Make Your Own Simple Loom
Weaving can be as simple and inexpensive as using a cardboard loom. Here are links to videos that will show you how to make your own loom and weave on it or where to buy a little loom.
Weaving on a Cardboard Loom
Weaving History and Making and Weaving on a Cardboard Loom
Weave patches for clothing or other decorative touches on cloth. This video has a link to the buying one of the little looms. Other looms that are similar are available through Etsy and Amazon.
Complete instructions on how to build a PVC Loom
Pothold loopers design tool
Getting started weaving on a floor or table loom
I think the very best investment a new weaver could make would be to join Jane Stafford's School of Weaving. You sign up for one year at a time and have access to many excellent weaving videos for your money. In my opinion, Jane excels as a weaving instructor. She also just released a new file on warping your loom using her techniques for back to front warping.
Webs did a new video recently on how to wind a warp which is a companion to the video on warping your loom from back to front.
Peggy Osterkamp has an excellent warping dvd. She takes care to share small details in the process, like showing you how to make the various knots, etc. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/warpingaloom
And Louet had Jane Stafford do several videos in which the techniques are just a little different from the procedure on the Webs site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rawwNG7V2c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXEG6g9MYDQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2YBFQhaLJ0
Ashford looms has a series of tutorial videos that are excellent.
The Woolery has "how to" videos. Using a warping board and using a warping reel
Laura Fry has a series of short videos on various weaving subjects.
Here is a good video of how to chain the warp so that there are no twists in it.
Lamb on the Loom is a website with lots of tutorial videos about warping a loom and much more. She also has a great array of knots for weavers.
Eugene Textile Center has warping instructions in several videos.
Also, a nicely done hem stitch video here.
Longthread Media offers a lot of free e-books that are perfect for newer weavers.
Great series of short videos by Jane Stafford from the online school of weaving.
Four Shaft Direct Tie up Sampler
Here is a four shaft weaving sampler document, complete with instructions on how to weave with a direct tie up. Click to download
Inkle band weaving.
Inkle looms can let you weave bands, straps and bookmarks and allow for more advanced design work once you have learned the basics.
How to Warp and Weave on an Inkle Loom
Once you have learned to weave on your loom, you can design your own patterns on this site.
Card weaving (or tablet weaving) on an inkle loom is also a fun activity. Here is a video to get you started.
Rigid heddle weaving
Rigid Heddle looms come in a lot of sizes and makes. They are easy to warp and use and are generally less expensive than table or floor looms.
Rigid Heddle Weaving
Here is a document on how to read and use a pick up stick. Helpful information for rigid heddle weavers and others who want to do learn how to do pick up.
Tapestry Weaving
The American Tapestry Alliance has a bunch of tutorial videos. Also check out the links above to weaving on cardboard loom.
A great little You-Tube video about how to tighten and adjust the selvedge threads on a continuous warp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe5its7d3GQ
Instructions on making copper and pipe looms and how to warp them from the archives of Archie Brennan http://susanmartinmaffei.com/writings-2
Warping a continuous warp with a heddle bar link here
Finding new and used weaving equipment.
Table, floor and tapestry looms are also available for purchase. Finding a weaving store is not as easy as finding a knitting store, so here are some online sources that have catalogs with lots of weaving equipment choices. (If you decide to order from the Woolery, the guild will get a bonus from them if you click the link below).
Yarn Barn
The Woolery
Webs
Halcyon Yarn
Etsy Weaving Tools
Schacht Tapestry Looms
If you are looking for used equipment, you can try these online sources. Ravelry requires that you establish an account, but it is free.
Eugene Textile Center
Ravelry Warped Weavers Sale Page
Ravelry Weavers and Spinners Trading Post
Homestead Weaver
Reno Fiber Guild's Online Sales Pages
Weaving periodicals
Weaving has several magazines that are dedicated to sharing projects, weaving tips and much more.
The best bang for your buck is an online publication called Heddlecraft. Absolutely the best weaving magazine available now. Every issue has in depth articles about a particular weave structure, book reviews and more. Included with every issue are the wif files for the drafts contained in the articles.
Long Thread Media publishes Handwoven. Handwoven has lots of projects for beginning and experienced weavers, including rigid heddle projects.
And, for those interested in more complex weaves and excellent articles about weaving, join Complex Weavers . The CW Journal is available with membership and access to pdf files of back issues and some wif files. There are many study groups available to you when you join CW, including a free one on learning all about structure. You don't have to have a multishaft loom to enjoy the benefits of most of these study groups. https://www.complex-weavers.org/member-resources/
Learning to read weaving drafts
New weavers have a lot to learn and one of the fundamental skills they need to know is how to read a weaving draft. I find the explanation in Weaver's Craft hints clear and easy to understand. Also, for those of you with four shaft looms, here is a direct-tie up that makes your life simpler. And, have you thought about Pinterest as a source for weaving drafts? Here is a good page for four shaft drafts. I also like this two part series from Schacht Spindle Company about weaving a twill sampler. Part 1 and Part 2
Weaving Software and How to Use It
I believe that most of the weaving software companies allow you to download a demo version of their software for free. You won't be able to save your work or print it, but you can experiment with how to design and work with drafts. This way you will get a feel for which program or programs work best for you.
Weaveit - for a variety of devices
Tempo Weave - a work in progress, Beta version $1
Handweaving.net - a great resource for weaving drafts, but also has features to alter drafts. You can see some things on this site for free, but it requires a membership fee of $34.99/year for all of the drafts and tools. This may seem like a lot, but once you are started weaving, you may wish to join. The site also has tutorials that will help you get started using all of it's wonderful features. https://www.youtube.com/@handweavingnet603/videos
Facebook has a terrific resource for learning about weaving software and how to use it. It is called Weaving Software and you must have a FB account and join the group. After you are a member, you will have free access to many videos about how to use a variety of weaving software programs, plus links to tutorials, etc. Look in the Guides section of the FB page. I have a list of all of the zoom videos and links to lots of the Google Drive documents. E-mail renofiberguild@cnch.org and I'll be glad to share.
Finding weaving yarn sources
Last, but not least, people always want to know where they can find weaving yarns. Tien Chiu had a pretty good list on her website, so check out this list and then "shop til you drop".
A place to get great bargains on good quality yarns is Peter Patchis Yarns Get on the e-mail club list and Peter will e-mail you a list of bargain yarns every month. These are from production mills and dye houses. Great prices.
Links to Weaving Planning and Record Sheets
Thank you for the UpDated information.
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