Weaving on Your Journey Loom

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Basic Weaving Instructions

Weaving is the interlacing of vertical warp threads and horizontal weft threads. The weft is carried through the warp. Simple over-under-over weaving is called "tabby" weave and looks like this:

One way of weaving is to push the thread through with a shuttle, lifting every other thread to get the over-under pattern. This can be tedious. Here's another way.

Once your loom is warped (See Warping the Loom) you can separate the threads into two groups. One set will go above your weft, the other set below your weft. Since they're alternating groups, your weft yarn will end up over-under-over-under. Use a weaving batten or shed stick to separate the threads, or you can do it with your fingers.

When the threads are separated, you have created what's called a "shed." The shed is known in South America as the "mouth" of the loom.

Open the shed by turning the batten on its side. Then it's easy to slip the weft yarn through for the first row of weaving.

After you have woven several rows, you will see it is easy accidentally to pull the outer warp threads in, making the edges of the weaving pinch in. The outer edges are called "selveges" from self-edge. To keep your selveges straight, lay the yarn across at a slight angle. When you push the yarn down with your fingers or the batten, the small amount of slack will keep tension off the selvedges, keeping them straight.

Each row of weft goes under alternate warp threads. If you went under a thread in one row, in the next row you go over that thread. Continue weaving back and forth, alternating the sheds with each row.

You can use the batten to divide the warp threads into sheds. One set will go above, and the other set will go below the batten.

On the next row, the ones that were above will go below, and the ones that were below will go above the batten.

Free-style weaving with your fingers

This kind of weaving is known as tapestry weaving. After you have woven a few rows to make a foundation, try weaving across only some of the threads, back and forth, over and under.

Fill in the empty spaces by weaving another color over and under, around and back and forth. Keep the over-under pattern consistent through each row. This is a very fun and creative way to weave. You can make pictures, abstract designs, and different textures with different types and weights of yarns.

Congratulations! You're weaving!

You're ready to explore all the possibilities open to you. The Journey Loom is the perfect starting loom. It is so light, portable and simple you can weave anywhere. You can even take it with you when you fly!

Find out more about warping Journey Looms

Find out how to buy a Journey Loom

Learn about Weaving Circles, so you can join with others and find a community of like-minded people.