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Louet table loom: Looms like this require a minimum of 24 – 35 hours tuition to enable you to set it up and weave simple fabrics.
Today I received this message from a Chilean lady who had bought a 4-pedal floor loom but without knowing how to use it…
“Recently I have really wanted to learn to weave on a loom and I´ve bought two looms, each with 4 pedals, from a Chilean craftsman. I´ve read on your blog about the importance of choosing a loom…. but I´ve begun at the end! Now I´ve bought the looms I really want to be able to get good use out of them. But I´ve only had 4 hours of tuition. As I don´t know anything about weaving, it´s really very little ….”
Having a floor loom without knowing how to use it is a bit like having a small plane without knowing how to fly it!
My reader goes on to ask me for advice, and I replied as I always do to this kind of inquiry. I don´t advise anyone to buy a loom (unless it´s a rigid heddle loom) without doing a course first!
Buying a loom and the other necessary equipment can be costly so it is best to learn first and know that you´re going to enjoy weaving.
Speaking personally I have invested almost every year since I began weaving in 2000 in improving my weaving and designing skills. I have travelled 12 hours to do a course in Barcelona and travelled to the UK, and, where necessary, paid for one-to-one tuition in particular areas, learning with professionals such as master weaver Lotte Dalgaard. I think it´s really important, as a beginner, to have a good first experience of weaving – with a properly trained teacher.
Loom weaving – an activity for life
Weaving is far more versatile than crochet or knitting and you can make anything from gossamer light linen for light headscarves to heavier fabrics for upholstery or rugs. There are so many techniques to learn that you will never exhaust your curiosity to learn more.
Learning to weave from books
Of course there ARE books for beginner weavers, although I still think any new weaver will get more out of them after doing a beginners´ course. So, for my Chilean reader, here´s a couple of recommendations….
If you read English then I would recommend all the weaving books by Peggy Osterkamp. She is the best author I know for explaining technical information in a simple and easy-to-understand way. She even has a d.v.d. now, which could be well worth trying as an alternative to a book. But expect to spend several days in total on your first weave project. It´s not something you can master in an afternoon.
In Castillian Spanish there is very little literature about loom weaving. But you do have one that is pretty comprehensive and what´s more, you can download it free.
Neither of the books I´ve recommended are that inspiring visually – it´s not their objective (Ninette Frederiksen´s book was written in the 1980s and stylistically it shows. But they are meant to teach you the technical side of weaving – how your loom works and how to put the yarns onto it so you can weave them. I have not seen Peggy Ostercamp´s video but on the strength of her books I would think it would be worth trying.
Weave courses
- Fabric samples made by a group of pupils on a 5-day linen weaving course for beginners which I usually organise annually from my studio in the picturesque village where I live in the mountains of north Spain.
My recommendation for beginners is that they opt for 24 – 35 hours tuition to learn just the basics of setting up the loom and weaving basic fabrics on it. The courses run at my studio, Anna Champeney Estudio Textil in north Spain, for example, are intensive and last 3 – 5 days (see the section of the textiles naturales blog for next course dates). A course enables the beginner weaver to set up their loom and weave simply fabric. And yes, after this it is possible to take a table loom home with you after the course, and and start weaving simple fabrics on your own at home, because several pupils have done this…. and are still weaving years later!
Knowing how the loom works and how to set it up is one thing. But I guess, like my blog reader in Latin America, you want to weave not because you´re passionate about becoming a weave technician but because you want to create beautiful woven cloth.
Weaving beautiful cloth
The simplest of fabrics can be very beautiful. Plainweave is the simplest weave that all beginners learn and which is woven 80% of the time by industry. It is also extremely versatile. So you can weave fabrics knowing just the basics.
When you want to progress and design something more complex or original you will need to think about learning some weave theory.
Weave Theory
- To design complex, original fabrics l ike this one, by Eleanor Pritchard (UK) requires professional level training including weave theory and design skills.
Weave theory starts with understanding more about the structures of woven cloth and how they can be represented on paper. Most weave books cover the basics. At Anna Champeney Estudio Textil we offer a 2-day weekend course with excercises that you can practice with. Weave theory allows you to understand more about how woven cloth is made instead of simply following formulas blindly. Even if you don´t want to go on to design your own original woven fabrics you will find that a basic understanding of the graphic representation of weave enables you to use pattern books and weave magazines such as Handwoven, to try out more complex patterns.
How to design your hand-woven fabrics
Designing your own original weave projects requires different knowledge areas to those of setting up a loom and weaving simple fabric. Design requires a knowledge of cloth drafting (representing a woven cloth on paper), and an understanding of the 6 principle elements of weave design and the way they work together:
- Yarn and its qualities
- The spacing of yarn on the loom and during weaving (warp and weft density)
- Woven cloth structure
- Colour
- Cloth finishing
In English there are some excellent books for understanding about weave theory and design. Ann Sutton´s excellent book “The Structure of Weaving” and ” Mastering Weave Structures” by Sharon Alderman.
However you decide to learn to weave I wish you the best of luck and hope you´ll enjoy weaving beautiful fabrics for years to come.
How I learned to weave – by Anna Champeney
Hoy os pongo este mensaje que recibí hoy de una mujer chilena que tiene muchas ganas para aprender a tejer en telar….
“Recientemente me nació un deseo incontrolable por dedicarme a la técnica del telar, y he adquirido 2 telares de 4 pedales confeccionados por un artesano chileno. he leído en su página web: la importancia en la elección del telar, pero yo comencé desde el final. Como ya los compré debo tratar de sacarles el máximo provecho. Sólo recibí una instrucción de 4 horas. Para no saber nada de telar, obviamente es muy poco para mí”
No me sorprende que está con dificultades !Es un poco como tener un coche o avioneta … pero sin recibir formación de piloto!
Me pide consejos para aprender a tejer en telar de bajo lizo a base de libros. Le he respondido como siempre en casos parecidos; no aconsejo a nadie intentar a tejer en telares (excepto telares muy sencillos, como los telares llamados rígidos) de bajo lizo sin realizar un curso presencial con alguien experimentado.
Y más, es recomendable realizar un curso antes de invertir lo que puede ser bastante dinero en la compra de un telar.
Hablando personalmente he invertido en cursos de formación cada año, desde que empecé a tejer en el año 2000. He asistido en cursos de principiante, cursos monográficos, cursos teóricos y cursos de diseño. Creo que para aprender la técnica básica, ganas muchísimo aprendiendo directamente de alguien, porque te ahorrarás muchos líos y no te desanimarás.
- 8 tejedoras profesionales españolas aprendiendo la técnica de collapse weave (tejidos plisados) con Lotte Dalgaard (izq)., maestra tejedora danesa, en Anna Champeney Estudio Textil, Galicia)
El tejido en telar – una actividad para acompañarte durante toda la vida
El tejido en telar de bajo lizo es una actividad creativa realmente fantástica y mucho más versátil que el ganchillo o tejido con agujas. Puedes tejer desde tejidos superfinos hasta alfombras gruesas, cortinas de lino o tejidos clásicos de pata de gallo, para chaquetas o abrigos.
Pero no es nada obvio como usar la máquina de tejer y hace falta prepararlo bien con los hilos. Piénsalo así - si realmente fuera tan fácil, habría un montón de revistas a la venta con proyectos para tejer en telar. Pues, no he visto ninguna revista en librerías dedicado al tejido en telar. Por algó será…..
Aprender a tejer con libros
Para mi lectora chilena, voy a hablar de los mejores libros que conozco para tejer.
Si sabes entender el inglés, pues, tienes un montón de literatura sobre el tema. La autora preferida mía sobre temas técnicos de tejer en telar es Peggy Osterkamp y tiene una gama de libros y incluso un dvd para principiantes. Realmente tiene un talento especial en explicar – y simplificar – el tema. Los dibujos en sus libros son excelentes y puede ser que compensa comprar algún libro suyo simplemente por los dibujos. Sigo diciendo, no obstante, que un libro para principiantes te ayudará más una vez que has realizado un curso básico. No conozco personalmente el d.v.d. pero podría ser también una buena manera para aprender.
En la lengua castellana casi no existe bibliografía sobre el tejido en telar para principiantes. Pero tienes uno que se puede descargar online -
Neither of the books I´ve recommended are that inspiring visually – it´s not their objective (Ninette Frederiksen´s book was written in the 1980s and stylistically it shows. But they are meant to teach you the technical side of weaving – how your loom works and how to put the yarns onto it so you can weave them. I have not seen Peggy Ostercamp´s video but on the strength of her books I would think it would be worth trying.
Weave courses
- Fabrics made by a group of pupils on a 5-day linen weaving course for beginners at Anna Champeney Estudio Textil in the mountains of north Spain.
My recommendation for beginners is that they opt for 24 – 35 hours tuition to learn just the basics of setting up the loom and weaving basic fabrics on it. The courses run at my studio, Anna Champeney Estudio Textil in north Spain, for example, are intensive and last 3 – 5 days (see the section of the textiles naturales blog for next course dates). A course enables the beginner weaver to set up their loom and weave simply fabric. And yes, after this it is possible to take a table loom home with you after the course, and and start weaving simple fabrics on your own at home, because several pupils have done this…. and are still weaving years later!
Knowing how the loom works and how to set it up is one thing. But I guess, like my blog reader in Latin America, you want to weave not because you´re passionate about becoming a weave technician but because you want to create beautiful woven cloth.
Weaving beautiful cloth
The simplest of fabrics can be very beautiful. Plainweave is the simplest weave that all beginners learn and which is woven 80% of the time by industry. It is also extremely versatile. So you can weave fabrics knowing just the basics.
When you want to progress and design something more complex or original you will need to think about learning some weave theory.
Weave Theory
- To design complex, original fabrics l ike this one, by Eleanor Pritchard (UK) requires professional level training including weave theory and design skills.
Weave theory starts with understanding more about the structures of woven cloth and how they can be represented on paper. Most weave books cover the basics. At Anna Champeney Estudio Textil we offer a 2-day weekend course with excercises that you can practice with. Weave theory allows you to understand more about how woven cloth is made instead of simply following formulas blindly. Even if you don´t want to go on to design your own original woven fabrics you will find that a basic understanding of the graphic representation of weave enables you to use pattern books and weave magazines such as Handwoven, to try out more complex patterns.
How to design your hand-woven fabrics
Designing your own original weave projects requires different knowledge areas to those of setting up a loom and weaving simple fabric. Design requires a knowledge of cloth drafting (representing a woven cloth on paper), and an understanding of the 6 principle elements of weave design and the way they work together:
- Yarn and its qualities
- The spacing of yarn on the loom and during weaving (warp and weft density)
- Woven cloth structure
- Colour
- Cloth finishing
In English there are some excellent books for understanding about weave theory and design. Ann Sutton´s excellent book “The Structure of Weaving” and ” Mastering Weave Structures” by Sharon Alderman.
Good luck, and keep a look out for our weave courses for beginners and for those with more experience. We offer intensive courses and one-to-one tuition.
How I learned to weave – by Anna Champeney
Cómo aprendí a tejer por Anna Champeney
Article – Learn creative weave design techniques and see your work transformed as a result – by weaver and designer Anna Champeney
In fact, it´s often recommended that you don´t think about the technical limitations at this point. If you find yourself censoring oherwise wonderful designs by your lack of knowledge tell yourself “I´ll worry about the technical stuff later”.
See Anna´s latest design work (2012/2013) inspired by the Cantabrian sea in north Spain
The value of hand-woven textiles – Swans Island Blankets hand-woven in Maine
Manta de 100% lana orgánica de Swans Island Blankets en Maine. Precio: (versión grande en azul indigo) 1059€ (2013)
¿Who´d not love a blanket like this one?
It´s hand-woven, made from organic merino wool, and is dyed with natural dyes.
No, it´s not a blanket from Anna Champeney Estudio Textil in Spain, although you might think so. It has, in fact, been woven thousands of miles away by Swans Islands Blankets, en Maine, USA.
Baby blankets by Swans Island Blankets
The company makes these blankets just once a year, and includes one-off as well as limited edition pieces. And if you´re looking for their largest size, measuring 275 x 225cm, dyed with indigo, you´re looking at price tag of around 900 pounds. Expensive, maybe, but definitely worth it for those who have that kind of disposable income.
Maybe it´s not something most of us can think about but a heirloom baby blanket costing 147€ is really quite reasonable for a high quality product. And with a Swans Island blanket and you always have the opportunity to add personalised monograms available as an extra.
In Galicia, Spain, where Anna Champeney has her textile studio, she is always suprised to hear so many people lamenting about the fact that “people don´t appreciate the real value of craft”.
…. Anna believes the main problem occurs when either the product itself isn´t of sufficiently high quality or else the promotion and marketing is not right, “I and many other makers have a lot to learn when it comes to marketing. It´s hard job to achieve the level of promotion that other, bigger craft businesses achieve when you work alone because you are responsible from everything – from the design and actual making to writing blog posts and even cleaning of the workshop”.
Swans Island Blankets has a team of at least 6 weavers and have 4 AVL looms, together with a person responsible for the dyes … and others who look after the online shop, fairs, etc..
What is the moral of the tale?
Hand-woven one-off scarves in silk and wool with natural dyes. Available direct from Anna Champeney Estudio Textil in the textilesnaturales shop.
For craftspeople like Anna, it´s necessary to try and forge a way ahead to match the quality of the product with the quality of the presentation.
For clients and potential clients of craft weavers like Anna it´s important to try and judge the actual quality of the design and workmanship rather than rely on a slick marketing or a sophisticated online shop.