Weaving Tools
What tools do I need?
To get started with weaving, essential tools include a loom, shuttle and bobbins for your weft, and yarn. Additional helpful items are a warping board, scissors, and a tape measure. These weaving tools facilitate the process, allowing you to create beautiful textiles efficiently while ensuring precision in your projects.
Bobbin Winder – Device that winds yarn onto a shuttle bobbin. Available in either manual or motorized models. A must have for weavers who want to spend more time weaving and less time loading shuttles with yarn. Similar in function, a quiller has a smaller shaft in order to wind yarn onto paper quills that are used for Damask Shuttles. Double-end winders are able to wind a range of items that include sectional warping spools, bobbins, pirns and quills.
Pick Up Stick – Used to “pick up” patterns in the warp when there are not enough shafts for the desired weaving pattern. These are typically used to manipulate warp threads on the back side of a rigid heddle. This manipulation enables a variety of weaving techniques.
Warp Separator/Warping Sticks - Used to keep warp threads evenly spaced and tensioned as you wind on your warp to the loom's beam
Tapestry Needle – A versatile tool that can be used to weave loose yarn ends to finish a project. They are also useful when adding interesting shapes or patterns into a tapestry weaving. Typically constructed of plastic, wood or metal.
Lease Sticks - Used to keep the order and separation of warp threads (aka the "weaver's cross")
Heddle Hook - Used to thread your yarn through the heddles and reed
Additional Weaving Loom Accessories
Warping Board or Mill - Used to help create the desired length of warp while maintaining warp order in a compact fashion since most multi-shaft warps are yards long.
Temple – Ensures a consistent weaving width as well as enabling a tight edge without “puckering” of the selvage on a loom. Think in terms of a weaving “brace” that stabilizes a project on the loom. Constructed of either wood or metal, most are adjustable across a variety of weaving widths.
Weaving Bench – Specially designed furniture that addresses the needs of weavers. Most will be height adjustable. Some are available with pitch adjustable seats for improved weaving ergonomics. Other options include storage areas, shelves or tool pockets.
Raddle - Help facilitate the proper spacing of your warp on the loom
Other Helpful Weaving Supplies
Cone Winder – Device that winds yarn onto a cone. Useful for transforming yarn balls, bobbins and skeins into cones thereby making the yarn easier to process on a bobbin winder or warping board.
Ball Winder – Turns a skein or hank of yarn into a center pull ball (sometimes referred to as a yarn cake). Typically used in combination with a yarn swift. Available as either manual or motorized, the size yarn ball produced will vary with the model of winder.
Skeinwinder – Device to wind a skein of yarn. Most skeinwinders can produce a skein from cones, balls, hanks, bobbins or existing skeins. Depending on the design and construction, a skeinwinder can produce skeins of varying lengths and sizes.
Yarn Swift – Device to hold a hank or skein of yarn without tangles as it is being wound off. Offered in a variety of designs, the most common of which is the umbrella swift. Swifts are typically used in conjunction with a yarn ball winder in order to transform a skein into a center pull ball of yarn. Commonly made of either wood or a combination of metal and plastic.
Where can I buy quality weaving tools online?
The Woolery sells a wide selection of quality weaving tools. Shop our selection and find all the weaving tools you need for your next project! If you don't find exactly what you want, or would like a product recommendation, please call the shop directly at 800-441-9665 or contact us for assistance.
