Read the motif grid row by row, alternate the natural shed, then lift or lower only the charted pattern threads.
Read the 6×5 motif grid, observe the alternating natural shed, and see exactly which pattern threads lift or lower for each weft pass.
Core rule for Baltic pickup: An X (filled square) is the target pattern thread sitting above the weft; a dot (·) sits below. It is not an instruction to lift every X. Open the natural shed first; then lift or lower only the threads needed to match that row’s target motif.
| Row | Natural shed | P1 (end 3) | P2 (end 6) | P3 (end 9) | P4 (end 12) | P5 (end 15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | H shed | P1 up | P2 down | P3 down | P4 down | P5 up |
| Row 2 | U shed | P1 up | P2 up | P3 down | P4 up | P5 up |
| Row 3 | H shed | P1 down | P2 up | P3 up | P4 up | P5 down |
| Row 4 | U shed | P1 down | P2 down | P3 up | P4 down | P5 down |
| Row 5 | H shed | P1 down | P2 up | P3 up | P4 up | P5 down |
| Row 6 | U shed | P1 up | P2 up | P3 down | P4 up | P5 up |
Chart key: Filled square (■ or X) = pattern thread ABOVE the weft (visible motif float). Dot (·) = pattern thread BELOW the weft (hidden on underside). This is the target appearance, not an instruction to lift every X.
Row 1 worked steps: Open the natural H shed (heddled ends in upper layer; follow your loom manual for shed action). Pattern threads P1, P3, and P5 are naturally in the top layer. The motif calls for P1 and P5 on top, but P3 below. P1 and P5 already sit on top. Push P3 down into the lower shed. P2 and P4 are already below. Pass shuttle and beat. Before opening shed U for row 2, release P3 back to its natural shed.
| Row | Natural shed | Target motif | Lift from below | Lower from above | Worked explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | H upper (odd) | X...X |
None | P3 | Open natural H shed (odd row). P1, P3, and P5 are naturally in the upper layer. Target motif requires P1 and P5 up, but P3 down. Lower P3 to the bottom layer. P2 and P4 are already down. |
| Row 2 | U upper (even) | XX.XX |
P1, P5 | None | Open natural U shed (even row). P2 and P4 are naturally in the upper layer. Target motif requires P1, P2, P4, and P5 up. Lift P1 and P5 from the bottom layer. P3 remains naturally down. |
| Row 3 | H upper (odd) | .XXX. |
P2, P4 | P1, P5 | Open natural H shed (odd row). P3 is naturally in the upper layer. Lift P2 and P4 from below. Lower P1 and P5 from above. P3 remains up. |
| Row 4 | U upper (even) | ..X.. |
P3 | P2, P4 | Open natural U shed (even row). P2 and P4 are naturally in the upper layer, but target requires only P3 up. Lift P3 from below. Lower P2 and P4 from above. |
| Row 5 | H upper (odd) | .XXX. |
P2, P4 | P1, P5 | Open natural H shed (odd row). Same target as row 3: lift P2 and P4 from below; lower P1 and P5 from above. P3 remains up. |
| Row 6 | U upper (even) | XX.XX |
P1, P5 | None | Open natural U shed (even row). Same target as row 2: lift P1 and P5 from below. P2 and P4 remain naturally up; P3 remains naturally down. |
12 ground and border threads (cream 8/2 cotton) + 5 pattern threads (navy 8/4 cotton). Total: 9 H (heddled) / 8 U (open).
Bordered Pickup Key Fob woven and recorded by a maker following this exact sampling setup.
Float outcome, edge crispness, and band thickness depend on warp tension and beat firm-ness; physical width and strength were not independently laboratory-tested.
Understanding how warp color drafts differ from Baltic pickup motif charts.
In standard plain-weave inkle weaving, all threads alternate sheds across the entire warp to produce longitudinal stripes. Baltic pickup introduces independent pattern manipulation between ground ends. Master the color-order draft first if you are new to inkle notation.
Go to plain-weave draft guideFive vital rules that ensure clean geometric floats and prevent broken pattern repeats.
After passing the weft and beating, return all lifted and lowered pattern threads back to their natural shed before opening the next row. If you leave threads held out of position, the next shed may not open cleanly.
An X or filled cell indicates the pattern thread must sit above the weft. On row 1 (H upper), P1 and P5 are already on top naturally—do not touch them! Only lower P3 from above.
Read this starter from Row 1 at the top down to Row 6. Each row represents exactly one weft pass. Other publications may read bottom-up or chart only unheddled ends; never assume all charts follow the same layout.
This starter uses navy 8/4 cotton pattern ends with cream 8/2 cotton ground ends—approximately twice the linear density. Yarn thickness affects coverage; other yarn combinations need a sample before assuming the same result.
Pulling the weft too tight narrows the band and distorts pattern diamonds into tall, thin shapes. Beating too softly makes floats look loose and snag-prone.
Walk through rows 1 and 2 to see how the natural shed does most of the heavy lifting.
Row 1 detailed mechanics (H upper): Open the natural heddled shed (heddled ends in the upper layer). Pattern threads P1, P3, and P5 are naturally in the top layer. P2 and P4 rest in the lower layer. The target motif is X...X (P1 and P5 upper, P2–P4 lower). P1 and P5 are already upper. P2 and P4 are already lower. The only adjustment is to push P3 down into the lower shed. Pass the shuttle and beat.
Row 2 detailed mechanics (U upper): Return all threads to neutral, then open the natural open/unheddled shed (unheddled ends in the upper layer). P2 and P4 sit in the top layer. P1, P3, and P5 rest in the bottom layer. The target motif is XX.XX (P1, P2, P4, P5 upper, P3 lower). P2 and P4 are already upper. P3 is already lower. The only adjustment is to lift P1 and P5 from the lower shed into the upper layer. Pass the shuttle and beat.
Compare each target row with its natural shed. In this six-row starter, rows 1–6 need 1, 2, 4, 3, 4 and 2 pattern-thread adjustments respectively; leave the other pattern threads in their natural layer. Remember that drafts specify threading order and layer relationships rather than physical peg circuits or mechanical motions—consult your loom manual for how your model opens up and down sheds.
Printable sheets, interactive generators, and project finishing guides.
Download our free 2-page Letter teaching worksheet covering both Quiet Harbor (plain weave) and Bordered Pickup Key Fob. Includes complete warp orders, H/U threading, pickup row tables, and blank fields for recording your sample measurements.
Download 2-page starter PDFThis guide synthesizes established inkle pickup principles with maker-documented sample data:
