Would you like to give weaving a try?
If you have ever fancied giving weaving a try, creating this mini cardboard loom is cheap, easy and can be made at home. Follow Feather & Hay’s instructions for making and then weaving on a cardboard loom.
Making the Cardboard Loom
Cut some cardboard into one main piece (I usually make them about 15cm square ish!) and two smaller pieces as pictured. The smaller pieces need to be the same width as your loom the depth can be about 2 cm.
Stick the two smaller pieces onto the main piece about 2 – 3 cm down from the edge.
Find the centre of the main piece. Measure and mark out from the centre in 1/2 cm increments.
For a 15cm width I would usually only create 12 increments on each side of the half way point so the weaving does not get too close to the edge. This makes it easier to manage.
Cut the 1/2 spaced increments – a small snip is needed. It only needs to be enough to slot the warp threads through.
Mark and cut matching increments at the opposite end of the loom. it is important they match up (hence why you need to measure from the centre).
Threading the warp threads: warping!
Tie a knot and place it through the first ‘slot’. The knot needs to be at the back of the loom.
Pull the warp thread down to the bottom and wrap it around the matching ‘slot’.
Remember to not pull too tight – it is more important to be consistent with the warping rather than needing to keep it tight!
Keep warping, hooking the threads around each ‘slot’. Create another knot at the end to stop the thread coming loose. You can tape the beginning and end down instead if preferred.
Now you’re ready to weave on the cardboard loom!
The loom has now been ‘warped’. Find a weft thread. Using a needle makes the weaving easy but it can be pulled over and under using your fingers.
Watch how to create PLAIN WEAVE
TIPS & How to get the fabric off when finished
Plain weave
Plain weave means the weft threads will go under one warp thread, then over one. At the end of the line – check whether you went over or under last and start with the opposite.
Tails
Whilst weaving I would suggest leaving the tails hanging out from your textile. At the end you can weave them in. Follow the line of weaving where the tail is for about 2 cm, then thread them down through to hide the tail – see the arrow in this photo:
New colours/Thread
To weave new colours/add more thread into the textile – start weaving a new thread, leaving a small tail hanging (you can come back to weave in the tail in when you’ve finished weaving – see above).
Pulling thread through
Consistency is key with weaving, try not to pull the threads hard at each side. As you weave from left to right it is a good idea to weave almost in a semi circle. Then pull the thread through gently. If you find your textile getting narrower it means you have been pulling too hard each time.
‘Beating’ the threads
After each row woven push the threads into place with your fingers.
Taking the textile off the Cardboard Loom
Check all the tails have been woven in and tidied.
To get your woven textile off the loom – cut along the top and bottom. Pull the textile off the loom – be careful as the threads can come loose until you’ve knotted the warp threads.
Tie pairs of warp threads together to fix the weft threads in place.
Resources
- Cardboard – thick enough to not bend easily (I use old postal boxes), stick 2 pieces together if needed.
- Scissors – for cutting the ‘slots’, cutting yarn and cutting off the textile
- Pencil and Ruler
- Glue
- Yarn – thicker is easy to handle for the size of the increments of this loom an Aran weight is good. A yarn approximately 2mm thick.
- Needle – it is easier to use a large needle but it is possible to weave threads in and out using your fingers.
Remember to show me what you make!