Handwoven Cloth on the Rigid Heddle Loom

Remove the mystery of weaving on a rigid heddle loom as you turn yarn into cloth. Learn how to warp your loom, keep your edges even, and try different weaving techniques while making a sampler scarf in colors you love.

This class focuses on rigid heddle weaving. You’re also welcome to work on a pin loom, though the process and time involved are different. (Please note: Tapestry weaving uses different techniques and isn’t covered in this class.)

• On a rigid heddle loom, you weave your scarf as one continuous piece. A scarf about 6 feet long and 10–12 inches wide takes approximately 5–8 hours.

• On a 4-inch pin loom, you weave individual squares and stitch them together to make your scarf. Each square takes about 20–30 minutes to weave. Allow approximately 10 hours for a narrow scarf, about 3 inches wide after shrinkage, or around 30 hours for a scarf 10–12 inches wide.

You’ll need your own loom and yarn. If you’re purchasing a rigid heddle loom, here are a few options to consider:

• Ashford (SampleIt or Standard)

• Schacht Cricket

• Kromski

You can also find less expensive options on Amazon, though these haven’t been personally tested by the instructor.

When choosing a rigid heddle loom size, keep in mind that its width determines how wide you can weave, and your finished piece will be about 10–20% narrower once it’s taken off the loom.

Choosing your yarn

These recommendations are for a rigid heddle loom with a 7.5- or 8-dent reed, the size these looms typically come with.

You’ll need approximately 300 yards of light worsted- or worsted-weight yarn for your warp (the yarn held under tension on the loom). Make sure it’s strong enough not to snap when pulled tight. You’ll need roughly the same yardage for your weft (the yarn woven across the warp), but you can vary the weight if you wish.

A non-superwash wool yarn, such as merino, is a good starting point. Acrylic or another blend can also work. For beginners, avoid using cotton, rayon, linen, or bamboo for the warp, as these are less forgiving.

About the instructor: A lifelong artist and crafter, Julie Comstock is passionate about sharing the art of making with others. In 2006, she launched a paper craft and hobby brand, Cosmo Cricket, that eventually grew to include quilting fabric, watercolor, and home decor lines. She has taught crafting classes all over the world from Johannesburg to Tokyo to Japan, and even done demonstrations live on HSN and the UK's Create and Craft show. In 2023, Julie discovered weaving and fell instantly in love. She can't wait to teach others about it.