How to Make a Weaving Loom?

Creating amazing pieces of art from scratch has high sentimental value. By using a handmade wooden tool known as a weaving loom, the value will increase double!

Here,this article will highlight the important steps on how to customize a budget-friendly weaving loom.

Try it out!

How to Make a Weaving Loom: A Budget-Friendly Guide + Tips

A weaving loom is a tool that is used to cross together two sets of threads to each other at the right angle. The thread that runs in longitudinal is known as a warp which will be the base for the loom. While the thread that crosses it is known as a weft.

By using a weaving loom, there is a lot of artwork that can you construct to express your creativity. For example; scarves, bed sheets, curtains, purses, wall hanging, woven floor puff, and many more!

Commonly, you can buy a piece of weaving loom starting from $130 for a small size and around $4400 for a big size. The price may differ according to places.

By following the steps below, you can build a budget-friendly weaving loom easily and save more money.

Materials needed to build a budget-friendly weaving loom

Prepare all these materials before starting the first steps for a smooth process.

For weaving frame: You can save your budget by using an old wooden picture frame that you may have had since long ago or buy it at a secondhand store.

The other option is to grab a cheap canvas at the economic store, remove the staplers to take the canvas out, and use its frame.

You also can buy 4 canvas stretcher bars at local art stores to make it as a frame for your weaving loom. Buy the size you want and find the cheapest one!

To attach the frame: You need to prepare a few nails, the glue that specifically uses in attaching wood material, or other related items to attach your frame in a stronghold.

Additional supplies: You may need these things later on in building a weaving loom; hammer/rubber mallet, ruler, scissors, threads, marker, drill.

Simple steps to build a budget-friendly weaving loom

Building frame:

• Insert the canvas stretcher bars’ slots on the corner that match each other. Put some glue to ensure they will have a good hold together. Then use a rubber mallet to bring corners tightly together.

If you are using an old wooden picture frame or cheap canvas frame, skip this step.

• Next, decide either you want to weave horizontally or vertically. This is to choose which sides you need to place your nails on for the threads to cross each other later.
• Then, starting from the inner corner and the lip of the frame, measure and mark every quarter inch. Do the same thing for both sides. You will have two straight lines on both sides to place your nails later.
• Find the center of both sides and mark every quarter or ½ inch for spacing the nails later.

Adding nails:

• The next step is adding nails to both ends of the frame. The nails will be in an alternate position between the first and second lines with equal spaces.
• Drill small holes to put the nails or you can directly hammer the nails half or quarter-inch to the frame.

Adding warp thread:

• Once the nails are already in their place, you can continue dressing the loom. Start with a simple knot at the end of the threads and looping it on the first nail. Then, bring it across the first nail on the other side

Tips: Make sure the nails that you are looping on are correlated with each other on both sides. First, nail to the first nail.

• Make sure you are hooking the warp yarn in every single nail. Use your finger to hold and make sure the tension of the warp yarn is on point. You can adjust the space according to the nails.

How to finish a weaving loom?

• Once you reach the last nail, secure the yarn by tying it off to the last nail a few times to make sure it stays in place and last it with a simple knot. Now your weaving loom is ready to use!

Tips: Make sure the warp’s tension is tight enough to ease the weaving process.

Weaving on!

To weave, you need to know essential items used in weaving such as weaving loom, threads; warp & weft, needles, types of yarn, and others.

You also can use knitting yarn for weaving but for more excellent results, use a weaving yarn. Research on what types of yarn you should use for weaving according to the art piece you want to do.

For a beginner, a good handloom used to learn to weave is a handloom with pins that are used for small piece weaving. It is cheaper, and the size is suitable for beginners so it will be easy to use.

The process of the weaving depends on the type, pattern, and style of artwork you want to work on. The steps are a bit similar to the beading process but without beads.

For finishing, it is a bit different from beading. When you want to remove weaving from the loom, take the bottom loop over the top loop on the first nail (peg). Then, move it from the first to the second nail (peg).

The first one is bound off now. Repeat the process until finished, cut the working yarn and leave extra length to tie it off.

After all, if you want to learn how to weave, the best way to learn is by joining a weaving class/course, consult with an experienced weaver, or as simple as watching a tutorial video on YouTube.

Conclusion

Enjoy weaving from the very basic step which is building a weaving loom. The best thing about making your weaving loom is, you can customize it based on what you want. Try now and impress everyone with your handmade artwork!