How To Warp A Loom With Nails

Want to start weaving, merely need a loom? Learn how to make a frame loom with but a few things effectually your home.

Overview

I built my first loom with paper-thin- and I Love it! It is compact and lightweight, and it was super easy to build. I have managed to weave several projects on it already and I tin can't wait to go on using it. (If yous would similar to learn how to build your ain cardboard loom, hither is the mail service.) But, now I am interested in weaving larger projects and I wait frontward to having the pick to weave several pocket-sized projects on a loom at the same time. And then, having a larger loom would be a great addition to my art armory.

One day when I was walking home, I saw an empty photo frame standing against a edifice wall in a giveaway pile. I immediately knew I could requite information technology a nice, new home and repurpose information technology every bit my new frame loom.

To create a elementary frame loom with nails, hither are the steps that I took.

Note: This tutorial is a simplified version- because the frame is already intact, so the step of building the frame is skipped. Luckily, this was a discarded loom and in good shape. The structure and material are sturdy for weaving, which is an advantage to using a picture frame.

For this projection, y'all will need:

a moving picture frame (of any size)

thin medium nails

a ruler

record (painter'due south tape or masking tape)

a marking tool

a hammer

a drill (optional)

sparse cotton wool yarn (the type of yarn is optional- merely select a yarn that is durable equally your warp)

a thin flat piece of woods ( it should exist longer than the width of your frame)

Footstep 1

i. Starting time, you must decided the which side/ length of the frame y'all would like to used. Most frames are rectangular, therefore ane side is longer than the other. (If you have a square frame, skip downward to step 2.)

Frames look something like this, right?

If you choose the longer side, the length of your weaving project will be shorter, but the width will be longer. This also ways that you lot volition need more than nails.

If you choose a shorter side, the length of your weaving project will be longer, but the width will be shorter. Fewer nails will be utilize

STEp 2

Notice the center of the two parallel sides and depict a continuous line down. This volition guide the nail markings.

Step 3

three. Post-obit the middle guide line, marking every 0.25 inch (.6cm). The marker will commencement from the inner corner of the frame (not the outer corner). Find the center and brainstorm marking. Continue marking every 0.25 inch until you take reached the contrary inner corner of the same frame side.

TIP: Adjust the spacing all-time suited for your project needs. 0.25 inch spacings will create a dumbo pattern. Earlier marking, consider if your blueprint will use thicker or thinner yarns and the density of your desired pattern. For mild density, you can mark every 0.5 inch. For a looser weave pattern, which can be ideal for weaving thicker material, you tin mark every 1 inch.

Even so unsure?

By mark every 0.25 inch, you lot volition take the option to later adjust the spacing betwixt the yarns while wrapping them around the loom. Therefore, if you lot later decide to have a wider space between the yarns, you can skip one or two nails when wrapping it effectually the loom nails.

Left: (Higher density) every 0.25inch has warp yarns. Right: (Low density) every half inch has warp yarns. Left: (College density) every 0.25inch has warp yarns. Correct: (Low density) every half inch has warp yarns.

Footstep 4

iv. Create holes for the nails. (OPTIONAL, but recommended- if you lot are handy with a hammer, and so you can skip to step four.)

Note: Please be sure to take proper rubber measures when using tools and if you lot need help using them, exist certain to inquire someone who knows how to use them properly.

Although, I find my skills with a hammer are normal, I didn't want to stress the strip of wood by hammering all the nails direct in- therefore, drill in small shallow holes into each 0.25 inch marking.

Step 5

5. Hammer the nails in every 0.25 inch marking on the parallel sides of the frame.

TIP: If the spacing betwixt the nails is too narrow, hammer every other marker with a nail. Hammer them in a picayune deeper. Then, return and hammer the others. Afterward you take hammered all the nails in, yous can adjust their height.

Footstep six

6. Apparel the loom.

The yarn used to wrap around the nails are called the warp. The process of wrapping the warp effectually the loom is called dressing the loom.

To begin dressing the loom, create a loop on the stop of the thin cotton yarn. Secure information technology twice with a knot. Hook it onto the first nail.

Pull the secured yarn to the contrary side of the loom. Hook the yarn around the first nail. Pull the yarn back to the opposite side, and proceed this to the finish.

Effectually the final nail, wrap the yarn iii times around and tie a knot. This will secure the yarns in place- be sure to tie information technology well.

TIP: Every bit y'all are wrapping the yarns around the nails, the previously wrapped yarn may fall out of identify. Don't panic. There are two things that you can practise.

Don't panic if you lose tension or the yarn loses its placement.

1. Keep the tension tight. Equally yous apparel the loom, agree the yarn strand taut. If you observe that the warp is loosening, adjust it until it is tight over again.

2. Extend a long piece of record over the nail heads to prevent the yarns from slipping off the nails. Once you lot take finished dressing the loom, continue a secure piece of tape over the nails to insure that the warp yarns volition not fall off if they are loosened.

Tip: Most tapes will work, but try using painter's tape or masking tape. Tip: Nigh tapes will piece of work, but endeavour using painter's tape or masking tape.

More questions?

Y'all tin observe more instructions for dressing the loom in a previous weblog post, How do I make a loom out of cardboard?

You can likewise find more information and tips for preparing your loom for weaving in the post, 5 Steps to Set upwards a loom and Start Waving.

Stride seven

seven. Weave in the shed stick.

When using a loom, your piece tin have many yarns to keep organized and the tension of the warp yarns must be kept. Therefore the yarns cannot be moved besides much. The more yarns the loom has, the more yous must pay attending to the weaving design, so a shed stick volition concord in identify one pattern.

The long, thin forest is chosen a shed stick. Weave the shed stick into the warp. Beginning with the first yarn of the warp. Weave the shed stick nether the starting time yarn and over the side by side yarn. Keep this pattern until you go to the terminate of the warp. Go along the shed stick in between the warp yarns that y'all simply woven through. Center the shed stick.

(In this image, the shed stick has just been woven through a pocket-sized portion of the warp yarns. Weave the shed through the entire area of the warp that you want to weave with.)

Now one side of the evidently weave pattern is being held in identify by the shed stick. Weft yarns are sent through easier.

For more weaving tips , check out my blog and video posts, here.

Conclusion

With these 7 steps, y'all will be weaving away in no time. I hope that I have helped you build your ain frame loom from a movie frame.

You can take these steps and apply them to other objects around your habitation if you lot like. Simply remember that the top and bottom of the loom must remain in place while you weave. I would dearest to run into your weaving creation on your newly built frame loom!

What I savour the most almost weaving and art is the procedure. There is a lot of trial and mistake and experimentation.

Above is a picture of some weaving on the wooden frame loom. It is a lot bigger than the cardboard loom that I created before, and then more fabric and yarns to command. I really like it a lot and I am excited to experiment with density, shapes, and materials. Here I am using a T-Shirt yarn, and it makes such a cute matte texture. I will be sure to share more of what I acquire forth the mode.

As always, thank you for visiting my folio. I promise that this guide is helpful and you can employ information technology to go along your artistic journey in fiber arts.