You’ve been bitten by the weaving bug and have decided that your life is not complete without a loom in it. You find a used loom that peeks your interest. But before you seal the deal, you wonder: “How do I know if this loom is in good shape?”

I’ve got you, my friends! In this episode of A Handwoven Experience, I’ll walk you through a simple checklist that you can use to make sure any loom is ready for you to weave on it. There’s nothing better than creating fabric on a new-to-you loom! Happy weaving!

Show Notes –

Loom Maintenance – I found a great post on Warped Fibers all about taking care of your loom. I particularly appreciate the entire section on dealing with rust. It’s a great resource for any loom owner. Click here to read on. 

Loom-related Videos – Are you looking for more loom resources? Friends, I have you covered! Check out these episodes of A Handwoven Experience:

Ep. 24 All About Table Looms

Ep. 126 Identify Your Style of Loom

Ep. 151 Exploring My Jack Loom

Ep. 187 Rigid Heddle vs. Multi-Shaft Looms

Dress Your Loom Course

Now that you have a loom, are you ready to learn how to dress it? There’s still time to enroll in the July session of my Dress Your Loom class. This 6-week, online class will help you get your yarn off your shelf and onto your loom. I walk you through every step of the weaving process, from measuring your project to weaving and finishing. Click here for more information and to register. Hurry! Doors close on July 17th at 4PM CST!

The post Used Loom Buying Checklist appeared first on Acton Creative.

For every weaver, it is important to have at least a general idea of how your loom works. How does it separate the warp yarns, evenly smash the weft yarns, and forward the fabric? Those are good elements to know as you happily weave along.

So, I’m diving under my loom in order to point out exactly how my jack loom works (and as a bonus, I’ll explain why it’s called a “jack” loom). Please enjoy episode 151!

Show Notes –

Jack Loom vs Counterbalance Loom – Oooh, the great Madelyn Van Der Hoogt strikes again! She wrote an informative “Ask Madelyn” blog post about the difference between looms. Matter of fact, in the article she clarifies that the term “rising shed” is a misnomer. A shed doesn’t rise, but a shaft does. Instead, a shed merely opens. Fascinating! (Mind you, I read the blog post AFTER I recorded my episode, so of course I alluded to a “rising shed”! Ha!) Here is the link so you can check it out yourself. 

Treadles & Tie-Ups – There are few episodes that I film while sitting on the floor. But, I do have a popular video all about treadles and tie-ups that requires a little criss-cross-applesauce action. Click here to see it for yourself. 

Acton Creative Insiders – 

Do you love all things Acton Creative? Want event more? I have just the thing! I’ve partnered with Patreon to bring you the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership includes personal insights, weaving tips/tricks, and small group chats every single month. All we’re missing is you!  This link will take you right to the AC Insiders page where you can see more details and register today. I can’t wait to have you as part of the team!

The post Exploring My Jack Loom appeared first on Acton Creative.

Moving the beater bar forward and back is a major motion in the weaving process. So, how should this go? In episode 142, I’m walking you through the process and strategy for moving the beater bar. Soon, it’ll become second nature! Happy Weaving!

Show Notes –

History of Looms – I found a lovely history of looms on a site called ThulaTula, which sells blankets that are ethically and sustainably made in South Africa! They have a really interesting story. Take a peek here to dive in. 

Other helpful episodes – In this video, I tossed out some patterns and terms. Here are the accompanying episodes if you want to dive deeper!

Ep 139 – Playing with Pinwheels
Ep 78 – Houndstooth How-To
Ep 69 – What is ppi? 
Ep 47 – Nuts & Bolts of Rep Weave

Acton Creative Insiders

You are cordially invited to join the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership is the perfect spot to find monthly weaving tips to further your weaving journey, behind-the-scenes access to keep you in the “know”, and a direct line to me for an individualized experience! Click here to become a member. I can’t wait for you to join us!

The post Moving the Beater Bar appeared first on Acton Creative.

So in this episode, I’m walking you through 2 options on how to organize your moving parts. I’ll talk you through the method I use and discuss why I do it. Then, I’ll present the other option and you can decide for yourself which one is the best fit for you!

Enjoy episode 84 of A Handwoven Experience.

Show Notes –

Inspiring Weavers – While it might seem like a very small, elite group, there are, in fact, many weavers in the world weaving amazing things as we speak. I found a lovely blog post from Make Works that lists “10 Weavers To Get You Weaving”. In it, you’ll find a fabulous variety of styles and items that will hopefully spark your creativity! You can enjoy the article right here.

All About Table Looms – In today’s video, I’m sitting at my 15″ 4-shaft Schacht table loom, which is a fabulous loom if you are short on space. If you’d like to find out more about the world of table looms, take a peek at episode 24 right here. Maybe you’ll be encouraged to buy your own!

Acton Creative Insiders – 

Do you love all things Acton Creative? Want event more? I have just the thing! I’ve partnered with Patreon to bring you the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership includes personal insights, weaving tips/tricks, and behind-the-scenes action every single week! All we’re missing is you!  This link will take you right to the AC Insiders page where you can see more details and register today! I can’t wait to have you as part of the team!

The post Moving Parts appeared first on Acton Creative.

I firmly believe that weaving, just like life, isn’t going to be perfect. Therefore, we need a big picture view to determine where to spend our time and where to carry on. Check out episode 75 and let me know if you agree. Enjoy!

Show Notes –

A Sett Chart – Do you struggle with how to space your warp yarns? It can feel like a mystery! However, the fabulous Jane Stafford has a Master Sett Chart that does an amazing job of providing the information you need to make good decisions concerning how far apart to spread your warp yarns. Take a look at her marvelous chart right here.

The Reliable Reed – Back at episode 33, I did a deep dive into weaving reeds and how they function. If you want to be sure you understand the basics, this is the episode for you. Click here to absorb all the weaver-y details!

October Weave Along –

The October Weave Along is picking up steam and the participating weavers are already creating brilliant things! If you haven’t checked out this month-long weaving program yet, there is still plenty of time. You are invited to join us!

We have a Facebook group called the Acton Creative October Weave Along where weavers are connecting from all over! And there is much more information for you at the homepage right here. 

So if you are looking for some inspiration to return to weaving, or want to chat with other weavers, or simply want to try your hand at some 1/3 twill (our official October Weave Along pattern), this is the place for you! I can’t wait to see you there!

AC Insiders –

Are you enjoying Acton Creative, finding lots of value? You are officially invited to join the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership, hosted by Patreon, is a fabulous way to support and be in “know” for all things Acton Creative. Click here to become a member. I can’t wait for you to join us!

The post When to re-sley the reed appeared first on Acton Creative.

A topic like the weaving shed isn’t something you need to continuously mull over. But, if you haven’t been introduced to it yet, it’s important to understand a little bit about it.

Take a look at episode 60 of A Handwoven Experience to find out more.

Show Notes –

Spring Cleaning – I found a great article from Deb Essen at Handwoven Magazine talking about the importance of a clean weaving shed and a few things to do to guarantee you have one. Take a peek right here! 

X’s and O’s – The wonderfully informative Jane Stafford wrote a blog post about rising sheds and sinking sheds, and what that means for your tie-ups. What I particularly found interesting was that when you’re reading a weaving draft, you can tell how it is written (for rising shed or sinking shed) by what symbol is used. If you see “o’s”, the draft is written for a rising shed loom, and “x’s” for a sinking shed. Brilliant! Read the entire thing to find her clever trick for remembering which is which.

Treadles and Tie-ups – Need a quick refresher? I’ve got just the thing! Back in episode 35, I gave a quick overview of those exact components. You can see it here. 

Now, you!

What kind of loom do you have? Does it have a rising shed, or a sinking shed?

AC Insiders –

Have you heard the great news? I’ve partnered with Patreon to bring you the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership offers you a behind-the-scenes look at life as a weaver. You’ll get discounts on products and classes. Plus, you are the first to know about all the good stuff coming down the pike (because you’ll get to help create it)!

Have I piqued your interest? Want to know more? This link will take you right to the AC Insiders page where you can see more details and register today! I can’t wait to have you as part of the team!

The post The Weaving Shed appeared first on Acton Creative.

There are essentially two different methods for dressing a loom and weavers feel very strongly about their method. For me, I dress my loom front-to-back, which I love! It suits my style of weaving along with the materials I enjoy working with.

But, there’s an entire world of weavers who do it differently – back-to-front. And isn’t that amazing? Check out this week’s video to hear all about the great debate. And Happy Weaving!

Show Notes –

Methods of warping the loom – Madelyn Van Der Hoogt is a fabulous resource for all things weaving. And I found a wonderful article she wrote about getting your project into the loom. Matter of fact, she talks about three different ways to dress a loom. Bonus! Check it out right here. 

Duneland Weaver’s Guild – This is my guild, based out of Chesterton, IN. They are the best people you’ll ever meet! And so wildly talented! Stop by their website to learn more. 

The post The Great Debate appeared first on Acton Creative.

Weaving Accessories Show Notes –

Loom – A loom is a piece of equipment weavers use to create fabric. In this episode, you see me sitting at my 36″ 4-shaft Schacht floor loom.

Toilet paper – I use toilet paper as spacers at the beginning of my project. Typically I place about 5 rows of it to spread out the warp yarns. I like using tp because I don’t feel bad about pitching it afterwards. And it has handy-dandy perforation that makes it easy to remove once the project is off the loom.

Shuttle – Shuttles carry the weft yarns from side to side in the loom. I usually keep 3 styles of shuttles handy. A boat shuttle that holds a bobbin and looks slightly like a canoe. A stick shuttle that is flat and yarn winds directly on to it. And a rag shuttle designed to hold a collection of yarns or strips of fabric sewn together.

Bobbin – A bobbin fits into a boat shuttle and spins around, releasing the yarn as the shuttle is being tossed.

Bobbin winder – A bobbin winder is a slick little device that you clamp to a table. The empty bobbin slides onto it and then you add the yarn and start winding. In mere minutes, you’ll have a full bobbin. Very handy!

Scissors – You know what scissors are. As a weaver, scissors are critical – especially a sharp pair!

Measuring tape – A measuring tape is a flexible tape with inches marked on it. I use mine constantly when measuring a pattern repeat on the loom. Because it bends, it is wildly convenient.

Pins – I like to keep both straight and safety pins nearby. You’d be surprised how often I use them!

Screwdrivers – Ah, the tools. I’m about the least mechanically-inclined person you’ll ever meet. But, I’ve figured out how to use a screwdriver! Matter of fact, I’ve been at it long enough, I know how to use 2 kinds – a Phillips and a flat-head. Progress!

More Weaving Accessories Show Notes –

Notebook – I record all the minutes that go into a project. A bit anal? Definitely. Does it help me sleep at night? Yes, ma’am, it does.

Yardsticks – I may own more yardsticks that any other person in Indiana. Just speculating here. Because I have a 36″ loom, they are my favorite items to wedge in between my yarns on the back (and front) of the loom.

Craft paper – For my smaller table loom, I use a heavy duty craft paper in place of yardsticks. It’s nice that I can cut the width to whatever I need.

Reed – The reed is a divided frame in the beater bar that keeps the weaving project width consistent.

Heddles – Heddles are tall, skinny pieces with an eye in the middle. They live on each shaft, floating on top and bottom rails. Warp yarns are threaded through the heddles as a method to determine which shaft the yarn will live on – which in turn influences the weaving pattern.

Hot beverage – A hot beverage is a requirement for any weaving project. Wait – that could be just me.

The post Weaving Accessories appeared first on Acton Creative.

In this episode, the fabric will be cut off and unrolled from the loom. This last step in our 7-part series shows how a bolt of fabric is finally released once it has been woven. Please enjoy this week’s A Handwoven Experience!

Show Notes –

• Planning a project is the 1st step of a weaving project, which include 3 goals – 1) deciding the length of the warp yarns 2) counting how many warp yarns will be in the project, and 3) determining the order.
• Warping a project is the 2nd step of a weaving project where each warp yarn is measured to the same length, and in the correct order. (Typically, this is done on a warping board or mill.)
• Sleying the reed is the 3rd step of a weaving project. Each warp yarn is assigned to a slot (dent) in a reed. The reed’s job is to keep the project at a consistent width in the loom, which is key.
• Threading the heddles is the 4th step of a weaving project when each warp yarn is paired with a shaft in the loom. This step helps set up the options for the pattern of the fabric.
• Winding on is the 5th step of the weaving process. The entire warp is shifted through the loom and then tied on to the back. (Requires a bit of balance and a smidgen of patience.)
• Weaving is the 6th step of a weaving project. In this step, yarns are lifted and lowered, depending on what shaft they are on. A shuttle is tossed from side-to-side, releasing the weft yarn into the fabric. And the beater bar is pulled forward to position the weft yarns and tighten the fabric.
• Finishing is the 7th step of a weaving project. This step is all about releasing the fabric from the loom.

The post Finishing a Weaving Project appeared first on Acton Creative.

It’s finally time to weave! We’ve traveled together through all the steps to dress the loom. And now, it’s time for some weaving! In this video, which is part 6 in our 7-part series, I will show you how it all comes together into a weaving project. I will create fabric right before your very eyes. Pretty magical!

I’ll tell you a little about technique, and a little about materials. Plus, I’ll identify all the steps that came before and explain why they were important. And mostly, I’ll toss the shuttle to & fro, and add a few inches to our project while we chat! I hope you enjoy Episode 10 of “A Handwoven Experience”. Happy Weaving!

Show Notes –

• Planning a project is the 1st step of a weaving project, which include 3 goals – 1) deciding the length of the warp yarns 2) counting how many warp yarns will be in the project, and 3) determining the order.
• Warping a project is the 2nd step of a weaving project where each warp yarn is measured to the same length, and in the correct order. (Typically, this is done on a warping board or mill.)
• Warp refers to the yarns that are in the loom and under tension.
• Sleying the reed is the 3rd step of a weaving project. Each warp yarn is assigned to a slot (dent) in a reed. The reed’s job is to keep the project at a consistent width in the loom, which is key.
• Threading the heddles is the 4th step of a weaving project when each warp yarn is paired with a shaft in the loom. This step helps set up the options for the pattern of the fabric.
• Heddles are thin, metal strips (by the way, they aren’t always metal, but mine are!) with an eye in the middle that slide along a top and bottom rail in each shaft of the loom. Each warp yarn goes into a heddle on a specific shaft, therefore determining when it will lift up in the weaving pattern.
• Shaft is a frame in the loom that lifts and lowers, separating yarns which will then create the weaving pattern.
• Winding on is the 5th step of the weaving process. The entire warp is shifted through the loom and then tied on to the back. (Requires a bit of balance and a smidgen of patience.)
• Weaving is the 6th step of a weaving project. In this step, yarns are lifted and lowered, depending on what shaft they are on. A shuttle is tossed from side-to-side, releasing the weft yarn into the fabric. And the beater bar is pulled forward to position the weft yarns and tighten the fabric.
• Treadles are pedals below the loom that are connected to the shafts.
• Plain weave is the simplest weaving pattern – over, under, over, under (think potholders!).
• Weft refers to yarns that are in the shuttle.
• Shuttle is an item that holds the weft yarns that travel back and forth across the warp to create fabric.
• Rag shuttle is a type of shuttle where the weft yarns are wound directly on it, instead of on a bobbin. This type of shuttle is typically larger than a stick or boat shuttle.
• Beater bar is a large piece at the front of the loom that moves forward and back. It is important because it serves 2 purposes – 1) to hold the reed, and 2) to tighten the yarns in the fabric.

A little something extra –

To counteract any creative stagnation during these difficult times, click here to access your free, “25 Weaving Challenges to Beat the Quarantine Doldrums”! And Happy Weaving!

The post Ep. 10 Weaving! appeared first on Acton Creative.