How can I find out if weaving is for me?
Answer: Find a copy of Deborah Chandler’s book “Learning to Weave,” published by Interweave Press. It is a comprehensive introduction to weaving and is available at many public libraries. Visit YouTube to see what it looks like to weave on different kinds of looms.
Where can I learn how to weave?
Answer: There are many places that offer on-site studio instruction in the New England area including but not limited to: Webs, Northampton, MA; Vavstuga Weaving School, Shelburne, MA; Harrisville Designs, Harrisville, NH. If you prefer to learn at your own pace, consider online instruction: Jane Stafford Textiles (www.janestaffordtextiles.com).
A word of caution: do not pay for any class that does not teach you how to warp a loom unless you are comfortable wasting your money.
Where can I sell or donate an unused loom?
Answer: Check with a weaving guild in your region. There are weaving guilds located in NH, Greater Boston, and other areas. Selling equipment on an online marketplace such as “Fiber Equipment & More For Sale” (Facebook) and “Fiber Artist’s Marketplace” (Facebook) is another option. I’ve sold and purchased equipment via “Homestead Weaving Studio,” www.homesteadweaver.com. If you list your loom online for sale/donation, have pictures available and be prepared to answer questions from potential buyers about the loom (i.e., how many harnesses does it have, brand, weaving width, age of the loom, condition). Decide ahead of time how the equipment will be delivered to its new home.
What kind of loom should I get?
Answer: Buying a loom is a big decision, especially if you’re considering a floor loom. Factors include cost, size/footprint, and what sort of textiles you’d like to create. There are looms for all budgets and spaces, however. I work on several different kinds of looms, including inkle/band looms, rigid heddle looms, and floor looms.
“How long does it take you to weave that?”
Answer: Throwing a shuttle back and forth whilst sitting on a bench is only part of the process. Textile creation begins with a design concept and is followed by a series of calculations to determine yarn/fiber needs. Warp winding and dressing the loom are the next steps; I allow a full day to measure warp threads and to dress my floor looms. Weaving begins after the loom is warped and tensioned. After cloth is removed from the loom, it is laundered either by hand or by machine, dried, pressed, and finished. Finishing can include fringe twisting or hemming raw edges. In some instances, woven cloth is sewn into a garment or other accessory.
Kate Kilgus
Kate Kilgus 