A Header is woven at the beginning of a project. This can be woven of any type of scrap yarn as usually the header is removed once the project is finished. Try to use a similar weight of yarn as what will be used in the actual piece. The Header helps to align the warp into place, allows you to check for threading errors and gives a good edge for beating the weft into place.

Weaving the Header

Tabby

Use a knitting needle or a small stick to pick up the warp threads. In Tabby or Plain weave, every other warp thread is picked up, so the weft travels over and under each thread.

Rest the knitting needle on the edge of the box to hold the raised threads in place, while you draw the weft thread through the open shed.

For the next row, pick up the alternate warp threads with the knitting needle and weave the weft thread across.

Weaving Tabby

Arc the Weft
Because the weft thread travels over and under the warp threads, it is necessary to make extra allowance for this when weaving in the weft thread. Otherwise, once the weft is beaten into place, it will cause the warp edges to draw in, and can result in broken warp threads on the edges of the woven piece. One way to avoid this, is to slightly arc the weft when weaving it across.

Arc the Weft

Beating the Weft
On a larger floor or table loom, you will have a reed and beater that will beat the weft into place. With Tapestry looms, the weft is usually beaten with a hand held beater. For this small cardboard box loom you can use a fork.

After each row of weft or pick, use the tines of the fork to beat or gently press the weft into place evenly across the loom.

Beginner Weaving Looms
Cardboard Loom Project

Spears Loom
How to weave tapestry on a child’s Spears weaving loom.

Double Hole Rigid Heddle
Add beads to your weaving project.

Rigid Heddle Weaving Books
The Weaver’s Idea Book: Creative Cloth on a Rigid Heddle Loom
Handwoven Home: Weaving Techniques, Tips, and Projects for the Rigid-Heddle Loom
Color & Texture for the Rigid Heddle Loom: A Study in Yarn Selection for Weavers
Weaving Made Easy Revised and Updated: 17 Projects Using a Rigid-Heddle Loom
Weave•Knit•Wear: Simply Fabulous Clothing and Accessories for Rigid Heddle (and Other) Weavers
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