Weaving

Frame looms cost $15-45 and produce finished weavings in 2-4 hours. No floor space, no complex warping, no multi-shaft confusion. Just warp threads, a shuttle, and the fundamental over-under pattern that creates cloth.

Rigid heddle looms use dent size to determine fabric density - 8 dent makes chunky fabric, 12 dent creates finer weaves. Understanding heddle mechanics, warping sequence, and yarn-to-dent matching matters more than loom brand or price.

Wool felts and takes dye easily. Cotton resists both. Silk is strong and lustrous. Linen is stiff until it softens. Each natural fiber behaves differently on the loom, in the dye bath, and in finished textiles.

Indigo is the only natural dye that requires fermentation to work. Here's why this blue pigment has its own category in dyeing, and what makes the process so different from every other natural dye.

The yarn doesn't know whether you're knitting or weaving with it. But the terminology will make you question everything.

The difference between rigid heddle and floor looms isn't about better or worse - it's about which projects make one absolutely necessary and which make the other a waste of space.

Loom width matters exactly three times in your weaving life. The rest is marketing poetry about versatility and project possibilities.

Direct and indirect warping aren't beginner versus advanced techniques. They're completely different approaches with distinct time investments and tension characteristics that show up in different places.

Rigid heddle loom patterns speak four different languages, none of them standardized. Here's what all those squares, symbols, and cryptic abbreviations actually mean.

This is a complete guide to rigid heddle looms. Learn how to get started with weaving from this in-depth analysis of Schacht and Ashford models.

A factual breakdown of yarn weight classifications and rigid heddle dent sizes. Learn what the measurements mean and how manufacturers determine compatibility.