Beginner Weaving Lessons Weaving Techniques

Weaving Techniques || The Plain Weave

Plain Weave | The Weaving Loom

 

A plain weave is the process of pulling the weft thread (horizontal thread) over the first warp thread (vertical thread), then under the second, over the third, and so on until you get to the end of the warp threads. I always start left to right and start my weave going over the first warp thread. This is because I can later weave in my loose end of thread easily. Starting by going under the first warp thread would cause the weave to look not as seamless.

Plain Weave 2 | The Weaving Loom

On the second pass back, you are now starting opposite of where you ended. So if my weft thread ended over the warp thread, my next pass back would be going right to left and passing under the warp thread, then going over, then under, and so on until the first warp thread is met again. The basic weave continues on in this way over as many warp threads as you wish.

Plain Weave Shed |The Weaving Loom

A trick to making this process quicker is to utilize your Shed Stick. Weave the shed stick all the way across your warp threads. Now when you are weaving with the shed stick turn the stick so it is vertical and creates a gap between the lower and upper warp threads. This gap is also known as the shed, hence the shed stick name 😉

Now you can quickly pass your weft thread, on a Stick Shuttle, through the shed. Once you are finished with this pass, lay your shed stick flat or horizontal again and push it up away from your weft threads. Now take your stick shuttle and use the corner to pick up the warp threads in the opposite way from before, working your weft thread across your piece. For the next pass bring your shed stick down by your weft again and turn it vertical to continue your weave in the same shed stick, then weave back pattern. You get the drift.

Happy Weaving!

Kate

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  • Cheryl Yoder
    April 30, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    I am so happy I found your site! Your tips and lessons are so helpful. I just started weaving on a loom I found at a Slavation Army. The sheet that came with it is not helpful at all. I tried a simple loom pattern last night and stopped half way through, the center wrap threads ended up to close together to work with. I can’t understand why? I didn’t do the filler rows tight. So with that being said, I am hoping to learn alot from you. Thank you for this info..

    • Kate
      May 2, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Hi Cheryl, that is exciting! Hopefully my posts can help you and if you end up still having issues then just shoot me an email. Welcome to the world of weaving! 😀

  • Teeli
    May 28, 2016 at 4:35 am

    Hi there from the other side of the world! I am sooo happy to have found your site it is so interesting and informative.I am a rank beginner with so much to learn and I know from what I have seen so far that I Wil soon be able to weave if not wkndrously at least well! Thank you!

    • Kate
      May 28, 2016 at 9:56 am

      Hi Teeli,

      That’s great! I’m happy to help 🙂

  • Stacey
    August 13, 2016 at 3:55 pm

    Hi Kate, I’m obsessed with weaving at the moment… It’s gorgeous! I love this site it’s so helpful but I’m on my very first weave on a pin loom that I made myself and have a question if you don’t mind?! I’m starting with a simple plain weave, but what do I do with the excess wool? Do I pull the whole lot through the loom?

    • Kate
      August 16, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      I don’t mind questions at all 🙂
      When weaving, just cut the thread when you’re done with it, leaving about 3 inches of a yarn tail. Later you weave in the yarn tails. I talk about it more and have pictures in this post https://www.theweavingloom.com/how-to-finish-a-weave/
      I hope this helps!