The Online Weaving School

Hi Weavers! Once again it's that time of year when we all start saying "What? - Christmas is next month?!!" If you're stuck for gift ideas or you want to drop some subtle hints to family members, you will want to check out my 2026 Gift guide: Weavers Gift Guide 2026... **************************************************** KINDRED CREATIVES This week we finish off the tapestry series in Episode 22. I complete my tapestry sample by finishing weaving the circle, the background fabric and the...

Hi Weavers! A question I've been pondering recently is "who gets to decide the value of my own creative work?" Who gets to say whether it's good or not? Should my own perceptions of my creativity be shaped by the opinions of others? When I was 15 years old I played Liesl in a Sound of Music production. That set me on a path of both creative elevation and disappointment... Read all about it here... **************************************************** 8 SHAFTS ON A TABLE LOOM Early access is...

Hi Weavers! I think the day I ordered my first pick up stick was the day that I realised my rigid heddle loom was more than I ever thought it could be. Who would have thought that a humble, flat and smooth stick could be the instigator of so much creative exploration? Like any beginner rigid heddle weaver, I was working my way through plain weave projects, exploring yarn, colour and sett. Then I bought Jane Patrick's The Weaver's Idea Book and learned that pick up sticks were a thing. I...

Hi Weavers! If you’ve started your rigid heddle loom journey with a single heddle, you’ve probably discovered just how satisfying and beautiful plain weave can be. But there may come a point when you might find yourself ready for new challenges and wondering, what else can I do with this loom? The great news is that you don't necessarily need a new loom to explore more complex weaving! Adding a second heddle (or even a third) can open up a whole new world of patterns and structures, taking...

Hi Weavers! As you have probably noticed, I've been down a bit of a beadweaving rabbit hole recently! A big part of beadweaving is designing - and there are so many exciting possibilities! I do love old school graph paper and colour pencils, but I wanted a faster and easier way to make my designs. So I made an interactive Pattern Maker and I'm sharing it with all of you! The Pattern Maker allows you to fill in a grid with custom colours, change your design however you like, save and print in...

Hi Weavers! Choosing colours for a new project can be one of the hardest parts of weaving. Colour decision can cause a paralysis that will prevent some weavers from moving forward and completing their best work - that is just too sad! Because there are many ways to gain colour inspiration even if it doesn't feel intuitive or you struggle with choosing colours for your projects. One really useful tool is a random stripes generator. This can really help to take the guess work out of choosing...

Hi Weavers! I spend a lot of time talking about rigid heddle looms and with good reason! A rigid heddle loom is perfect for a brand new beginner weaver, and it's a loom that can grow with you. As your weaving skills and interests change and intensify over time you may find that you want to move beyond plain weave. There is so much to explore in weaving, it really is limitless, and while a rigid heddle loom does have it's own particular limitations, it's a loom that is willing to grow with...

Hi Weavers! We all make mistakes in weaving, but thankfully they are all fixable! Today I've warped my Ashford rigid heddle loom backwards to show you how to make it right again (and it's probably a lot more simple than you thought!) You can make this mistake and still end up with a beautifully tensioned and well ordered warp 👍 Warped Backwards? How To Fix and How To Avoid... ******************************************************* KINDRED CREATIVES THIS WEEK Last week I released part 2 of the...

Hi Weavers! Is it just me, or is band weaving gaining popularity? I love to weave bands on my inkle looms for many reasons. Inkle looms are affordable, portable and hold super tight tension - perfect for weaving bands. Band weaving is incredibly versatile - just like many other looms, you do not have to be limited to plain weave. In my Inkle Weaving online course, I show you just some of the possibilities, including Baltic Pick Up and Tubular weaving (think shoelaces!) But that is only the...