Making your own loom

Making your own loom to learn how to weave is easier than you may think! Even if you already own a loom or know how to weave, you might want a different size or shape loom than the one you have, which is where making your own comes in. Below are the steps and some tips for making your very own loom. Remember: there are no rules to weaving—just creativity! 

m a t e r i a l s

wooden frame

nails

hammer

pencil

ruler 

cardboard

scissors or X-ACTO knife

t y p e s  o f  l o o m s

When creating your own loom, you can keep it on the small, simple scale, or go big with more materials. The simplest loom you can make is with cardboard. 

These looms are great for small children! With these looms, you can make a special gift topper around the holidays, a unique necklace, or a small wall hanging. If you create a loom from a longer piece of cardboard, you could weave a bookmark or a long wall hanging.

Another type of loom that is a little bit more involved to make is a loom from a wooden frame. This is still simple and easy, but larger and more customizable. This type of loom would suit older kids and young adults interested in learning to weave as it allows them to create larger finished pieces with a tighter weave. Items like wall hangings, coasters, placemats, and more are possible with this type of loom.

If you are really wanting to make large, intricate swaths of woven fabric, you can invest in a rigid heddle loom or even a floor loom! With these looms, you can make yards of fabric to create large rugs or even construct garments, but keep in mind that these looms can get expensive.

s e t - u p 

To create the cardboard loom, first find a piece of cardboard. The width of your loom determines the width of your finished piece, so choose wisely based on your project. Next, cut “teeth” into the top and bottom of your cardboard using scissors or an X-ACTO knife, about ½ inch wide and ½ inch apart (insert pic of cardboard teeth). That’s it! Since this is made from cardboard, it can get mangled over time, but thankfully you can very easily create another without having to purchase any materials.

For the wooden frame loom, first go shopping and find yourself a wooden picture frame, preferably unfinished. If you are looking to make a large loom, I suggest checking local thrift stores or the clearance section of your local Michaels—large frames can be pricey. Once you have your frame, remove the back and the glass, and gather your nails and hammer. 

Lay your frame flat on a table or the floor, determining which side you want to be the top and the bottom of your loom. Starting on one side and centered vertically, using your ruler, make a mark every .5 - 1 inches (depending on how tight a weave you want) across the top, and mirror those marks across the bottom of your loom as well. These marks will be where you will hammer nails into your frame. Then, grab your nails, and hammer them into the wood enough that they will hold, but not so much that you split the wood. Once all nails are secure, you’ve officially created your own DIY loom—congrats!

w e a v e

Now that your loom is finished, all that’s left is finding some yarn and inspiration for your next project. Happy weaving!