Before you can really start weaving, you should consider what you want to weave: A soft and elegant scarf? A sturdy and absorbent tea towel? Depending on your goal, you'll need different materials and techniques – your project will determine the path.
While you typically work with traditional weaving yarn on a reed loom, you can even weave unusual materials like fabric scraps, paper, wire, or garden plants. In this article, however, we'll first look at the basics: the yarn.
If you are looking for high-quality looms, looms or weaving yarns, we recommend you take a look at our site – Berliner Webstühle – to throw.
Choosing yarn: The foundation of your fabric
Warp and weft – these are the two main components of weaving. The warp is stretched onto the frame, and the weft is wound onto a shuttle and guided through the warp. In the finished fabric, the warp threads run vertically, while the weft threads run horizontally.
Because your fabric is made up of both yarns, the right choice is crucial. Do you want a cuddly soft scarf? Then choose merino wool. Do you want a robust and absorbent fabric, such as for a towel? Then choose linen or cotton. Our tip: Take a look around your home and learn from the textiles that already surround you – which fibers are used in your favorite clothing?
Otherwise, you can of course also get advice. Browsing through a local craft store or yarn shop is not only a lot of fun—you'll often also meet like-minded people there with whom you can exchange ideas and be inspired.
What many beginners underestimate: handicraft markets or arts and crafts markets in your area! Just Google it – there are a surprising number of them, and you'll often find real treasures and personal contact with experienced hand weavers there.
What makes a good warp yarn?
There's a lot of debate surrounding the question of what yarns can be used to raise a loom. Our conclusion: Most yarns are generally suitable for warps.
But if you want to make things easy for yourself, pay attention to four things when choosing your warp yarn: It should be strong , smooth , evenly twisted and slightly stretchy .
You can find out exactly what this means below:
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Smoothness: Smooth yarns such as cotton or silk glide better through the shed and are easier to process, even when they are close together.
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(Slight) stretchability: A touch of elasticity is helpful because it allows the threads to stretch evenly when unwound, and slight tension differences are automatically compensated for. Too much stretch is also problematic: The fabric risks shrinking after weaving as soon as it's removed from the frame and the warp relaxes.
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Balanced twist: Almost every yarn consists of twisted individual threads. If these threads are twisted in only one direction (so-called single-thread yarn), tension is created in the material. During weaving, these threads can become tangled or the warp twists. Better: Use counter-twisted yarns, which lie more smoothly on the loom.
- Tensile strength: Test your yarn with a tug test: Pull sharply on both ends. If it doesn't break, that's good. Even better: Pull slowly and evenly. Does the yarn give slightly at first and then hold the tension? Perfect. Does it keep stretching and eventually break? In that case, it's better to use it as a weft yarn.
At Berliner Webstühle , we primarily use weaving yarns from the Dutch manufacturer Venne. Learn more here: Weaving Yarns .
What makes a good weft yarn?
Unlike the warp, the weft has a relaxed life: no tension, no excessive friction. It's important that the yarn glides easily through the shed, is easy to work with, and is soft enough to be folded back along the selvedges. Even delicate yarns work, as long as the warp is strong enough.
But the weft gives your fabric character. If you want a delicate, supple scarf, choose soft yarns that match the warp. A mix of silk warp and wiry wool weft won't produce a pleasant fabric—it's more of a scratchy experiment.
Want to know how much weft yarn you need for your project? Here's a guide to calculating how much weft yarn you need: How much weft yarn do you need? A quick guide for weavers.
Summary: What to look for in yarns
- Yarn thickness : For fine fabrics you need thin yarns, for voluminous textiles you need thick ones.
- Softness : If the fabric needs to be comfortable against the skin, choose soft yarns. This is less important for bags or rugs.
- Stability : Soft yarns are often less tear-resistant. Silk and some synthetic yarns are exceptions.
- Absorbency : Ideal for towels, less so for jackets.
- Case : If you want the fabric to flow beautifully, silk is ideal, but linen isn't (unless it's heavily wrinkled).
- Thermal insulation : Wool and silk keep you warm. Cotton and viscose are less so.
- Conductivity : Only relevant if you want to work with e-textiles.
With this knowledge, you're ready for your first project on the loom. Have fun experimenting and weaving!
If you are looking for high-quality looms, looms or weaving yarns, we recommend you take a look at our site – Berliner Webstühle – to throw.