Weaving Supplies
These are just some of the weaving supplies and tools that I use in my studio. You won’t need all of these right away, but if you are looking to fill your studio then this is a good place to start!
Looking for supplies for my tapestry course? You can find materials for Weft-Faced: Tapestry Techniques & Beyond here!
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Yarn
Not sure how to choose the right yarn for your project? Check out THIS blog post first! These are some of my favorite yarns that I use all the time in the studio when making my tapestries, rugs, or scarves.
Warp
Warp yarn should be strong and smooth. Tapestry is traditionally made with either cotton or linen yarn because they excel in these two areas. I usually use cotton for samples because it is inexpensive and I save the linen for the finished piece.
Weft
Weft yarns can be literally anything! A lot of tapestry weavers use wool, but I personally use cotton and linen. I use a lot of different kinds – but these are my favorite.
When I do want to use wool, for either rugs, scarves or other projects I really like these options.
Looms
A weaving frame can be simple or complicated. I prefer simple looms because they give you the most options and don’t lock you into just one type of weaving! Check out the blog post HERE if you want to read more.
I usually use a simple frame loom made out of stretcher bars or repurposed picture frames. I love ordering my stretcher bars from Blick Art because they are fast and usually the least expensive option!
Picture frames can be found pretty much anywhere that sells home goods. I always check out the clearance sections for good deals! Make sure to look for frames that aren’t too ornate. You want square edges and a flat surface.
DICK BLICK STANDARD STRETCHER BARS
Floor looms are great for when you want to get into weaving complex patterns or larger pieces. There are a lot of different types of looms, but I most often use jack style looms. My floor loom is a great size for weaving up tapestries, scarves, or small rugs.
HARRISVILLE 36″, 8 HARNESS, 10 TREADLE FLOOR LOOM
Rigid heddle looms are a fantastic choice for smaller spaces, portable weaving, and smaller budgets. They work well for creating things like plain woven scarves and towels. My current rigid heddle loom:
Tools
You can spend as much or as little as you want on most weaving tools. Some tools can even be improvised by using something from around your house!
Learn how to use a warping board here.
These hooks are not made for this, but they work well and look great. I have a few small pieces of cardboard between the hook and the board to make an extra snug fit.
When I am finished with my scarves and want to easily create twisted fringe I use a fringe twister! Learn how to use one here.
Tapestry needles are blunt and have a large eye for the yarn. They usually come either straight or with a bent tip. I use both, but sometimes find the bent tip helpful when not using any shed tools. An extra long tapestry needle is also really helpful for when you are weaving on a loom without a shed. It allows you to go farther with less work!
Learn more about the different types of tapestry needles HERE.
STRAIGHT TAPESTRY NEEDLES 50PK
To compress your weft while weaving you will need something to beat it down. You can use a beater made for weaving (more comfortable to hold, usually allows you to beat harder, and probably spaced correctly for your EPI) or just a common hair comb or fork you can find around your house.
Learn more about the different types of tapestry beaters HERE.
SCHACHT DOUBLE-ENDED TAPESTRY BEATER
THREADSTHRUTIME METAL TINE TAPESTRY BEATER
Fabric scissors or yarn snips? It’s mostly personal preference! Yarn snips are great for when you want to quickly cut only a few yarns at a time. Fabric scissors are good for cutting larger areas or more yarns at once. Or you can use these adorable sheep scissors for snipping your yarn or embroidery threads.
I use both stick shuttles and boat shuttles while weaving on my floor loom. Stick shuttles are fantastic for tapestry or when you are using a larger yarn, and I love the ease of a boat shuttle when weaving up a balanced or pattern weave.
A lot of the yarn that I use can be bought on cones. Some yarn, though, only comes in skeins. When I purchase my yarn this way I need a way to turn it into a ball or cake for easier use.
You can read more about preparing skeins for weaving here.
Books
These books are a must for almost every weaver! They are great for quick reference and inspiration. The first two are primarily focused on those who weave on floor or table looms, but contain information that most weavers will find useful.
Weaving Studio Organization
I have an entire post on what I use to organize my weaving studio that you can read here! Just want the links? No worries. Here they are:
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