Beyond Basic Weaving

     My original post for Basic Weaving was an encouragement to learn the simplest weaving, the pot holder.  Once you learn and become adept at basic up down, under over, you are ready to build on that skill.  You can evolve or grow from the simple potholder to woven blankets by exchanging the nylon loops of the potholder for yarns.  make several (nine or 12) and sew them together for a warm and comforting baby blanket.  

http://silhouette169.blogspot.com/

 To add style and flair back into the blanket squares.  Wrap the loom at a diagonal and weave in the same diagonal direction.

bushcraftskills.blogspot.com

     If you are not the home type who wants to learn weaving for wearing or blanket making, Weaving for Survival follows the same basic under over principle and with the right materials, makes a watertight roof.  Here you can see the warp and the weft, (the across twine, holding the up and down fronds in place).  THis is a sun roof.  If you want watertight, add under over weaving to fill in the spaces.  

bushcraftskills.blogspot.com 

     These images are of Rattan weaving to make a placemat, made larger, it is a bed mat or floor cover.

      
     Before upgrading to a large blanket loom, get used to starting and finishing a project with home made or inexpensive looms.  No one should invest in a full on fabric weaving loom without a desire to weave long pieces of fabric which can be tedious to the unenthusiastic and a waste of money to the well intentioned soul.  A simple table top loom can cost from $60 to $150 plus.

     The first people did not run to the craft store to make looms.  Through trial and error they learned to make the most efficient looms from natural local materials.  You can, too!

     Get primitive.  Get smart and make a loom.  Your forefathers did!  Get crafty and creative!   Take your basic weaving to the next level.