Starting (warping) a circular loom

Guess what? I have added some acrylic circular looms to my shop! You wouldn’t believe how excited about this I am. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you’ll know that I love to make circular weaves.

Circular weaves are different enough to be a bit of a challenge. I love to take a weaving technique that I’ve used many times with “normal” weaving and apply it to a circular weave and see how the technique looks different or needs to be adjusted to fit the circular warp threads.

So since I’ll have a few circular looms in my shop, I definitely need to share how to warp these looms and get them ready for some fun weaving.

step 1| I tie my warp thread to the loom with a double knot around the loom frame.

step 2| pull the warp thread straight across the loom to the notch on the other side of the frame.

step 3| bring the warp thread behind the notch and then pull around the front. I pulled from the left side of the notch around to the right side.

step 4| pull the warp thread straight across the loom again. You will be passing over the middle and bringing your warp thread to the side notch of where you started. I warp in a clockwise pattern. So the warp threads are crossing over the middle and the “top” warp is moving towards the right, while the “bottom” warp is moving towards the left like clock hands move across the clock.

step 5| repeat this pattern of going around the notches until you have reached the last notch. At this point your warp threads are creating a “U” shape in the middle and there is no empty cross notch to pull the warp thread to.

Step 6| You’ll notice there is an area where your newest warped threads are above your warp threads where you started on the loom. Make a gap between this top layer and the bottom layer. You’ll pass your warp thread through this gap and pull.

Flip your loom over, then bring your warp thread to the middle and pass it in-between, behind, between warp threads again, and back up. Basically you just looped around the middle warp threads once, which helps pull the threads into alignment, but you will notice that some of the threads are making odd gaps still.

step 7| cross the warp thread over the middle again by looping in-between the perpendicular warp threads, again going behind, between again, and back up. If you were to look at the front of the loom you have created a cross or x over the middle of the warp threads and your threads are creating even triangles.

step 8| with the loom’s backside facing you again, take your tapestry needle and begin to pull your warp thread end through the loop you created by crossing over the front. Before pulling the warp tail all the way through circle it back to it’s own loop and pull tight. Next secure the warp thread by tying it in a knot on the back of the warp thread. Trim the thread so that you have a little bit to tuck into the weave back later.

The warp threads are now secure on your loom and you’re ready to weave!!

Let me know about your experience with circular weaving. Have you had any issues when circular weaving? Do you enjoy it as much as I do? I love hearing from you guys.

Happy Weaving!

Kate

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