Five Weaving Tools I Can't Live Without
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I tend to have a scarcity mindset when it comes to buying … well, pretty much anything. As someone who has always worked at non-profits or other lower wage jobs, I am used to being scrappy with my money, sometimes to an unhealthy degree. (I have run out of toilet paper numerous times because I resisted buying a bigger pack of this absolute necessity because it seemed like a splurge!)
When just starting out with weaving or any new craft, scrappiness is great. You make do with what you have access to and learn as you go. I am all about it! However, now that I am a few years into my weaving career and spend most of my time at the loom, there are some things I have found are worth every dollar spent on them. They are things worth purchasing multiples of for when I inevitably lose them in my cabin or drop them into Lake Superior while adventure weaving on the shore. Here are five weaving tools that I’ve found I can’t live without.
Tapestry Needles
Tapestry needles are larger than sewing needles. They have a more blunt end and a larger opening so that yarn can be threaded through the needle. Starting out, I only had access to overly large and clumsy plastic tapestry needles, but at some point discovered these metal ones. They come with several in a pack at a few different sizes–some have a nice large opening great for thicker yarn, and some are a little smaller which I love to use for cleaning up the backs of weavings. These little guys always get lost, turning up months later in the weirdest places (the bottom of purses, under the bed, buried under dust bunnies in the corner of the room), so it helps to have many on hand. I usually buy a few packs at once any time I am getting low. Come to think of it, it might be time to snag a few more!
Good Scissors
I cannot tell you how much easier and more pleasant finishing weavings became when I finally splurged on a truly good pair of scissors. Trimming fringe with a blunt pair of scissors can be so frustrating. I did it for a long time before deciding enough was enough. I’ve used this pair for over a year and it’s still nice and sharp!
Measuring Tape (s)
I started out weaving without a measuring tape in the house. The size and scale of my early weavings was determined entirely by the size of the loom, and as I practiced weaving simple stripes, then shapes, and my first half circle I didn’t really focus on exact measurements.
But when I got a slightly larger loom and began experimenting with different items (like woven pillow covers and clutch purses) and designs that required symmetry, having a few measuring tapes on hand helped me achieve those more advanced designs with ease.
Personally, I like to have at least two measuring devices on hand. I wear one measuring tape around my neck while I weave so that I don’t lose it (but I somehow still do!) and keep one in the drawer of my weaving desk so it’s in reach when I can’t find the other one!
Shuttle Sticks in All Shapes and Sizes
Shuttle sticks are an elongated tool around which the weaver wraps their weft yarn and uses the shuttle to pass the weft through the shed of the weaving to create a row. I’ve found that many weaving looms come with shuttle sticks, like the one I use from Funem Studio. I’ve also found that fiber folk are generous with their tools and are happy to pass off everything from rigid heddle looms to yarn, and shuttle sticks tend to get thrown into the mix. Some places to start with purchasing shuttle sticks, check out Lost Pond Looms, Beka, or Harrisville.
Yarn Cake Winder
When I finally caved in and bought myself a yarn winder, I felt like a kid receiving a fun new toy. I took out my bin of yarn (at that point, it was just one bin!) and spent hours spinning every skein into a neat little cake. There are benefits to caking your yarn beyond just the uniform look.
Storage is much easier. If you display your yarn, it looks uniform and pretty. If you store it away in bins, it keeps things nice and organized and easy to consolidate in small spaces.
You can get creative with storage. I made a yarn wall using peg board from home depot and these hooks from Amazon. It’s both an art piece and a way to store my always growing yarn collection.
It is convenient when bundling yarn is a part of your weaving work. If you either need to make a thicker weft thread from a certain thinner strand of yarn, or if you are bundling different shades to create a gradient, it helps so much to be able to pull from both the outside of the yarn cake as well as the inner thread!
Want to learn more about getting started on your weaving journey? Download my free guide -> Free Start Weaving Guide
Fellow weavers, are there any tools you find you can’t live without?