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тШЕ Weaving Tutorials for Beginners & Kids | Loom Techniques, Lessons and Craft Projects тШЕ

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How to Weave Fabric & Build Your Own Looms

If you're interested in having a go at hand weaving, then you've come to the right place. Below you will find plenty of beginners information on the different looms available, plus online lessons for building, as well as using, different types of loom.

There are all kinds of looms which vary greatly in complexity and price. Peg looms and cardboard looms are cheap and perfect for trying weaving for the first time. I've focussed on the early stages of learning to weave on this page, and if you would like to take this hobby further, I recommend taking lessons so you can try using more complex and expensive looms before taking the plunge and buying one yourself.

You will also find some weaving tutorials to give you some great ideas for starter projects. I hope you find this page useful!

Photo by Georgette.

Top-Rated Weaving Looms

Wool Roving Weaving

This is a Kromski Harp loom which has been set up with a cotton warp and a wool roving weft.

Photo by Gwen Erin.

Some Weaving Terminology

A Few Terms To Know If You Are Keen To Weave on Looms

LOOM = The tool used to weave fabric.
WARP = The lengthwise, parallel threads on which you weave. They are held in position and kept under tension.
WEFT = The crosswise threads which are moved in and out of the warp threads.
HEDDLES = Long wires or threads inside a harness. Each heddle holds an individual thread of the warp in place.
HARNESS (sometimes called a SHAFT ) = A frame which holds the heddles. The harnesses move up and down to create the shed. Most commonly, there are 2 or 4 harnesses on a loom.
SHED = An opening created by lifting warp threads in different combinations. The opening/shed is for the weft thread to go through.
TREADLE = These raise the harnesses and are powered by the user's feet. The order in which the harnesses are raised determines the pattern of the woven fabric. Each treadle is tied (by the user) to each harness, or to multiple harnesses at once.
CASTLE = Holds the harnesses and is usually part of the loom's supporting framework.
SHUTTLE = Sticks which pass the weft threads across the warp threads.
REED = A metal 'comb' type tool which has metal strips set equal distances apart. This tool determines how many threads per inch there will be in your warp (8, 10, 12 and 15 are the most popular).
APRON = A piece of canvas which attaches to the cloth beam and the warp beam. It holds the bar/rod for attaching the warp threads to.
WARP BEAM = A beam at the rear of the loom where the warp is wrapped.
CLOTH BEAM = A beam at the front of the loom where the woven fabric (i.e. the cloth) is wound.
BRAKE = Stops the beams from turning until necessary.

For further weaving terms, have a look at this glossary.

Simple Loom

A simple loom like this one is a great starter loom, and is perfect for kids to use.

Photo by Sara.

Large Table Loom Weaving

This gorgeous fabric is being woven on an Ashford 4 shaft table loom.

Photo by Zaferina.

Types of Loom Available

There are several types of loom available, as well as a few variations of each type. I'm going to be covering the construction and use of cardboard looms, simple frame looms, potholder looms and peg looms on this page. If you enjoy weaving on these starter looms, then it would be a great idea to take a weaving class before investing in more complex and expensive looms. I will not be covering anything too complicated on this page as it is aimed at complete beginners.

Click here for the basic principles of weaving before you explore looms.

The looms you may come across are:

- FRAME LOOMS are quite simple, small and inexpensive. They consist of a wooden frame with 4 components; heddles, a heddle rod, a warp beam, and a shed stick.

- RIGID HEDDLE LOOMS are a popular choice and are cheaper than most types. They are simple and portable frame looms with rigid heddles to hold the warp threads still when weaving. They don't have multiple harnesses so the weave pattern is limited to plain weave designs. This type of loom is a bit more complicated than frame looms as it has 9 components including a cloth beam and apron bars.

- HARNESS LOOMS have multiple harnesses and are portable. The weaving width starts at about 15", and the loom has a beater that presses the woven threads down evenly throughout the weaving process. These are large looms and the 15+ components included with the loom allow greater control over the weave pattern. Harness looms can create large amounts of fabric quickly. Click here to learn about 4-Harness Looms.

- Table Looms are good for your first 'proper' loom purchase as they are small and lightweight enough to sit on a table. The possible weaving width can vary between about 15" and 22" usually. Table looms have levers on top rather than foot-operated treadles to lift the harnesses.

- FLOOR LOOMS are larger than table looms and use treadles to control the harnesses.

- BACKSTRAP LOOMS are a more casual and fun weaving tool, and are the most portable of all looms. They use a rigid heddle and you tie one end (via a backstrap) to yourself and then the other end to a fixed point like a tree/fence/table etc to maintain the tension.

- INKLE LOOMS are used for weaving belts and sashes.

- TAPESTRY LOOMS are very varied. The most basic is the simple peg loom which is great for beginners. On the other hand, the looms can be very big and complex with treadles and harnesses. These looms stand upright and the tapestries are woven section by section.

- DOBBY LOOMS have a mechanical or computerized system to lift the harnesses in a programmed sequence. They can have upto 40 harnesses.

- JACQUARD LOOMS allow each thread to be controlled individually and can be used to weave complex patterns and pictures.

Weaving Lesson Videos

View Weaving in Action for a Better Understanding

Weaving on a Cardboard Loom: by taylli | video info

365 ratings | 153,621 views

curated content from YouTube

Weaving Tutorials

How to Make and Use Your Own Looms

More professional and commercial looms will need to be bought, however you can make your own cardboard, wooden frame and peg looms quite easily yourself :-)

Make a Cardboard Loom: Make the easiest and cheapest loom and learn the basics.
How to Use a Peg Loom: How to weave on a wooden peg loom.
Peg Loom Details: Info on what you can use to weave and more.
Make a Peg Loom: How to construct your own own with wood and dowel.
How to Use a Frame Loom: How to build the loom and how to begin weaving on it.
DIY Simple Frame Loom: Build your own loom with a simple framework.
Small Frame Loom: Make a loom from a picture frame and nails.
Large Frame Loom: With extra additions for a more professional loom.
Giant Floor Loom: Create rugs on this loom using up old t-shirts and fabric rags.
DIY Potholder Loom: Make a square framed loom for making potholders with.
Using a Potholder Loom: A video lesson on weaving a potholder.
Downloadable Instructions: Tutorials for different types of loom.
Potholder Making Patterns: Patterns for different sizes of potholder loom.
Potholder Basics and Beyond: All you need to know about potholder looms.

Peg Loom Weaving

Weaving on a peg-loom with natural plant-dyed wool and wool roving.

Photo by Flyhoof.

Tapestry Weaving in Egypt

Photo by ~W~.

Weaving Tips & More How-Tos

Joining Fabric Strips: How to join strips of fabric to create a continuous piece.
Hula Hoop Loom: An unusual technique to make a woven circular shape.
Loom Making Tutorial: Efficient loom you can make yourself.
T-Shirt Weaving: Constructing a simple loom and making large fabric pieces from jersey.
Make Your Own Yarn: From fabric, plastic or even newspaper.
Check Weave Potholder: How to create a check pattern on a weavette pot holder loom.
PVC Pipe Loom: A cheap DIY loom - scroll down for the details.
Triangle Loom: How to build and use a triangle shaped loom.
4 Types of Cardboard Loom: Including circular looms to weave on.
Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom - Part 1: Nicely photographed guide to using this popular loom.
Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom - Part 2: Nicely photographed guide to using this popular loom.
DIY Inkle Loom: Narrow loom to make scarfs and guitar/bag straps on.
Tapestry Loom: Detailed step-by-step instructions on building a tapestry loom.
'L' Loom Plans: Instructions for constructing a very simple loom.

Salish Woven Art Hanging

This piece was woven on a frame loom and incorporates tapestry weaving techniques and woven-in fringe embellishment.
If you would like to know more about Salish Weaving, click here.

Photo by Georgette.

Weaving Basics & Further Information

Types of Weaving: 3 pages of weaving terms and types of loom.
Help Selecting a Loom: If you are serious about getting into weaving.
Weaving Background: Weaving history from around the world.
Buying a Weaving Loom: All about looms, and what to look for when buying.
Backstrap Loom Basics: All about this portable style of loom.
Frame Loom Basics: The construction and use of this type of handloom.
Harness Looms: A simple overview of what a harness loom contains.
Choosing the Right Loom: Quality guide to picking a loom to suit you.
Video Series: A series of videos on how to weave.

Rigid Heddle Weaving

The brand of loom is the Kromski Harp.

Photo by Michael Wade.

Woven Wall Hanging

Weaving can produce lovely unique wall art for your home.

The iPad photo is by Andrea..

Things To Make

For Beginners Without Expensive Equipment

Greetings Card: Create a lovely woven decoration on a card.
Woven Trivet: Rustic trivet made from scraps of fabric.
Woven Rag Rug: A no-sew rug which is useful for recycling fabric.
Eyeglasses Case: How to turn a potholder square into a glasses case.
Ribbon Pendant: Tutorial for weaving ribbon and making jewellery with it.
Woven Cork Tray: Doesn't need a loom but is a nice project.
Summer Placemat: Colourful mat made with t-shirt yarn.
Woven Leather Stool: Build a lovely stool with a woven top.
Sock Potholders: Use socks to create fabric loops for your loom.
Rope & Pom-Pom Rug: Impressive and colourful rug made by weaving with cardboard.

Potholders

Weaving on potholder looms produce woven squares which can be used as coasters or potholders, or joined together to make scarves, dishcloths, blankets etc.

Photo by Jill Erickson.

Woven Project Instructions

Cat Mat: Weave with fleece for a super soft rug.
Laptop or iPad Case: Weave soft yarn around your laptop or iPad.
Zakka Napkins: With sweet little designs embroidered on the front.
Bead Weaving: Technique for making beaded jewellery.
Potholder Rug: Patchwork mat made up of woven squares.
Hula Hoop Rug: How to weave a circular t-shirt rug.
DIY Flossy Bangle: Very pretty bangle revamp created using embroidery floss.
Paper Weave Cards: Simple but effective woven paper greetings cards.
Woven Rope Bench: Transform a bench by adding rope seating.
Complex Ojo De Dios: Beautiful woven 'God's Eye' decoration - a kit is available to buy.
Weaving a Doll's House Basket: Make a cute mini basket for a dollhouse.

Bead Weaving

You can also buy looms which weave beads rather than make woven fabric. This great piece is going to be a full image of the Beatles from the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Photo and beadwork by Peggy Dembicer.

Kente Cloth Loom

Traditional Kente cloth being woven in Ghana.

Photo by Lee D. Baker.

Kid's Weaving Activities

Woven Coasters: Using a styrofoam tray as the loom.
Weaving with Nature: Using natural and found items for creative works of art.
Branch Weaving: Using the natural shape of branches to create unique weaving patterns.
Dyed Wool Art: Weave with wool roving dyed with Kool Aid.
Homemade Jump Rope: Kids can weave the rope on their hands.
Woven Sun: Create a pretty circle decoration using a cereal box.
Miniature Weaving: How to do small scale weaving for jewelry.
Woven Watch Strap: Customize your watch with a DIY braided strap.

Handwoven Towels

Photo and weaving by Freya Willemoes-Wissing.

Weaving Inspiration & Blogs

Craftzine: Weaving archives of tutorials and great ideas.
Wall Hanging: Frame your woven art to display it on a wall.
Weavette Projets: Things that have been made with the popular Weavette loom.
Hand Woven Inspiration: Lovely complex hand woven products.
Handmade Rugs: Woven rugs of all kinds to give you ideas.
Craftster: Lots of people's projects on display to give you ideas.
eLoomaNation Gallery: Photos of home decor projects, accessories and more.
14 Year Old Weaver: Watching weaving in action in Guatamala.
WeaveZine: Lots of articles and interesting information.

Weaving in Nature

Use nature's loom by weaving between two tree branches.

Photo by Ergani Weaving.

Ikat Rug Weaving

Ikat Time Lapse - Large 540p Video Sharing.mov: by Whitney Matalone | video info

63 ratings | 7,921 views