starter above adds a separate pick/drop draft for first pickup motifs, so the printed sheet still stays tied to the setup you can check at the loom.
- Lay the warp: choose a numbered warp end and yarn color in either order. The second selection applies immediately; Mirror updates both ends as one Undo step.
- Check the result: compare the woven band, physical loom reference, H/U rows and color totals before cutting yarn.
- Plan yarn: calculate the length per end, total yarn and each color directly from this saved draft.
- Warp: open the tracker beside your loom and mark each thread as it goes on.
Need a starting point before designing from scratch? Open the free inkle band patterns and send any starter back into this generator.
Read the source chart first
How to read an inkle pick-up chart
Pickup charts can use different symbols and row directions. Start with the chart's own legend, thread setup and direction arrow before translating a motif.
Translate one row at a time
In this tool's text format, X means pick up that pattern thread and . means drop it. For seven pattern threads, ..X...X marks threads 3 and 7 to pick up for that row; the other five are drops.
Review before printing
Open Import pattern → Chart text, choose Baltic pickup motif, and preview the rows. Check their order and the pick/drop instructions before opening the editor or printing the weaving sheet.
Chart notation is source-specific. Interweave's pickup-chart example uses a filled-cell key for unheddled threads and reads from the bottom row up; Little Looms' basic draft guide explains heddled/open rows and checking the chart's color key. Follow our step-by-step guides on how to read an inkle loom pattern for plain-weave drafts and how to read inkle pickup patterns for Baltic motifs. The free starter catalog separates plain-weave color-order drafts and Baltic pickup motif starters; choose the matching technique before importing.
Read the draft before cutting yarn
Four checks prevent most setup surprises
The chart is a warping order, not a decorative grid. Read it from thread 1 toward the final thread and keep the chosen starting shed with the file.
Confirm the starting shed
Some projects begin with a heddled thread and others begin open. Choose the convention your loom plan or teacher uses; every later H/U label follows it.
Count heddles separately
The H total is the number of heddles needed for this simple alternating draft. The U total is the number of open warp threads.
Check color totals
The chips below the chart count each named color. Use them to catch a missing border or center thread before you measure and cut yarn.
Keep a portable copy
Save the pattern in the browser for quick return, then download the JSON file as a backup. The print sheet is for the loom; the JSON file remains editable.
Draft convention cross-checked against Ashford's inkle loom instructions and public Schacht inkle resources. Always follow the safety and warping instructions supplied with your own loom.
Plain-weave basics
Questions before you warp
What do H and U mean?
H is a heddled warp thread. U is an unheddled, or open, warp thread. Plain weave alternates between them from one thread to the next. Learn how to decode drafts in our guide on how to read an inkle loom pattern.
Does an inkle warp need an odd number of threads?
No. Both odd and even totals can work. With an odd total the first and last threads use the same shed; with an even total they use opposite sheds.
How many heddles does this pattern need?
Use the H total beside Warp threads. Changing the first thread between Heddled and Open recalculates that total and every label in the printed sequence.
Does the preview show the exact finished fabric?
No. It is a color-order preview. Yarn thickness, sett, tension, beat, twist and finishing all affect the physical band, so sample before committing to an important project.
Where are my patterns stored?
The working draft and saved pattern library stay in this browser on this device. Download the JSON file if you want a portable backup.
Can I download an inkle pattern for free?
Yes. Choose Download PDF for a numbered H/U warp sheet, or download the band preview as a PNG from More editing & files. No account or payment is required.
What does the plain-weave pattern generator include?
It includes warp thread count, color-order import, H/U shed labels, heddle count, color totals, a woven-result preview, direct PDF download, PNG export and a printable fallback. It is intended for simple warp-faced plain-weave inkle bands.
Can I use the pattern for items I sell?
Yes. Patterns you create with this tool are yours to use for personal or commercial weaving. Built-in starter colors and layout do not restrict your finished work.
How do I read an inkle pickup chart?
In this tool's motif format, X represents a target pattern thread above the weft and a period (.) represents a pattern thread below the weft. Rather than lifting every X or pushing down every period, compare the target motif against your loom's natural alternating H and U sheds to determine which specific threads to lift or lower on each pass. Learn how to decode these steps in our row-by-row guide on how to read inkle pickup patterns, or master standard color-order drafts first with our guide on how to read an inkle loom pattern.