Weaving Organic Shapes Instructions
Introduction
Weaving organic shapes on the loom is a great way to weave color and texture. You can weave organic shapes on the loom by weaving small sections of weft that are stacked on each other using plain weave or other texture techniques. When weaving organic shapes try creating shapes that do not have harsh edges- you can weave organic shape and forms with loose and soft edges and lines for a better result.
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In this tutorial you will learn:
how to weave organic shapes
how to get curves in weaving
Learn how to weave geometric shapes, such as circles, rectangles and triangles, in the Shape Weaving Guide.
Materials Needed:
- loom; Here are a few video tutorials to make your own DIY loom: a wooden frame loom or a cardboard loom.
- long tapestry needle
- weaving comb , or a fork
- warp yarn
- thin yarns
- textured yarns
- chunky yarns
Step 1: Dress the loom well
Before starting any weaving on the loom, be sure that your loom and warp are ready! If you are not sure how to start weaving, read and watch the full tutorial, How to start weaving. Learn how to add warp to the loom, use warp spacers and weave a strong base for your weaving projects.
Step 2: Stack a few rows of weft in one section to weave an organic shape.
You can weave with plain weave or the soumak pattern to create the first shape.
Learn how to weave with the plain weave pattern in this tutorial, Plain Weave: Weaving Patterns for Beginners.
Learn how to weave a braid design with the soumak weaving pattern in this tutorial, Soumak Braid Weave: Weaving Patterns for Beginners.
Step 3: Weave another organic shape next to the first shape using another yarn. Weave a few short weft rows to build the shape onto the previous shape.
Try using another color in the same color family to transition the colors easily from one to another.When you are just starting with color it is best to limit your color palette to just a few colors. To learn more about weaving color and creating a color palette, read more in Weaving Color: Introduction to Color Theory.
Step 4: Weave yarns of various thicknesses to weave organic shapes.
Weave organic shapes with various yarn thicknesses to weave texture and shapes into your woven designs. Experiment with weaving various warp spacing and patterns to best show off the yarn. With thicker yarns weave with wider warp spacing and with thinner yarns double up on yarn ends.
Step 5: Weave organic shapes with various yarn strings.
Thinner yarns (size 3 and 4) take a lot of rows to weave one section, therefore by doubling up or using several yarn strings at a time will thicken the weft rows and add more texture to the weaving.
Step 6: Weave organic shapes by filling in spaces between the woven shapes.
Not sure what other shapes to create? Look for smaller or wider spaces between the various shapes to weave in. Try using a combination of plain weave and other texture techniques.
Step 7: Weave organic shapes with texture techniques.
Woven texture can be created very neatly and precise, however it can also be exaggerated. Beginner weaving patterns such as knots, loops, fringe and braids can be combined and manipulated to create design variation.
Step 8: Weave organic shapes that fall over or off the weaving.
Starting from the bottom of the design, weave rya knots or pile weave loops to drape yarn. As the yarn is draped it creates lines and draws the viewer’s attention to the direction of those lines.
Learn how to weave loops with the pile weave pattern in this tutorial, Pile Weave Loops: Beginner Weaving Patterns for Beginners.
Learn how to weave fringe with the rya knots weave pattern in this tutorial, Rya Knot: Beginner Weaving Patterns for Beginners.
Step 9: Weave sections of plain weave between the textured organic shapes.
Although plain weave creates a basic flat surface, it is also a texture that can be used to build the woven composition. A balance of flat texture with fluffy loops or long strings will create a nice design.
Step 10: Weave organic shapes from various parts of the warp
Don’t start and continue weaving from only one side of the loom- try weaving from various points to build a balanced composition. Work on weaving one section of the shapes on one side, but then go to another part of the design and start adding weft to it.
Conclusion
These 10 steps for weaving organic shapes on the loom are just a few ideas for weaving shapes. There are many more ways and variations to weave organic shapes.
I hope you enjoy weaving these shapes!
Gina
