8 Ways to Level Up Your Weaving Technique
written by Wiseheart & Wild
If you’ve mastered the basics of loom weaving and are ready to level up your technique, this is the blog post for you! We asked some weaving groups what helped them level up their weaving and which bits of equipment they absolutely can’t live without. Here’s some of the most popular answers:
credit: Wisheart & Wild
Experiment and Play
Warp your loom for a particular threading and sample. Try different setts, different wefts, mixing the fibres up, play with colours and take notes as you go. This will give you chance to understand a technique and make it your own.
Take a Course
If you’ve got the basics down but fancy getting even more complex then why not sign up for a course on a specific technique, there’s tons of great options out there.
Practice Your Selvedges!
Straight selvedges can be the toughest thing for new weavers but when you get them right it really shows. Take a bit of time when planning your warps to consider the edges of the piece and when weaving take time to work out the best way for you to get them just so!
credit: Wisheart & Wild
Upgrade Your Tools
This might mean converting your loom from a four-shaft to an eight-shaft, trading up from a table loom to a floor loom, or simply giving yours a bit of a service. Once you get going with your weaving you’ll probably start compiling a list of dream looms (we’ve all got them).
A Pirn Winder
If you’ve got a boat shuttle you’ll need a pirn winder! They can be quite expensive but our favourite ones are vintage Swedish lace bobbin winders, which can be found on Ebay. Other options include a drill with a controllable speed setting.
A Temple
If you’re weaving cloth or rugs you might find a temple helps you keep it from drawing in.
A Warping Board/Mill
Chances are if you you’ve wound a warp, you have a warping setup of some kind. However, a more substantial board is always a good investment. If space is an issue, or you’re renting so can’t screw stuff to the walls, a warping mill is an excellent alternative as they’re freestanding.
Shuttles
Stick shuttles or boat shuttles? Whichever you prefer. Boat shuttles are great for speed and smoothness of movement. They can be quite pricey but they’re definitely worth the investment. Stick shuttles are a little slower to use but Annie particularly likes using them when she’s working with multiple colours at the same time. Glimakra are our favourite brand for shuttles.
MEET THE AUTHORS
Owner of Wiseheart Textiles, designer and weaver Kate makes beautiful woven textiles with the intent of using traditional crafting techniques to create stunning pieces for a modern, sustainable home. As well as sharing her finished woven pieces, Kate also shares her time and knowledge in weaving and spinning workshops, all of which can be found on the Wiseheart and Wild online shop.
