Yarn Canvas Loom

by JOANN |

Item # 262027328P162

Beginner 3-5 Hours

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

DIRECTIONS:
How to make the Loom

Remove the canvas from the wooden frame. To make your loom, start by adding the warp to the wooden frame. The warp is a set of lengthwise strings that are held, in tension, on a frame. This is what you'll be weaving onto. because the warp is wound tightly around the frame, the yarn or string should be strong and not too thick or too thin. Cotton or nylon string is fine.
Tie the end of your string into a double knot onto the bottom left of the frame. Loop the string under and over the top of the frame and back down under and over the bottom of the frame. Continue doing that, making a figure eight pattern each time.
Depending on how wide you want your piece to be and how big your frame is, you can make as few as 10 loops and as many as 25. Separate the strings about a 1/4" apart from each other and make sure the tension is even and tight, but not too tight, before tying a knot at the top of the frame.
Double check your loom from the side. The strings should be criss crossed around the middle of the loom. Take the thin wooden dowel, which will serve as your shed rod, and slide it through the strings - under where the strings are crossed. Then push it to the top of the frame. You'll immediately notice that the tension is tighter. The shed rod helps separate the upper and lower warp strings, making it easier to weave.

Weft Weave

The weft is the term for the yarn which is drawn horizontally through the warp to create a weaving. For this, I like to use a variety of natural fiber yarns - some thick, some thin, some with interesting textures.
Cut the yarn to about 20-24' feet. Thread the end of the yarn through needle. Starting a few inches from the bottom of the loom, pass the needle under the bottom warps. That means under every other warp: over the first warp, under the second warp, over the third warp, under the fourth warp and so on.
Pull the yarn straight through, leaving a 4-5" tail. Pull the right side of yarn down towards the bottom of the loom, creating a small arc in the yarn.
Use a fork to comb down the middle of the arc. Then the left and ride sides, pressing the rest of the weft into a straight line.
Giving the weft extra slack with an arc allows it to be packed into place with even tension. Doing this will give your piece an overall consistency.
Bring it back through - this time through the top warps. Under the first, over the second, under the third and so on. Passing the yarn through the top warps should be easier than passing it through the bottom. This is because you're not working with tension when weaving through the top warps.
Use the fork to press down the second row to that it is snug against the first. Repeat by going back through the bottom warps.
After a few rows, you can cut the yarn to leave a 4-5" tail. Or just continue weaving.

Soumak Weave

Place the needle under the first warp from the right side of the warp.
Wrap the yarn around it and pull until you have a few inches of slack.
Then wrap the yarn around the second warp - again, from the right side. Pull. Then wrap around the third warp and so on.
Once you reach the end, mirror the technique - this time, wrapping yarn around each warp from the left side.
Cut the yarn, leaving slack.

Pile Weave

Weave a plain weave in the area that you want your loops.
Take your dowel rod and pick up your “stitches" by wrapping them around the rod
After all your rows are on the dowel rod, pull the dowel rod down on the warp so that it brings the loops down to the support rows.
Next, gently remove the rod so that you leave behind a row of loops.

Finishing the Yarn Ends

Thread the slack through the needle and tuck the thread through a series of 3 wefts, lengthwise, down the edge of your weaving.
Trim with scissors.

Removing Weaving from Loom

To take the weaving off the loom, carefully snip the warps that are wrapped around the top of the loom - one at time.
Tie each set of warps into a square knot.
Continue snipping and knotting until the entire piece has been removed from the top of the loom. Repeat the process at the bottom of the loom.
Once you are done, remove glass from the frame. Lay the yarn weaving on top of the matting; tape the edges to keep the yarn weaving in place. Return the matting to the frame and hang.