Overview

Circle weaving is a great alternative to weaving on a rectangular frame loom. Get inspired with another loom form and try something new with your weaving!

In this tutorial I have made some mistakes (so that you don’t have to). Through out the post you will find some explanations that will walk you through some tips and tricks to weaving better on the circle loom.

Circle Loom Tutorial

Here are the 5 steps to creating a circle loom:

Step 1: Using a circular form, trace the outline on cardboard.

Choosing the Dimensions of Circle Loom

You can create a circle loom any dimension you like. However, if you are planning to cut the weaving off the loom when you are finished, then you must consider the warp waste. Here the remaining warp will be used to tie the ends of the weaving off. You need enough warp to create knots.

Circle Loom Dimensions and Warp Yarn

1.Instead of warping the loom around the tabs, continue wrapping the yarn around the back of the loom form. Now there will be enough warp for the weaving.

Above: Here there was not enough warp to tie the ends of the weaving. Therefore wrapping the warp around the entire loom will give enough warp waste to tie the ends. Now, if you plan to keep the weaving on the loom, then you can wrap the warp around the tabs.

2.Create a larger loom. You must leave enough space between the warp tabs and the woven piece. Therefore when you use a loom with a wider diameter you will have enough space to weave and warp to tie.

Step 2: Cut out the circle form. This can take some time, unless you have a special tool for cutting out curved shapes.

Types of circle loom designs

There are two basic designs for creating a circle loom.

1. Basic form:The basic form is a flat cardboard form. It is easy to weave the back of the weaving with this form. With only one side visible, it can be difficult to access the other side to weave in the yarn tails or correct the weaving.2. Hoop form:The cutout middle form is very comfortable to weave both sides of the loom. It is simply the middle of the basic cardboard form cut out in the middle. If you wish to have both sides visible while weaving, this type of loom would be the more comfortable to use.
   

   How to cut out the inner circle of the hoop circle loom

   1. From the outer line of the circle mark 1.5 to 2 inches towards the center of the circle.
   2. Begin marking the new circle on an inner line.
   3. With a straight edge cut the inner circle out.
   4. Poke out the center.
   5. Begin warping the loom.
   6. Repeat steps 1-4 for creating an extra layer of support for the frame. Here only two layers are used, but I think that having 3 or 4 layers will keep the structure of the hoop intact.

Reenforce the card board with a few layers.

Step 3: Decide the density and warp spacing of the weaving and mark it.

If you still have questions about density and warp spacing, you can check out this blog, Weaving Warp Spacing: EPI low density and high density. More markings mean more yarns and higher density.

TIP: The closer to the center of the circle you weave, the higher density there will be. Remember: The center of the circle has the highest density of the yarns because the yarns are really close together. As you weave towards the outer part of the circle, the further the yarns will be spaced from each other.

Along the cardboard hoop loom, mark every .25-.5 inches (or every cm).

Step 4: Cut each marking about 1cm deep. There should be enough room for the yarn to wrap around the tabs or at least to hold the yarns in place.

Cutting  the cardboard hoop loom

Step 5: Dress the circle loom (add the warp yarn to the loom).

Dressing a Circle Loom Tutorial

Step 1: Create a knot at the end of the yarn and insert it between two tabs.

Step 2: Wrap the yarn to the opposite tab and wrap it around the loom to the corresponding tab.

Step 3: Continue this until you arrive to the last tab and secure the yarn with a knot between two tabs.

Step 4: Secure the center of the warp yarns.

First, move a strand of yarn under the yarns.

Then in one motion, secure the warp yarns by pulling up on each end of the strand of yarn.

How to warp hoop circle loom

Step 1: Create a knot at the end of the yarn and insert it between two tabs.

Step 2: Move the warp bundle through the center of the loom. Then wrap it around the opposite side to the corresponding tab.

Step 3: Secure the warp and repeat step 1. 

Step 4: Secure the center of the warp yarns.

Then in one motion, secure the warp yarns by pulling up on each end of the strand of yarn.

How to weave on circle loom

Circle weaving is just like rectangular frame loom weaving, but weave in a circular manner. Start from the center point or another section that you choose.

Circle weaving problems: What not to do?

When weaving on the circle loom, do not forget to:

1. Leave space for tying the warp off.

As mentioned in step 1, be sure to have enough warp waste.

2. Connect weaving sections.

Now, this is not to say “do not leave spaces between sections.” Spacing between warp yarns can create beautiful designs in the weaving. However overall you don’t want the weaving to be in chunks. Try strategically weaving yarns in certain places together to ensure that the structure of the weaving stays intact.

3. Choose the proper warp and weft  yarn.

Choose warp that is not too stretchy and fitting to the yarns that you will use in the project. When weaving with a mix of yarns, you want to secure them with proper warp.

4. Use different yarn textures.

The circular structure of the loom already creates visual interests, so why not add to it with a diverse group of yarns. Try experimenting with thickness and fibers.

5. Use different yarn colors.

Similar to yarn use, also consider using colors that compliment or contrast each other. Adding color points can create not only a focal point to your weaving but also movement.

For more ideas for building color combinations in your weaving, check out this post Weaving Color: Color Theory.

Conclusion

Mistakes are to be made- it makes things fun and we learn from them… and sometimes create amazing things from mistakes. But I hope that by following this tutorial you can avoid the silly mistakes that I made while weaving on a circle loom.

Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope that this tutorial has answered your questions about making and weaving on a circle loom.