Weaving with SweetGeorgia

Even with the advances in technology, people still find solace in sitting at a loom and creating their own cloth. The soothing rhythm of throwing the shuttle and treadling brings comfort and joy. This cloth we make can be towels found in our kitchens, it can wrap warmth around our loved ones and be beautiful art on our walls. With a bit of guidance and the right tools, anyone can make handmade cloth. This page, Weaving with SweetGeorgia, is filled with the steps you need to start your weaving journey.

With so much information at our fingertips, we’ve discovered numerous forms of weaving techniques. From using a small lap loom for tapestry to a foldable rigid heddle loom for easy-to-store projects and even floor looms that introduce intricate patterns into our fabric, weaving has never been easier to integrate into our daily lives. With so many sizes and functions, there is something for everyone.

Materials, Tools & Equipment for Weaving

Weaving Looms:

It can be easy to be overwhelmed with so many styles of weaving available today. We have an excellent post, How to Buy a Loom, which includes considerations for each loom style. Below are examples of each loom.

• Tapestry looms
• Rigid heddle looms
• Table looms
• Floor looms

Weaving Tools:

Every new craft comes with its essential extras. Explore the article, Essential Multi-Shaft Weaving Tools & Accessories and Essential Rigid Heddle Weaving Tools & Accessories are handy guides listing some general items weavers may find invaluable on their weaving journey. Here are three of the most common tools and add-ons:

• Warping boards 
• Stick or boat shuttles
• Additional reeds/heddles

Materials:

For many weavers, their previous yarn experience often involves knitting yarns. Weaving yarns, on the other hand, can feel like a whole new language and be quite intimidating. Here are some of the more popular weaving yarns.

• Gist Yarns
• Venne Yarns
• Ashford Yarns
• Maurice Brassard
• SweetGeorgia 20/2 Mulberry Silk

Articles on Yarn & Yardage:

• Those Pesky Numbers: Weaving Yarn Counts
• Avoid The Wrap: How To Use Math To Estimate Yarn Diameter
• How to Estimate the Amount of Weft Yarn for Any Weaving Project
• How to Estimate the Amount of Warp Yarn for Any Weaving Project
• Use Knitting Yarn for Cozy Handwoven Blankets
• Use Sock Yarn for Snuggly Handwoven Scarves

Articles on Weaving For All Styles of Weaving:

• Weaving Words: A Glossary of Weaving Terms
• Finishing Touches: Hems & Fringe for Handwoven Projects

Download our Weaving Loom & Equipment Guide

This little guide is just about the absolute basics of what you need to get started with weaving.

Weaving on Rigid Heddle Looms

Now that we’ve identified the essentials for starting your weaving journey, you might wonder where to find guidance on the actual weaving process. The School of SweetGeorgia offers a variety of excellent courses designed to walk you through the intricacies of weaving. Here is a great one to start with: Learn to Weave on Rigid Heddle.

Rigid Heddle Warping:

• Direct Warping on a Rigid Heddle Loom
• The Indirect Approach: Rigid Heddle Warping
• The Best of Both: Exploring Hybrid Warping

Core Courses:

• Weaving Essentials
• Rigid Heddle Basics
• Colour & Weave on a Rigid Heddle Loom
• Clasped Warp & Weft on a Rigid Heddle

Further Explorations on the Rigid Heddle Loom:

• Lace with Pick-Up Sticks on a Rigid Heddle
• Two-Heddle Weaving
• Two-Heddle Twills
• Weaving Krokbragd

Weaving on Multi-Shaft Looms

Whether you have two, four, eight, or more shafts, we’re here to help! Table or floor loom, we have a range of courses and articles to guide you through the basics and get you weaving in no time.

Multi-Shaft Warping:

• How to Wind a Warp for Weaving
• Warping Around: How to Use a Warping Mill

Shuttle Management:

• How to Weave with Multiple Weft Shuttles
• Four Awesome Reasons to Weave with Paper Quills

How-To Weaving Articles:

• Solutions to Smiles and Frowns in Our Weaving
• Choosing the Right Reed & Finding the Perfect Sett
• Weaving Reed Substitution Chart (And Free Chart Download!)
• Three Fundamental Weave Structures (And Why You Need To Know Them)
• Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals: Weaving with Fine Yarn
• Learning to Weave on a Large Loom

Our Fundamental Courses:

• Multi-Shaft Weaving Basics
• The Intentional Weaver
• Fundamentals of Weaving Series
• Magic in the Water

Dive Deep with These Courses:

• Sectional Warping
• Double Weave on 4-Shafts
• Weaving Overshot on 4-Shafts
• Weaving Crackle on 4-Shafts
• Weaving on Summer & Winter 4-Shafts
• Weaving Lace on Multi-Shaft looms

Explore Colour in Woven Cloth!

No matter the loom, colour has the power to transform a project. It can brighten our spirits, soften our moods, and draw the eye to key focal points. Join us on your colour journey with these courses and articles!

Colour Articles:

• Using Neutrals in Surprising Ways
• Creating a Complimentary Colour Palette
• Creating a Triad Colour Palette
• Creating a Monochromatic Palette
• What’s the Difference Between Hue, Saturation, and Value?
• Celebrate with Colour: Give Weaving Drafts a Holiday Makeover

Colour Courses:

• Colour Play (free course)
• Colour Mastery
• Handwoven Colour
• Handpainted Warps
• Weaving Plaids, Stripes & Tartans

The Art of Tapestry

Maybe the slow, artful rhythm of building shapes in a tapestry is more your style. We’ve got you covered there, too!

Tapestry Articles:

• What is Tapestry?
• Tapestry Looms: How to Choose Which One is Right for You

Tapestry Courses:

• Fundamentals of Tapestry
• Techniques in Tapestry

What Could We Weave?

Weaving allows us to express ourselves through texture, colour, and pattern. It offers a sense of mindfulness, relaxation and focus as we move with the rhythmic motions of the loom. Beyond its therapeutic benefits, weaving connects us to past traditions and gives us an appreciation for the craftsmanship of making cloth. 

• Textiles for the home (patterns for kitchen towels, pillow covers, blankets)
• Wearable weaving projects (shawls, scarves, stoles, ruanas)
• Make cloth to sew into garments or daily use items like tote bags
• Find our weaving project patterns here!

Support in Learning & Building Community

We understand that sometimes an article might not provide the support you need, and that’s okay. We have a few different ways to reach out for help or just have a fibre chat.

Community Resources:

• At the School of SweetGeorgia, we’ve built a vibrant and welcoming community of fibre-loving makers, passionate instructors, and dedicated staff. Whether you’re looking for guidance on a new technique or just need a little creative encouragement, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
• Not yet a member of the School? We invite you to come and see what it is all about! Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia Community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings! We discuss all things knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, machine knitting, and more! 
• Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter! It’s a simple way to stay updated on what’s new at SweetGeorgia and the School of SweetGeorgia, catch up on the latest articles, watch new SweetGeorgia YouTube videos, and be a part of our community without any pressure to post. We value your presence, no matter how you choose to connect with us!

Next Steps

Further Explorations:

• Learn to create colour combinations, starting with our free course, Colour Play.
• Alternatively, explore spinning your own yarns. Nothing is more magical than crocheting with handspun yarn. With over 20 spinning courses (and more on the way) dedicated solely to spinning, you’ll find everything you need to embark on this new skill.
• Feeling adventurous? Consider trying to dye your own yarn. Acid, fibre-reactive, or natural dyeing, these techniques offer exciting new ways to add that special touch to your crocheting.

We are very passionate about weaving here at SweetGeorgia and we want to share that enthusiasm with you. Join us in our studies, deep dives, and the love for crafting beautiful cloth.