When starting out, it’s sometimes hard to know where to find good resources for weaving supplies, so when I come across some good finds I will share what is on my wishlist.
Last week I was talking about how I can’t weave without a tapestry needle. And since I use them all the time in my weaving I decided to treat myself to some of the beautiful tapestry needles from Have Company.
If you haven’t heard of Have Company before, you need to check it out! It is a small business that has a whole lot of handmade goodness like art, home goods, much more then just weaving tools. It also has a podcast and artist residency.
Ever since seeing it, I just had to get the wooden tapestry needle, and let me tell you, it is even more lovely in person. Plus the size of it is excellent, especially if you’re creating a large weave.
I also had to get myself the bent tip tapestry needles. These are a pack of three different sized metal tapestry needles. As I talked about in my tapestry needle post, I find the bent tip to be extremely helpful when grabbing my warp threads.
Is there a weaving item you’re going to treat yourself to? Like a new loom, or some hand-spun yarn? Maybe a wooden tapestry needle? I would love to hear about any wishlist worthy items you have come across.
To read about what else is on my weaving wishlist, click here.
Happy Weaving!
Kate
This post was not sponsored, I’m just a super happy customer 🙂
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Stacy
September 8, 2015 at 8:11 pmI also finally bought bent weaving needle as well just haven’t gotten around to using it yet.. I like the wooden tapestry needle so that will be on top of wish list along with a tapestry beater..
Kate
September 8, 2015 at 8:56 pmOh man Stacy, you have to let me know if you like the bent needle once you use it. I obviously am obsessed with them. I just feel like they allow me to weave quicker, but the wooden needles are so pretty. Have a good one!
kelli winter
January 15, 2017 at 10:25 pmI just got a loom from A Wing and a Prayer Farm on Etsy. It came with a large wooden tapestry needle just like this one. I have been browsing and reading on how to start weaving. I have warped the loom and understand how to do a basic weave and use the shed stick.
What I cannot figure out is how to use this needle. My kit came with several small balls of yarn. I thought I would simply put the end of the of yarn through the hole in the needle and weave. But…this is hard to explain…am I meant to put the ball of yarn through the weft?
Darn it, I can not figure out how to ask this!?!
When I put the yarn through the needle and weave I end up not having any yarn to weave another row as the yarn is in the ball, it seems backwards.
When I learned to knit I had no idea that we were meant to wind the yarn into a ball, it is such a basic step that no one told me and I have no idea why I was ending up with a tangled mess.
This is the same situation, is there a step that needs to be taken before beginning to weave? Does the yarn need to be prepared in any way. In the pics of your weaving it never shows the other end of the yarn. Are you weaving with very short pieces of yarn? If you can understand what I am fumbling to ask maybe you can try to help?
I am stuck in trying to start weaving and frustrated with myself because I cannot figure out how to ask the question.
You are welcome to just delete this whole mess!
Kate
January 17, 2017 at 2:38 pmThanks for reaching out, this is a great question that I never realized should be explained. The answer is you have to weave with a cut piece of yarn because you’ll weave your yarn thread through the warp threads until there is about 3 – 4 inches of a yarn tail left (this yarn tail will be tucked in the back of the weave later when you finish it). I usually wrap a thread from my elbow to my wrist about 3 or 4 times and then cut it (so maybe 72 inches long?) , because that seems to be the longest I can weave with and not tangle. If I’m weaving smaller areas then I’ll cut the thread shorter. When you get to the end of your thread leave 3 – 4 inches of the thread and start your new thread also with 3 – 4 inches. At the end of your weave you’ll tuck in all those end threads. If you don’t want so much end work, I talk about using the weaver’s knot here https://www.theweavingloom.com/weaving-techniques-another-look-at-the-weavers-knot/
There are also shuttles and bobbins that can be used to hold your thread, I talk a little about them here https://www.theweavingloom.com/lets-talk-about-weaving-tools/
Have a great day!