38447227d53b433c96f220be76bc57f4

September - Stories from the studio and Weaving Tips

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 06:40:31 GMT

A new Season at the loom...

September in the Studio

I always love September. There’s something about the feeling of a fresh start, paired with the return of autumn, that makes me want to gather yarns and begin something new.

This year, the studio has been full of that same energy, with three courses getting underway: the four-week Table Loom course, the eight-session Floor Loom course and The Weaver’s Year. Here’s a little glimpse of what we’ve been working on.

From architecture to weaving

Catherine joined the Table Loom course after coming along to an introductory session. As an architect, she is drawn to the work of weaver Anni Albers, particularly her use of line, colour and shape.

Together, we explored how Catherine could bring that inspiration into her own weaving, beginning with small samples to test the technique. It’s such a rewarding part of the process: seeing an idea take shape in yarn and discovering what happens at the loom.

Three weavers, three very different projects

Our Floor Loom course began with a couple of hours spent talking through ideas, choosing directions and planning warps. Then it was time to start winding!

Karin is returning to weaving after 25 years and is working on a classic herringbone. Carol, who previously completed the Table Loom course with me, has chosen a striped warp. Sarah is exploring a beautiful overshot design, woven entirely in alpaca yarn that she sourced herself.

Each project has its own character, and I’m looking forward to sharing how they develop over the coming weeks.

My turn to be the student!

Somehow, amongst it all, I managed to squeeze in a workshop for myself! I am learning—very slowly!—to knit, and treated myself to a sock-knitting workshop at The Knit Lounge.

It was lovely to spend some time learning something new and enjoying a different kind of yarn project.

A first outing for Workshop in a Box

September also brought Unravel Autumn back to Farnham Maltings, bringing together makers and yarn lovers for a wonderful celebration of yarn, kits and creativity.

It was an exciting moment for me, as I shared my new Workshop in a Box for the first time. At its heart is the comprehensive guide I’ve been writing, taking you through weaving on a frame loom, step by step.

Thank you to everyone who has preordered so far. After so much work behind the scenes, it was lovely to share it with you, and I can’t wait for the November launch!

As the weeks have continued, ideas and sampling have continued to help designs develop.

The beginning of a Weaver’s Year

I also had the pleasure of welcoming Rebecca to The Weaver’s Year. She is looking for a change of direction and has chosen to explore something completely different from her current career.

The course is designed to build confidence over time, helping students weave independently at home and develop their own fabric designs.

We spent our first session exploring sampling, getting to know her loom and working through its set-up. Rebecca went home with a four-metre warp—plenty to get started with!—and a selection of designs to weave and record in her archive box.

I’m looking forward to seeing what she discovers along the way.

It has been a busy and lovely start to the autumn term, with plenty of ideas taking shape at the looms. I’ll share more as the projects progress next month.

For now, let’s turn to something that can raise plenty of questions when choosing yarn for a project: understanding yarn weights.

Rebecca’s Weaving Tip for September: Choosing Yarn and Understanding Yarn Counts

“Can I use my stash of knitting wool for weaving?”

It’s a question that often comes up in the studio. The good news is that you often can! The important thing is deciding where to use it—and finding out how it behaves at the loom.

Choosing yarn for the warp and weft

The warp—the threads running along the length of your cloth—is held under tension while you weave. On a table or floor loom, these threads also experience repeated rubbing as they move through the heddles and reed.

We therefore need a warp yarn that can withstand both tension and wear.

Worsted-spun wool can be a good choice. Its fibres are combed and aligned before spinning, producing a generally smooth, compact yarn. Woollen-spun wool is usually more airy and fluffy, with the fibres arranged less evenly.

But the spinning method alone doesn’t tell us whether a yarn will make a successful warp. Its strength, twist, surface and stretch all play a part.

For the weft—the yarn you pass across the warp—you have more freedom. Softer yarns that struggle as warp may work beautifully here, making this a lovely way to explore your knitting stash.

My advice? Start with a small sample. Notice how the yarn behaves while weaving, then wash and dry the sample as you intend to finish your cloth. This will help you decide whether it suits the project you have in mind.

What do the numbers on the label mean?

If you’re used to knitting, you’ll recognise descriptions such as DK, Aran and fingering. On weaving yarns, you’ll often see a numerical yarn count instead.

There are several systems, but let’s look at the metric count, written as Nm.

The Sheepsoft and Wooltrace yarns I use are labelled 2/9 Nm. Here’s how to read that particular label:

• The 2 tells us that the yarn is made from two strands, or plies, twisted together.
• The 9 tells us the metric count of each individual strand: approximately nine metres per gram.

To work out the length per gram of the finished two-ply yarn, divide nine by two:

9 ÷ 2 = 4.5 metres per gram

That gives approximately 450 metres per 100g of yarn.

A little label-reading tip

You may see other suppliers write the count first and the number of plies second, so we do have to check which system they use.

Within the Nm system, a higher number means more length for the same weight, so generally a finer yarn. A lower number generally means a thicker yarn—provided you’re comparing yarns with the same number of plies.

The numbers are a useful starting point, but they won’t tell you everything about how a yarn feels or how your finished cloth will behave.

That’s where sampling comes in! A little time spent exploring your yarn can help you begin a bigger project with much more confidence.

Rebecca x

July - Stories from the Studio and Weaving Tips

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:53:23 GMT

July - Finished pieces, Frame Loom Weaving and the slow down for Summer

July is always a busy month in the studio, as projects are finished and everything is gradually cleared away before I pause for the summer holidays. After weeks of learning, loom preparation, and weaving, I was so pleased to see three beautiful woven pieces leave the studio and head off to their new homes.

Each piece had its own identity, shaped through careful choices of colour and design, and through those little marks that show the hand of the weaver within the cloth. That, for me, is always one of the loveliest parts of the process.

I’m already looking forward to seeing what our next Floor Loom students produce from September. I do still have one space remaining on the course, following a postponement, so do get in touch if you would like to weave a project for the autumn.

Frame Loom and Table Loom Beginners’ Workshops

On Saturday 11th July, I welcomed seven students to the studio for a go at weaving. Many had not woven before, but everyone left with a beautiful woven sample to be proud of.

The Frame Loom workshop was taught on the Louet Lisa looms, which I have really enjoyed working with — not only during the workshops, but also while sampling for the new weaving kit launching in September. For such a small loom, you really can create some beautiful cloth.

The Table Loom workshop took place in the afternoon on a rather warm day, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees in the barn. Three students learned all about the weaving process, and after about half an hour of me talking them through the set-up, they were straight into weaving. All three produced some lovely sample pieces, testing out different patterns as they went.

In Other Studio News...

As you know, I have been putting together a new Weaving Kit. This came about after I needed to find a new Frame Loom supplier, following the closure of my previous one.

I always believe that things happen for a reason, and if I hadn’t needed to source a new loom, this kit may never have come to life. I’m so pleased it did, because I am very excited to share it with you in September.

The kit is really a mini course in how to weave at home. It explores how quite complex-looking cloth can be created in a surprisingly simple way. It also looks at the importance of sampling, and how, as weavers, building a weaving archive gives us so much to reflect on over time and provides valuable information for future projects.

Here are a few sneaky peeks at what is going into the booklet…

Speaking of sampling, this month’s weaving tip is all about the benefits of sampling — but before that, I wanted to share a little more information about the courses starting in September.

The Weaver’s Year

This year-long course starts in September, and if you would like to join us, I need to know by Friday 21st August.

The course offers a structured year of learning for weavers who want to deepen their practice. You will begin with a two-day introductory workshop to meet the group, discuss expectations for the year, and explore the finer details of the course.

From there, you will develop your own projects at home, returning to the studio at key points through the year to review progress, expand your skills, and plan the next stage of your weaving.

For more information, do pop over to my website, and if you have any questions, please just ask.

Floor Loom Course

Starts Wednesday 9th September — one space available.

Our Floor Loom Weaving Course is a series of eight sessions, where you will set up and weave on one of our heritage countermarch floor looms, using British wool in beautiful countryside colours.

You can either choose from designs suggested by Rebecca, or if you have completed the course previously, you can return and make something of your own choosing.

Table Loom Course

Starts Monday 7th September — one space available.

Across eight sessions, you will have the opportunity to use one of our Louet Jane table looms — a wonderful way to gain a fully rounded experience and consider whether you might like to buy your own loom to continue weaving at home.

The course takes place over four weeks, with two four-hour sessions each week, all in a calm and creative environment that I hope will leave you feeling inspired.

You can either choose from designs suggested by Rebecca, or if you have completed the course previously, you can return and make something of your own choosing.

Table and Frame Loom beginner workshops

Spaces available on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September.

Rebecca’s Weaving Tip for July: The Importance of Sampling

I would guess that 80% of the time during my workshops, I mention how important sampling is.

Occasionally, I can see the light go out in someone’s eyes, as though I’ve just taken away all the excitement in a few words. But when we are learning a new craft, sometimes we do have to go back to basics before jumping straight into the bigger projects.

Over the years, my sample box has become rather full. Some pieces make me think, “What was I thinking?”, while others leave me wondering, “Why didn’t I weave more of that?”

We don’t just learn from finished scarves or tea towels — we learn from trying a new sett, changing a weft, wet-finishing a sample, and comparing fibres and colours.

Some of my best designs have come from sampling: taking the time to play at the loom. You discover that you are less precious about a sample warp, and that gives you the freedom to experiment. And sometimes, a mistake can unexpectedly produce a sample that becomes your favourite.

Over the last few months, I have revisited my sample boxes from university. These archives are now over twenty years old, but I still use them all the time. When we were building our sample boxes, our tutors told us constantly how important notation was. At the time, we thought it was the boring bit — the part where we had to stop weaving and write everything down when all we wanted to do was carry on at the loom.

Very quickly, though, you realise that they were absolutely right. Without the notation we spent hours writing out, I would not have such an incredible library of information to return to in my own practice.

And now it is my turn to pass that wisdom on: sampling before a big project can save you from costly mistakes — not only in yarn, but also in time. And you never know, you may even discover a new design by chance.

Enjoy building your weaving archive and documenting your weaving journey, which you will hopefully reflect on for years to come.

Rebecca x

June - Stories from the Studio and Weaving Tips

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:52:08 GMT

June - Floor Looms, Table Looms and a lot of Warm Weather!

June has been a busy one in the studio—lots of projects coming off the looms, and that gentle feeling that we’re starting to wind down for summer.

One of the highlights this month was Carol joining me for the Table Loom course. Carol has recently retired and is trying out lots of different crafts (which I think is such a lovely way to approach this stage of life), just to see what she enjoys and to understand how things are made.

Despite never having woven before, she was a complete natural on the loom. She designed a beautiful scarf using Laxtons Sheepsoft yarns and chose to weave it warp-faced, so those gorgeous stripes really shine through.

She took it home to wet finish it herself—which I thought was very brave—and she sent me a photo a couple of days later…

I’m so pleased to say she’s coming back in September to try the floor looms, after being inspired by Cath, Serena, and Maria’s work that’s been on the looms this month.

Speaking of the floor looms, it’s been such a joy watching those projects develop over the past few weeks. All three ladies had taken a course previously, so they came back in with clear ideas of what they wanted to make—and a real sense of purpose.

Cath was inspired by weaver Teresa Dunne (who makes the most beautiful scarves in Cornwall), and she put together her own colour palette—which I absolutely loved. Really confident, thoughtful choices. Her piece is about halfway through now and will become either a bed runner or a chair throw, and it’s looking stunning already.

Maria and Serena both set out to weave bed runners, but took quite different approaches. Maria chose a chevron pattern in soft, subtle colours, while Serena went for an overshot pattern—‘Estrellita’ by Bertha Gray Hayes—which has a bit more structure and intricacy to it.

This week was a big moment, as both of their pieces were cut from the loom. That’s always such a satisfying (and slightly nerve-wracking!) stage. They’re now being prepared for wet finishing, so I’m hoping to share the final results with you next month.

In other studio news...

I’m very excited to say that I have finally found a replacement for my frame looms. As some of you know, my previous supplier closed, so it’s taken a while to find something I’m really happy with. And the delivery arrived this week! Hurrah!

However, the change has prompted me to put together a comprehensive guide to frame loom weaving, and I’ll be launching the new kits at Unravel in September at Farnham Maltings.

You may also have spotted a new course on the website—The Weaver’s Year. This will run from September through to July and is designed for those who want a more structured, in-depth approach to weaving.

We’ll begin with a two-day workshop to get to know each other, talk through expectations, and really set the foundations. From there, you’ll develop your own projects at home, returning to the studio at key points throughout the year to review, refine, and build on your skills.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how everyone grows over that time—it should be something quite special.

Rebecca’s Weaving Tip for June…

We’ve been talking a lot about “beating” in the studio this month—something that sounds simple, but actually makes a huge difference to your cloth.

Every weaver develops their own signature beat, and it can be surprisingly difficult for someone else to replicate. The way you beat affects both the structure and the look of your fabric.

If you beat too firmly, the cloth becomes dense and compact, with less drape. You’ll also start to see the weft dominate, meaning the warp becomes more hidden. It can even put extra strain on your warp threads, causing them to stretch or break.

If you’re too light, the opposite happens—the cloth can feel a bit loose or “floppy,” and the warp becomes more visible.

So unfortunately, there isn’t a quick fix—it really does come down to practice. What you’re aiming for is consistency. You don’t want your beat changing halfway through a piece.

A few things I always suggest in the studio:

Sit or stand comfortably and try to stay central to your weaving.
Use both hands on the beater to keep the pressure even across the cloth.
Think of it more as a gentle “tap” than a forceful push (unless you’re weaving something like a rug, where you do want more density).
I always do a second beat—once after passing the shuttle, and again after changing the shed. It helps lock everything neatly into place.

I had a little look through some of my weaving books to see what advice other weavers might offer on this. I’m very lucky to have built up a bit of a library over the years—some newer, some much older—and I came across a passage I really liked from Weaving for Beginners by Luther Hooper - first published in 1919.

In Chapter 7, “Mistakes and Difficulties,” he writes:

“Beating together the weft, so as to lay it perfectly flat and even, will at first be found difficult to accomplish... The weaver should only have to push the batten from him and let the weight of it fall back and do the rest. In close, heavy weaving, of course, the hand must be used to give additional pressure to each shoot. The beginner must frequently pause and examine the work to see that the same number of shoots are laid to each inch, and must frequently wind the woven cloth on to the roller in order to keep the batten in its proper position.”

It’s reassuring, I think, that even historically this was something beginners struggled with—and that idea of letting the loom do some of the work is a really good one to keep in mind.

As always, keep sampling, keep experimenting, and most importantly—enjoy the process.

I’ll see you next month to share what July brings.

Rebecca x

British Wool arrives at the Studio

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:08:58 GMT

Laxtons Wooltrace: Discover the Heart of British Wool

Introducing British Wool to the Studio

Since Rebecca began running weaving workshops in her studio, she’s dreamed of offering her students beautiful yarns they can see, touch, and fall in love with—without needing to browse online. That dream is now a reality.

At the start of 2025, Rebecca made a commitment: from that point forward, only British Wool would be used in her workshops and in her own woven fabrics. Supporting local farming, reducing environmental impact, and celebrating British craftsmanship are all part of this promise.

That’s why she’s delighted to introduce Laxtons Wooltrace —a fully traceable British Wool yarn, spun in Yorkshire and sourced from the rolling hills of northern England. More than just yarn, Wooltrace tells a story of sustainability, community, and heritage.

Born from a mission to create positive environmental and social change, Wooltrace offers complete transparency. Each cone is embedded with a unique QR code that lets you trace its journey —from the farm to your hands—revealing the story of the flock and the farmer behind it.

This premium, worsted-spun yarn is a 2/9nm thickness, offering approximately 890 metres per 200g cone . It weaves with a gentle sheen and finishes with a soft, smooth handle—ideal for both beginners and experienced weavers.

Available in 13 beautifully soft colourways, Wooltrace offers a rich and inspiring palette for your next project. And with every cone you purchase, you’re helping to support British sheep farmers and the future of the British Wool trade.

Celebrate the beauty of homegrown wool with Laxtons Wooltrace—where every thread is part of a bigger story.

New for 2025

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:09:55 GMT

8 Week Weaving Course

We are very excited to launch our new 8 week Weaving Course using British Wools in beautiful countryside colours. Across the 8 weeks, you will get the opportunity to use one of our traditional Floor Looms, steeped in history and used by many Weavers to create beautiful handwoven fabrics.

What should I expect?

You will start by planning and designing your fabric - this will be a checked design and we will be planning for a fabric that will be approximately 60cm wide by 2m in length.

Working at your own pace, you will then wind your warp, learn how to set up the countermarch looms and then weave your length of fabric.

There is a huge sense of achievement on this course - learning how the looms operate but also seeing your very own fabric being created with your own hands.

Learn more and book online →

Weaving Workshops in Schools

183:754218669 (Rebecca Harvey-Browne) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:02:20 GMT

Bringing Weaving and Creativity to the next generation...

We have always been passionate about teaching people how to weave so the craft can continue to be enjoyed by the next generation of Weavers.

Children unfortunately do not always have access to the same opportunities to explore their creativity, therefore our aim is to bring Weaving back into the classroom, to give all children a chance to enjoy this heritage craft through hands on experience.

We have found that Weaving:

Improves mental health
Encourages creativity
Reduces stress and anxiety
Helps students focus

How it works...

We have two options to bring a traditional craft to your students using modern teaching techniques. You can either order looms online and obtain a tutorial video for you to teach the students yourself or we can arrange a convenient date for Rebecca to come and teach the class in person if you are local.

Learn more →

Upcoming Events in 2024

Fri, 03 May 2024 13:55:06 GMT

Where to find Dobby & Rose at local Festivals & Fetes

Sunday 8th October 2023 - Blackmoor Apple Day - Blackmoor Estate

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th October 2023 - Festival of Crafts - Farnham Maltings

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Friday 10th November 2023 - Life.Styled – Tilford Village Hall

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday 18th November 2023 - Churt Yuletide Bazaar - Churt Village Hall

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd November 2023 - Maltings Christmas Fair - Farnham Maltings

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th November 2023 - Advent A Christmas Experience - Weald & Downland Museum

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Saturday 2nd December 2023 - Etsy Guildford - Guildford Cathedral

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT