It has been almost two whole years since I’ve become the proud owner of a beautiful wooden weaving loom. Ashley gifted me one as a wedding present, and I COULD NOT WAIT to string that baby up and get to weaving. I tried to do it on my own. I watched a YouTube video or two on how to approach the loom (from the left or the right? Top or bottom?), what the proper names for the tools are (wait, they’re different than knitting notions?), how to get the dang yarn on to the dang loom (it’s just magic, right?). I’d get the loom all strung up, but then was convinced I was doing something wildly incorrect any time I tried to actually weave. So, I decided to find a weaving class, a place where I could actually learn how to use my loom and out yarn onto it to make pretty wall hangings. But wouldn’t you know, those dang classes are expensive as heck and then the days to turned to weeks and then we moved to LA.
And in LA, I discovered a magical studio called Makers Mess. It’s a beautiful studio that offers classes for kids AND adults in all forms of art from painting with water colors to knitting to WEAVING!! Classes range in price depending on what’s offered. They have a wonderful workshop series that starts at at only $36, and, friends, a mini weaving class was offered. Finally.
So I went with friend of Tiny Stitchers, Miranda, and we learned to weave. Oh also, it was not hard to learn. At. All.
They had us learn on makeshift cardboard looms and taught us how to string it up. This is the best idea ever, and so easy to do at home with a regular piece of cardboard. All you have to do is cut slits on the top and bottom!
They had lots of different types of yarn, fabric scraps, and pom-poms ready for us to play with and get started weaving. Just look this fluff ball cloud of black roving.
Then the teacher, Kate, showed us how to start and away we went. It’s a relatively simple approach, just guiding the yarn up and over the loom strings on one row and then over and up on the next. However, I was surprised at how much simple math and spacial reasoning it required! Besides learning how to actually weave, I think I learned that — just like with any fiber art — you’ve gotta go in with a bit of a plan and a knowledge of how the yarns will work together.
It was fun to go to a class with a friend, and play with yarn in a class full of people also excited to be in a camp-like art class again. I can’t wait to string up my loom and get started on my next masterpiece
Thanks, MakersMess! Can’t wait until the next class!! – C
TINY STITCHERS 