A month ago, I was a shut-in most days, sequestered in my bedroom playing video games up to 10 hours a day, depressed with no social life and struggling with my life in general.

One day, I decided I needed to start a hobby that took me away from all my devices, and as someone who is Hellenic, weaving was the first thing that spoke to me. I looked up some beginner’s videos on weaving, and went to the nearest craft store to pick up some starter supplies.

Ever since I started, my life has drastically improved. Everywhere I go with my loom, people start up conversations with me. I take it into work and people are intrigued and talk with me more than 10 seconds. My parents are proud of me because I’m applying to myself to something I’m passionate about, and my confidence is growing because I’m making progress on something I’m genuinely interested in.

I’ve only been doing it for a few weeks, but I am so happy that I chose this as a hobby. I may be new to it, and I’m not great at it (yet!!), but I’m having so much fun along the way.

(p.s. my therapist recommended I reach out to a weaving community to meet like-minded people)

I wanted to express my fear, outrage and sense of danger in this tapestry. It’s called “Run, River, Run (Should I Stay or Should I Go)”.
What do you think?

this is probably ~120 years old. it looks to be woven, but i’ve been wrong before! bonus points if anyone knows how to safely wash off the attic smell without damaging her :)

Earlier there was a conversation here about warp separators, and it got me thinking...

When you're separating sections of warp while winding or preparing a loom, what do you use?

Paper, sticks, slats, something else?

I started out using paper, but it always frustrated me, so I eventually changed my technique and have never looked back. 😄

I know there are some very definite opinions on this one, and I suspect it also depends quite a bit on where — and from whom — you learned to weave.

I'm curious about how other weavers approach it.

What do you use, and why?

Is it simply what you were taught, or have you tried different methods and found that one works better for you?

I'm particularly interested in whether people have changed their method over the years, and what made them change.

Find yourself a husband who insists you set up an 8’ loom in your living room

I had an interesting thing happen to me in a different sub. The OP asked what to do with a tiny ball of yarn left over at the end of the project. I estimate it was only 10 or 12 feet of yarn. I replied: 'as a weaver that's too small for me. I would throw it away.' Very quickly I got five down votes. I wanted to take a photo of the scrap from my last project as an example. (I still have it because it was a gift project and putting it the trash would have tipped off the receiver). I decided against it because they probably wouldn't understand and I would just get more down votes.

I figured as weavers you would be more supportive of me discarding 12 feet of yarn. I'm not exaggerating when I say, I have hundreds of miles of yarn in my stash. I recently warped a single tube of yarn that had 3.8 miles on it. And that's not even one of the big ones. I have 52 miles of one color and 200-ish pounds of another(length unknown).

So, 12 feet of boring yarn that no longer matches anything else in the stash. In the trash.

I visited an Ancient Greece themed exhibit at a museum, and these were identified as bobbins. Is this correct?

Hello! I've already read some guides and old posts to understand the basic differences and from what I understand, rigid heddle is simpler, floor looms give you more room to work with, and table looms are somewhere in between. Having the general idea still doesn't make choosing between three easier.

I keep getting stuck on the trade offs. Do I go for something smaller and easier to store or get a wider loom that gives me more options? More shafts or a simpler setup? The rigid heddle feels like the safe option but I'm worried I'll outgrow it. A floor loom feels closer to what I actually want but I'm not sure I'm ready to give it that much space at home. The table loom feels like it might not fully satisfy either option.

I'd really like to hear what other people chose for their first loom and how they feel about it now. The guides explain the differences but real experiences would help me make more sense of it. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to share!

I’m a hand spinner and VERY novice weaver. I don’t know how to sew at all besides doing straight lines with a machine and some basic embroidery…

But I have a dream to start making clothes for myself. Kind of like a capsule wardrobe, but of clothes I made. And I want to spin the yarn. And weave the cloth. And sew them. And decorate it with beads and embroidery. I know clothes have been made this way for millennia, but it seems such a daunting task.

My main question is, is this even worth trying to accomplish with the loom I own? I would have to create strips of yardage, and then probably suture two together along the long sides in order to make it wide enough to use in patterns?

Opinions? Reality checks? Encouragements?

I have always been a textile person and recently learned to weave on a big floor loom and love it. My question is, what to do with the fabric you weave? Iv always been a very practical person and with textiles like making things to be used. Iv been knitting for a while and love knitting sweaters to be worn. Most people make towels or scarves, but I don’t need towels or wear scarves! Iv seen ppl turning weaving into bags and other simple things which I love, but then how do you get past wanting a lot of weaving for you warp? A handbag only needs a yard or two of fabric but warping is a lot to just weave a yard. So what do you do? Thanks for any replies!

I'm pretty sure I like weaving, once I get into it. I like tablet weaving and regular weaving. I don't think I like inkle weaving, but to be fair I've only done it once and mostly I was screwing around without instructions.

I definitely don't like inkle-type looms. There's something about the shape, tensioning, and advancing the warp around all those pegs that just irritates me. Warping them is actually kind of fun though. I have a regular ashford inkle and a mini tablet loom so it's not just one model that I want to throw across the room. 😅

For regular weaving I have a Harrisville Easy Weaver (small) that I really like, except it maxes out at 6.5" and about 2.5 yards. I also have only the included 8-dent heddle so I feel limited in what it can make. I have an old-style Beka SG-20 with friction tensioning, and bad wrists (mine, not the loom's). I have 2 10-dent heddles, plus an 8 and a 12 for it. I'm having "sunk cost" issues with it even though I do really want to throw it across the room some days.

I've only been weaving since March so I still have learning moments that I know are the user and not the tools. But I wonder occasionally if I actually don't like weaving or if I just haven't found the right setup. I've been looking at band looms (box looms?) for tablet weaving and I've seen a lot of good reviews for Crickets here, but they're set up similar to the Beka and I'm worried I won't like that, either. I don't have a lot of space right now to dedicate to it as a hobby, which is why I keep looking for smaller options that still make a decent width cloth. I'm planning to take a course on a floor loom when they open up nearby to see if it makes my waffly mind up for me.

Is this "do-I don't-I" something anyone else has struggled with and how have you overcome it, or am I just a big whiner? 😂

This is my first time weaving on my Harrisville 4 shaft floor loom from start to finish. Before I’ve only ever played around with weaving on a warp that was already set up, and I’ve woven on a rigid heddle quite a bit.

I warped this from start to finish for some waffle weave dish towels. And despite a few mistakes (aka learning opportunities) I think it’s working.

The pattern is calling for 18 ppi, but despite my attempts, I’m still weaving at 16 ppi. Will this greatly affect the finished project?

If I loosen the tension will that possibly allow me to reach 18 ppi? I may stick with 16 for this towel and then work to get 18 on the next, but would love advice on how to achieve that.

Visited Peru and took a class in backstrap weaving from tradition Quechua weavers. Made a bracelet and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to add this technique to my repertoire.

So I got to the interlaced doubleweave part of the four-shaft sampler in "Doubleweave: Revised and Expanded", set up my first pick, and stared in dismay at the shed. It was a half inch (1.25cm) at its highest point. That's not a shed, that's a suggestion. I'm spoiled by 2-3" sheds, but still.

I spent some time shoving my slim Glimakra boat shuttles through, and finally decided enough was enough. I'd been thinking about different kinds of stick shuttles already, since the next thing I want to try is split-shed weaving. I didn't want to splurge on a Handywoman Shedstick without knowing if it would work out. After some image searches, I found netting shuttles. The point on one end might be just what I need for navigating a split shed, and they'd be slim enough for narrow sheds.

I bought a set of six cheap plastic ones to try, for a few dollars. I trimmed off the sharp bits on the ends with nail clippers. I was surprised when the first one took more yarn than the quill for my boat shuttle, without getting bulky. Then I tried using it, and it was exactly right. I have to make sure the point doesn't exit the shed when I don't want it to, but it passes through very easily no matter how small a shed I'm getting (the height varies depending on how many threads I've picked up). It winds on easily and winds off even more easily than a regular stick shuttle. I'm sold.

If anyone else has tiny sheds and wants a change from the standard stick, or if you're doing warp-thread manipulation like split-shed, inlay, or tapestry, pick up some cheap netting shuttles to try. I'll probably buy some wood or bamboo ones later myself. They come in lots of sizes.

Treat them gently when winding on, by the way... The spindle on the pointed end gets stabilized by the yarn, but it's vulnerable at first, so don't put a lot of tension on.

Meet the 25" Schacht Flip with stand that doubles as a cat tree! Warp it up and watch your cat go straight for it, especially if it's wool.

Am seriously contemplating warping the Flip again when this project comes off just to set it next to my floor loom as a decoy.

I know I know, probably won't work. Sigh.

Anyone else have some expensive cat tree pics to share?

I came home from a visit with a weaving friend with a new tablet loom she wasn't using. It still had her last unfinished project on it. My husband sees this and asks if that's just normal - to get a secondhand loom with someone's work still on it. He asked because it's the second loom (of 4 but they're small I swear! 😅) I've gotten secondhand with a project on it, and another loom I didn't buy also had half a scarf.

So I ask you - how often do you get looms with stuff already on them, and do you cut it off & chuck it, or finish the piece somehow?

I have always been interested in weaving and keeping seeing ads for Funem Studio looms but worry they may not be what I need.

I don’t want to spend too much money at first, I would rather upgrade as I go (just in case I find it to be more frustrating than fun)

Just curious if you learned from someone else or how you got started.

This upcoming year, I’m considering subscribing to a weaving resource but I can only really afford one. Long thread media, Jane Stafford, and the YarnWorkerU have all managed to catch my attention, but I know there are more out there and I am very open to suggestions.

If you could only choose one as a new ish weaver, which would you choose?

If you have subscribed to multiple of these, I would love to know what you thought of them as well.

Hello fellow weavers!

I am looking for ideas of IKEA hacks you have for your weaving and other fiber arts tools and spaces. I am planning a trip later this month and would love to get your ideas!

x-posted on the spinning sub as I also spin, knit, crochet.

Thanks!

I am looking to purchase a floor loom, as I have recently made a studio space in my house. Every weaver I've met says to NOT buy a new loom, as used looms are pretty easily had. However, every older loom I've woven on makes me want to smash it to bits. I don't want to figure out every stupid quirk of every pawl, ratchet and lam...I just want it to work!! Obviously, buying a new loom is an investment, but other than the cost savings, what's so great about a used loom? Have I just not met the right one yet? Is it worth waiting for a loom that meets my needs to show up on a listing somewhere, or should I just bite the bullet and buy one?

Hello everyone, hope this kind of post is allowed, very sorry if not. And sorry for potential mistakes, English is not my first language.

I've been looking at band weaving and tablet weaving for a while and finally started looking at looms. I found these incredible priced looms on the website knittingwoolshop.com and they almost seem too good to be true.

Internet search for potential scams have turned up mixed reviews so my question is: has anyone got any experience with this website? Is it legit or a scam?

Thanks :)

Hi everyone!

I’m basically a self-taught weaver. I learned on my rigid heddle loom, and I have made some things that I think are quite good over the years. I am primarily, however, a spinner. I love using my hand-spun yarn in my weavings.

I recently took a Jack-loom intensive at a local arts school. I’ve seen some really gorgeous woven pieces that use all kind of random warp materials (ribbons, handspun, etc). When I mentioned I’d like to warp the loom with some of my handspun, the teacher discouraged it and said you really should only use the warp yarn that comes on a cone.

My question is this; is this a universal rule for weaving on a jack loom? Or was this like, a rule for the class that you can break once you master warping the jack loom?

P.s. unrelatedly, I’m adding a photo of the project I ended up doing just because I’m proud of it so far!

In addition to the loom in my previous post I am also getting this small jacquard loom for weaving small things like traditional Lithuanian sashes (one is on the loom in the photos)

Someone used AI to answer a question on the handspinning subreddit (uh-oh!) and it turned into a book recs thread with me promising to post a list of book recommendations. I thought I’d share here as well and invite other book recommendations from the weavers who may or may not spin.

Hello! I'll be traveling to New Zealand (Queenstown, Wānaka, and Te Anau) and Australia (Sydney) at the end of the year from the USA and I'm highly considering purchasing some Ashford stuff while over there. I currently have a 10" Sample It loom, but I'd like to make larger projects so I've been eyeing the 24" Standard Rigid Heddle Loom and potentially the stand for it too.

A few things I'm wondering/considering:

1. If you have the original box the loom and/or stand came in, could you share the dimensions so I can see if it'll fit in my luggage please?
2. Any store recommendations for any of the locations (including regular yarn/fiber)? I currently have Frank's Corner in New Zealand, and Sydney's Morris and Sons, Greta's, and Cast off Collective on my list.
3. Pricing-wise, it looks like the prices are pretty similar in both countries, but the exchange rate is more favorable in NZ so I would most likely try to purchase there if possible!