If you are new to weaving and need help getting started, then you’re in the right place!
Hi, I’m Kate. I’m the person behind this blog. Back when I started trying to weave, there weren’t many resources available. I put a lot of time into researching old books and experimenting and wanted to share what I had learned. Weaving is such a fun and meaningful art form that I wanted it to be available to others to enjoy too. I started The Weaving Loom as a way to share weaving techniques that I have learned through my experiences.
This blog post is a round-up of a lot of the topics I’ve covered over the years. Especially the topics that are important to beginner’s.
Terminology
Let’s start from the beginning!
- A Loom is the structure that you use to give your weave support and tension as you work. There are a few different types of looms and my blog focuses on how to use a lap loom.
- The warp thread is the thread that is strung over the loom vertically, and holds the tension while you weave. This is the backbone of your weave.
- The weft thread is the thread that you weave between, around, and all over the warp threads. It creates your patterns and design in the weave.
These are the most important terms for understanding weaving, but I have pictures and a few more weaving terms here.
Lap Looms
Of course you’ll need a loom to start weaving. If you already have a lap loom, then great! Any of my tutorials can work on any lap loom. If you’re having trouble understanding how to do something on your specific loom then feel free to reach out to me and I’ll help the best I can (Kate@theweavingloom.com). If you don’t yet have a loom, then no problem. I have two ways to make your own loom:
- Make a frame into a loom – doing this gave me a huge 23” x 30” loom!
- Make a loom out of cardboard – really easy and can be made from cardboard you already have around the house.
- I also have some great frame looms for beginner’s in my shop
Weaving Tools
When starting out it is hard to know what tools you do and don’t need, and trust me you don’t need much. I’ve written on some of the basic weaving tools and some alternatives that might be in your home right now. I’m also including some of the yarn supplies I love.
- What is a Tapestry Beater and how does it work?
- The Tapestry Needle
- The Benefits of a Shed Stick
- My favorite warp thread
- My favorite hand-spun/hand-dyed yarn shop Amanda J French and yarn shop Hedgehog Fibres
Warping a loom (starting)
Now you’re really getting somewhere. I have a few posts on how to warp different looms. There are many different looking lap looms, but in my experience they warp up in one of two ways:
Weaving Techniques
This is the fun part of weaving! All the beauty and creativity go here, this is where you make your magic. I have posted on a bunch on weaving techniques and have already made a round-up of just the techniques here.
I also have a free beginner’s pattern that I send out when you sign up for my weekly newsletter and I made a Weave Along of fun lacy patterns, that you can follow along here.
And I hope you won’t need this, but incase you do, here’s my Top 7 Weaving Issues & Fixes
Finishing your weave (taking off the loom)
Now that you created something beautiful and unique to you, it’s time to take it off the loom so you can share it with the world. I have posted a lot of different ways to finish your weaves, whether you’re cutting your weave off the loom or using your warp loops to hang.
- How to Finish a Weave
- The Perfect Way to Tuck End Threads
- 6 Ways to Hang a Weave
- Don’t forget what you can hang your weaves from
Whoa, that’s a lot of info! Hopefully you’ve made it to the bottom of this post. This will definitely get you started on your weaving journey!! So now I would love to hear your story, how did you first discover the art of weaving? Have you woven before or is this your first time starting? I love to hear how others have found this art form that I love.
Happy Weaving!
Kate
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Anja de Vries
February 2, 2017 at 2:28 amHello Kate, compliments for your site. I wonder if you could help me. I saw once a simple loom to make scarves. It wasn’t a frame loom but a sort of device thatthe man kept around his body or legs to keep the warps tight. The advantage of this system over a frame loomis that one can weave long items like scarves. Do you know how this kind of loom is called? I can’t seem to find any pictures of this simple type of hand loom. Kind regards, Anja
Kate
February 9, 2017 at 4:48 pmThat sounds really interesting, but I don’t know what the device is called. It does remind me of belt weaving, where the weaver will attached the warp threads to something like the wall on one end and the other end is attached around their waist. They keep a tension on the warp threads with their body and weave in the weft. This might be similar to what you’re looking for?
Cindy
October 7, 2016 at 3:06 pmThank you SO MUCH for the work you put into this blog. I started weaving a month ago and it has been so, so helpful. Your own weaving works are beautiful and inspiring! Thank you again for such a fantastic, friendly and helpful resource.
Kate
October 9, 2016 at 5:46 pmThank you! I’m so glad it’s been helpful to you 🙂
Jennie landsgaard
October 20, 2016 at 10:14 pmThank you Kate for all the posts!!! I love reading, watching and learning all about weaving!!!
Thank you thank you!!
Jennie
Kate
October 25, 2016 at 2:29 pmHi Jeannie!
I’m so happy you’re enjoying the blog 🙂
Ayla
November 2, 2016 at 7:55 pmEstupenda guía, la seguiré con cuidado. Estoy empezando con esta técnica.
Besote!!!
Kate
November 10, 2016 at 3:19 pmGracias!
Shirah Miriam Aumann
December 1, 2016 at 8:22 pmA student of mine in tapestry techniques has purchased a frame loom for her mother for Christmas. She has asked me to help her find weaving instruction in Spanish as her mom only reads Spanish. Can you help me? I wish your valuable teachings could somehow benefit her mom… Mimi
Kate
December 4, 2016 at 10:37 pmOh, good question. I don’t know of any, but I’m sure they are out there. If you can’t find anything in Spanish, I know that you can Google Translate websites and I’m pretty sure there are readers that translate my site into their native language.
Hanka
January 1, 2017 at 11:20 amHi Kate,
A great blog – thank you. I am totally new to this and do not live in the same country as you, so I cannot buy yarn from the shops you recommended. Could you please recommend what general features make good yarn, e.g. the amount of cotton? Also what is the difference between yarn for weaving and other techniques like knitting, crochet or embroidery? Thank you a lot, Hanka
Kate
January 10, 2017 at 1:16 pmHi Hanka,
I like to use natural fiber yarns, like wool and cotton/linen. Acrylic yarns are ok, but they tend to me slippery and shiny, so I feel that the natural fibers look nicer. But weaving with a blended yarn is ok too, you really can weave with whatever you have. You can weave with the same yarns that you crochet or knit with. You could also use embroidery thread to weave, but it’s thinner and more costly, so I tend to stay away from it when weaving. The only thing I really worry about is what material I use for my warp thread. I like to use a 100% cotton thread for my warp, like a 100% cotton crochet thread, because it is strong and doesn’t have much stretch. I hope this has helped 🙂
Lori Parker
January 12, 2017 at 11:49 pmHi Kate,
Awesome blog and thank you , I am total new to this craft and would like to give it a try so I purchased this lacis kliot tapestry loom. I was wondering if you have heard of it and did I make a mistake in buying this loom cause I am a beginner and know nothing of this craft. It doesnt come with any tools or yarn or anything to get me started, can you help me figure out what I need to get started on my way to make a wall hanging or even a small tapestry. Thank you again for your blog. Lori
Kate
January 14, 2017 at 10:30 amI haven’t heard of those looms, but I looked it up and from what I can tell you can warp it similar to how I warp up my frame loom.
post here https://www.theweavingloom.com/back-to-the-basics-warping-a-frame-loom/ & a video here https://www.theweavingloom.com/weaving-lessons-warping-your-loom-videos/
I hope this can at least get you started, and feel free to reach out to me with questions.
Molly
January 19, 2017 at 4:03 pmHi Kate!
You’re website is sooo helpful, I appreciate all the time you have put in to help the rest of us 🙂 I just finished warping my loom (which i made from a picture frame, like your tutorial above). Now I have having a hard time knowing how to actually START the weave. My top and bottom strings are pretty far apart because of the frame, and i warped it tightly so they’re hard to maneuver — wondering if you had any advice. Also, do you start with a knot? I’m just not sure. I see all your great techniques that you go into and those are great and I cannot wait to use them!
Thanks so much for your help!!
Kate
January 22, 2017 at 12:59 pmThat’s great! I know exactly what you’re talking about, when you first warp the loom on a frame, the warp threads are spaced far apart. I just start by weaving the thread between the warp threads, pulling them towards each other. Keep weaving and with each row the warps will start to meet in the middle. This post talks about that in more detail https://www.theweavingloom.com/back-to-the-basics-warping-a-frame-loom/
The bottom might be a little messy, but once your warp threads start to come together you can fix the bottom thread by pulling it tighter through the warps. Do this by pulling your end thread. Feel free to reach out with any questions, it’s really easy to weave on a frame once you get the hang of it.