I have been getting more and more questions from new or prospective weavers about how to actually get started with weaving. The world of weaving is vast and if you do not already have a clear idea of where you want to go it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start.
Warped Fibers has well over 100 posts to teach you all about different types of weaving, tutorials for techniques, material and tool spotlights, weaving philosophy and so much more. That being said, you don’t know what you don’t know, so how do you know where to go first?
Weaving Guide For The Absolute Beginner
First, you will want to start your weaving journey by grabbing my FREE guide.
This guide will walk you through the very basics of figuring out where to start – including the most common weaving terms, types of weavings, types of looms, and more. This guide also includes many links that will help you move forward.
These links all go to various beginner friendly posts here on Warped Fibers that are great to read through to help you with the basics.
What happens after all of this though?
Go exploring
Instagram and pinterest are both perfect for finding inspiration to try and figure out what types of weaving you want to learn. Weaving comes in many different shapes and forms. By doing a bit of research and answering a few questions you can get a better idea of what you want to pursue.
See if you can answer these questions to get started:
Do you want to weave tapestry?
Are you interested in:
- Imagery?
- Abstract?
Do you want to weave functional work?
Are you interested in:
- Scarves?
- Towels?
- Rugs?
- Yardage for pillows etc.?
Are you interested in:
Do you like to work big?
Do you like to work small?
What is your material budget?
What is your equipment budget?
All of these questions can lead you to a good place to start with figuring out what is right for you. If you said yes to all of the above, well, then try to narrow it down to what is the most accessible for you to start out with. There will be time for you to try out everything eventually!
There are now 2 ways to take it – either purchase the whole course at once for a discount or “create your own” course by purchasing just the parts you want! Either way, get 10% off for being a member of the Warped Community!
Take a weaving class
One of the best ways for anyone to start weaving is to take a class.
Taking a weaving class allows you to not only learn from a weaver and ask questions, but if the class is in-person then it also allows you to use the tools and materials without purchasing them for yourself!
This is especially great for classes that involve large equipment like floor looms that you may want to try out before you invest the money and space in your home. I have had many students use this method and many who continue to take the class to keep access to the floor looms without purchasing and housing one themselves.
Classes can also help you to get started faster because the planning is usually already done for you. This way you can get into the weaving faster! Hopefully, the class will also teach you the planning, but admittedly it sometimes helps to get to the fun stuff before the tedious things when starting something new.
You can learn about planning your weaving project from my Weaving Planning & Process Guide.
Taking a weaving class is also great because it allows you to dedicate a specific time to learn something. Sometimes it can be hard to sit down and learn on your own time. That being said, you might want something you can do on your own time.
Online classes are great options if there are no classes near you or you can’t make them work with your schedule. These classes can usually be done on your own time so you don’t have to worry about learning to weave around someone else’s schedule, instead you get to learn on your own!
Just start
If after everything else, you are still not sure where to start, then I recommend just starting anywhere. I know that can be easy to say and not always easy to do, but tough love time.
Just start!
Let me let you in a little secret:
Your first weaving does not have to be perfect. Either does your second or your 100th.
It can be really easy to get caught up in the idea that you have to learn every little thing before you get started. And while I recommend learning about the techniques and mediums you want to use, if you wait to start anything until you know everything then you will never start.
So grab some cardboard, wrap some yarn around it, and try bringing weft to warp.
Learn how to make your own cardboard loom here.
Starting with a simple plain weave, you can get a feel for the act of weaving itself by playing with your materials. Think about color, texture, and more. Then think about what you wish you could be weaving and that is probably a good place to go next!
Samples can also be a great way to try things out before you devote your time and materials to a full project. If you go into a weaving knowing that it is a trial then it can help allow you to take chances and make mistakes. This is what will really help you to learn.
Learn more about why samples are important here.
If you are just trying things out then weaving with paper can also be a really good starting point. It is a surprisingly versatile weaving material that can go far beyond children’s crafts. It is also inexpensive which means it can be an accessible option for just about anyone.
The question of where to start your weaving adventure doesn’t have only one answer. Figuring out why weaving is calling to you can be one of the most helpful ways to find a starting place, and so does just starting literally anywhere.
One of the things that I love about creating this site is that I can bring weaving information to anyone who is willing to come find it. You can join my mailing list at any time and get an email whenever there is a new post. That way you can learn things you didn’t even know you didn’t know.
