How do you get started with weaving?

Has weaving been a dream, but you find it difficult to get started?
Weaving can seem daunting to start. It is one of our oldest crafts, and throughout time a wealth of traditions, techniques, methods, and ways of weaving have been built up.

You can even train as a weaver, and throughout history, the weaver has held a very special status. There is a long and fascinating history behind weaving – and perhaps that is precisely why it can also seem a little intimidating.

Because how do you actually get started with this fascinating craft?

In the shop, I meet many who have never woven before, but who are curious, fascinated, and have a deep desire to begin. Perhaps they have been thinking about it for a long time without really knowing how to get started.

It is quite understandable, because weaving can truly open up a whole new world.

Once you get to know the craft, the possibilities become almost endless. You can create textiles exactly as you dream – with the materials, patterns, and colors you choose yourself. You no longer need to just buy the finished result. You can make it yourself.

WHICH LOOM SHOULD YOU START WITH?

A good way to begin is with a rigid heddle loom.
A rigid heddle loom is not as complicated as a floor loom. It is relatively easy to set up, and you can quickly get started with the actual weaving. This makes it really good for you who want to try your hand at weaving for the first time.

And the good thing about the rigid heddle loom is that you can develop along with the loom. Once you have mastered the basics, you can slowly start working more advanced techniques. With some rigid heddle looms, you can, among other things, work with two heddles, so you can start making more advanced weaves and create twill and other exciting structures in your textile.

In that way, a rigid heddle loom does not have to be just a beginner's loom. It can follow you and your skills as you become more proficient and want to explore new techniques.

But here it is worth looking around a bit, because rigid heddle looms are not all the same, and not all are equally good at creating a beautiful and even textile.

I think Ashford is a really good choice for the beginner. The looms are robust, and you can tension your weaving work properly. This makes a big difference to the finished result. At the same time, it is a loom you can enjoy for many years – and which actually just gets nicer with time.

WHAT SHOULD YOU WEAVE?

When getting started, I would recommend starting with a pattern.
There are indeed many calculations and considerations in weaving. I often find that beginners want to just jump into free creativity. And you can certainly do that later, but in the beginning, it can quickly become more complicated than you had imagined.

Suddenly, the yarn doesn't fit the reed, the yarn in the warp doesn't have the right strength or thickness, the weft doesn't match the warp, and the colors you had imagined might end up hiding in the pattern that emerges.

A good pattern helps you understand the connection between yarn, reed, warp, weft, colors, and density.

In that way, you can concentrate on learning the craft itself – and have a good experience with your first weaving project.

WHICH YARN SHOULD YOU USE?

For weaving, it is an advantage to choose a strong yarn, especially when you are a beginner.
The warp must be able to be tensioned well on the loom, and the yarn must be able to withstand the strain it is subjected to during weaving. Therefore, plied yarns are often a very good choice.

Venne Cottolin is a fantastic yarn for the beginner – but certainly also for the experienced weaver.

Cottolin is a blend of cotton and linen, and it produces a really lovely and durable fabric. It can be used for many different projects, including tea towels, cloths, placemats, table runners, and much more.

And perhaps that is exactly one of the best things about weaving: You start with yarn and end up with a completely unique piece of textile that you have created yourself.

START SMALL – AND BUILD FROM THERE

You don't need to know everything from the start.
Weaving is a craft where you learn a little at a time. Once you have tried setting up a loom and felt how the warp is tensioned, how the weft is passed through the warp, and how a pattern slowly emerges, many of the things that initially seemed complicated begin to make sense.

Start with a small project. Follow a good pattern. Choose a yarn that is easy to work with – and allow yourself to be a beginner.

Because that is exactly how you get started.
Welcome to the world of weaving!