https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/weaving-on-a-cardboard-loom • Posted by Kathie
A cardboard loom is very easy to make, costs almost nothing and works really well for smaller sized weavings. If you want to try weaving but don't want to buy an expensive loom this is the perfect solution! I also added the weaving basic to really get you started.
A cardboard loom is very easy to make, costs almost nothing and works really well for smaller sized weavings. If you want to try weaving but don't want to buy an expensive loom this is the perfect solution! I also added the weaving basic to really get you started.
Cut the cardboard to the size you want your weaving to be (mine is 12 x 15 cm). Make a mark every cm on the upper and lower edge of the cardboard. Use the scissors to make tiny snips at every mark. Make them 0,5 cm to 1 cm deep. They don't have to be perfectly uniform. And that's your loom!
Use a tearproof thread as warp. Slide the thread into the first slit and pull it across to the slit directly opposite it. Make sure to pull tight (but not so tight the cardboard bends). From there don't go across the cardboard on the back side of the loom but just to the slit next to the last one. pull across the loom again and repeat that process until you reach the last slit.
To start weaving thread a yarn of your choice onto a tapestry needle. Start at one side (left or right) and weave through the warp by going over the first warp thread, under the next, and to on and so on, until you reach the end. Go back by weaving over all threads you just went under and under all threads you went over. Make sure not to pull the yarn too tight or the weaving will slowly bent inwards at the edges. Push the woven yarn down from time to time to make it more compact and homogenious looking. You could make a whole weaving like this and make stripes by changing colors.
... or you could try simple patterns! for this one I wove the blue yarn from the third warp thread on the left to the third from the right for a couple of rows. Then I filled in the empty spaces at the sides with white by going from the outermost warp thread to the third on each side. Work both sides seperately. The blue and the white yarn will 'meet' on the third warp thread, so make sure you always alternate blue and white to get an even look. It's not that difficult once you're at it.
If you dare, experiment with shapes and colors a bit further.
To get tiny holes you could weave like this. weave (upwards) between two threads only for a number of rows (here 5) then move to the next to threads and weave (downwards). Repeat.
To finish up you cut your weaving loose at the very top edge. Knot always two warp threads together. Repeat for the bottom. That's basically it but if you want to hang it to a wall you'll have to create loops by knotting the warp threads again or (if they're to short) to add them manually by adding new thread and knotting it to loops. You could also add a fringe or pearls or embroider on it. When you're done, hang it on a stick and put it up on the wall.