June - Stories from the Studio and Weaving Tips
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.
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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
