portable weaving frame

8 September 2014


I haven't been weaving for a couple of years now. I love weaving on my loom but it takes a day of intense concentration just to put the warp on it, and this tends to put me off. BUT, I had the notion the other day that I could get a simple frame loom, and make some small tapestries instead. It only takes a few minutes to set up the warp and I can make more creative pieces which are much smaller, but can be undertaken on the sofa, with feet up and glass of vino at my side. Much more agreeable hobby me thinks.

I found this little frame on the internet, they are quite cheap so I bought some different sizes to experiment on. I decided to make the width between the warp smaller on this one so I hammered in lots of tiny nails.

I can keep all my tools in this canvas roll so it's totally portable.

unlike weaving, tapestry uses shorter lengths of different coloured weft threads, and so you use a wooden bobbin. However I found it much easier to use a knitter's needle (large eyed metal sewing needle).


I experimented with some gold and other metallic threads, making shapes in this way on the loom is totally new to me, so it was a bit of a learning curve.

Tah dah! a wall hanging...



and some other experiments with different thicknesses of warp.


I love that it all fits in my basket. I used to use a loom that took up half the room!

I space I rearranged for weaving, and some flowers from our garden that were clinging onto summer.

Here are some of my previous weavings and looms. I started with my first loom which had four heddles. Heddles are devices that lift up certain threads to create a pattern, the more heddles, the more complicated patterns can be achieved. In tapestry weaving you just have your needle to create the pattern, so although it looks simpler, tapestry weaving takes more brain power!






16 comments

  1. Anonymous8.9.14

    Wow, I love the older ones you've made. Must take a lot of patience! I'd love to try weaving but REALLY don't have time/space for yet another hobby, even the cute baby loom.

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  2. Anonymous8.9.14

    You're super clever with fabrics! Lovely lovely x

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  3. OMG! Is there no end to your skills? I've been after a lap loom for a while. Obsessed with Maryanne Moodie's work. Where did you get it from? I need one for this winter fireside looming! lou x

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  4. Yeah! OMG! Always impressive to come around n check out your blog! Bravo madame:)

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  5. Wow beautiful... you're amazing! My grandmother used to do a lot of weaving and had a huge loom that took up most of the dining room/ kitchen area. She would be the most stunning rugs and blankets. Sadly I didn't inherit her patience or eye for detail! Although I did whip up some new duvet covers for my daughter yesterday because all the kiddo ones seem to have dora the explorer on them.

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  6. It is amazing! Really loved the scarfs that you wove! Did you learn all by yourself or attended some course? I am very curious and I would love to learn to weave myself... any tips on Internet tutorials or any kind of good material where I could find info? Or also online stores where I could find nice threads and/or textiles?

    Thanks! :)

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  7. Love this! I've been itching to get into weaving, but haven't found much in terms of affordable lap looms. Where did you get yours? Thanks and be well!

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  8. beautiful work... makes me think i need to learn a new skill!

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  9. My Mum has just bought one of these as she has arthritis in her hands and her two large looms were getting too difficult to use. I love to weave too but the warping process is just too tedious for me and my short concentration span! I love your finished hangings - love all your weavings actually and am most inspired to have another go.

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  10. You are so accomplished, I would buy your navy scarf in a heartbeat.

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  11. You’re so clever!

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  12. you are so gifted in sewing :D

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  13. Could you post the link of where you bought the small loom? Would love to try at that. Thanks!

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  14. b LooM in good! Sorry... couldn't help myself! Love it. These are all the rage in Oz at the moment ... methinks you need to pop them in your shop! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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  15. Love the little designs but really, really love the older stuff! Patience is a virtue...

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  16. I love the look of the scarves you made on your older loom! I'd love to give it a go myself, how did you get into it? Did you take a class or just teach yourself?

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