Advice for New Tapestry Weavers - don't give up!

[@christianlazo7462]

I took a tapestry weaving course...it was the bomb!!!!!It was so extremely difficult for me, because I had never woven before.....too difficlt. The teacher used the heddles and the 2 for 1 loom...I dropped the class, because it was too much for me, although the majority of the students or weavers in class did ok.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Yeah, I really struggled more than anyone else too at the beginning of my studies, as I had never woven before either ... and my course was by correspondence, and the diagrams were pretty bad ... and no videos! These days, there are a lot of people offering courses via video (like Rebecca Mezoff, who is awesome!). But sometimes just watching someone else weave can teach so much, which is why I will keep making these videos!

[@kennitatully2296]

I agree wholeheartedly with your 3 points! I think one of the biggest stumbling blocks in learning tapestry is pushing past the samples and coming up with what’s in your heart- your own designs. Draw whatever is in your head and try it out. It might not work. But you’ll learn from it and the next one will get closer. You don’t have to know all the techniques. You’ll learn them when you need to. I learned tapestry in the 70’s in art school during a very experimental time. So a big YES to experimenting! Tapping into your own creativity is when it really starts to flow. Sorry, that’s maybe not adding anything new. Just wanted to give a 3 cheers for your 3 points!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Thank you!! I really hated doing samples, even though it was all good for learning 😂

[@mollyelkind7211]

Experiment! YES!! Art first, medium second! YES!! Thanks, Michelle, for this wonderful video. All sound advice.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Cheers Molly! Do you remember hating tapestry in the beginning ... or was that just me? 😂

[@mollyelkind7211]

Oh yes! I wondered for awhile if I had what it takes to weave tapestry. The sheds really frustrated me for a long time.

[@lynnepeebles8480]

Yes Michelle, in my largest tapestry I used ATW wool, cotton and linen and my greatest fear when it was removed from the loom was that it would buckle and do strange things, but no, it hangs beautifully in the Endeavour Sports High School Auditorium for many many years to come, I hope!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Hey Lynne!! Yes, good to have a firm structure so it hangs there for many years to come! 😁

[@mariegamber]

Thank you for your great suggestions and encouragement.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

You're most welcome - good luck! :)

[@RebeccaMezoffTapestry]

Fantastic!!! I love this video Michelle and I concur with everything you said here. My best advice to new tapestry weavers is what you said here. I would add to trust yourself, keep weaving as much as you can so you give yourself the chance to figure out what it is you want to say with this medium, and even when it seems so frustrating (weft tension problems anyone?!?), I promise the more you practice, the easier it'll get.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Yes, weaving every day is excellent advice!! 😁

[@nancyerickson2827]

Great video!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! 😁

[@smirelman]

Hi Michelle! I am Silvia from south Patagonia, Argentina. Through my life I did almost every handcraft I could find, sewing, knitting, embroidery, Ceramics, Glass fusion, some wood carving. I am the kind : see it do it. I did even some lace like tatting, bobbin lace, the hardest. Lately I did a tapestry using ñanduti embroidery, it a technique done in Paraguay , I used it in a non traditional way. But...weaving was not on my list. My mother ( I am 70 now) used to do tapestry and for some years, whith a rigid Headdle loom which I inherited. When I got pensioned, some 10 years ago, I thought this was my challenge,and now I think, Why didnt I start before?I droped every other handcraft and focused on weaving. I make my own looms ( whith the help of a carpenter, I am an architect) Now I am weaving in a pesonal version of the Mirrix loom in wood. . At first I thought just like you mention, It was hard and what I did, didnt satisfy me , It was not well done, I was very critical. The other thing is that in my city ( 100.000 hab.) there is not one tapestry teacher. Here they wave in mapuche looms and rig. hed. as well. So I studied everything I could on the web, and finally took some on line classes with Rebeca Mezoff. This opened my horizons. I think I improved a lot but there's a lot I have to improve. I agree whith you about the art part. I started copying other tapestries, just to learn the thechniques, I thought. The truth is that it was so difficult to chose my own motives. But, as you say one day it gives the click and you have the certainty of what you want to weave, and for me it was the beautiful landscape of Patagonia, but the challenge is to do it in a sintesis. I'm in ti, Now I started a series of 10 tapestires I want to do, I'm in the fifth. I am quite satisfied whith the results, though I know I have a world to learn and my time is short. I loved your videos an whish to mantain some contact whith you, my email is [e-mail]....

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Nice to meet you Silvia!! Rebecca is an amazing teacher - and I'm sure she would agree that it's all about practice and focus ... you're doing well! 😁

[@zanelleaero]

Nice to meet you!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Hey friends, I would love if more experienced tapestry weavers could share their advice to new weavers in the comments ... I may need to do a part 2!

[@splotka]

Weaver from Poland agree with you in 100%. Thanks for that "magnes tip"! I explore tapestry world in the same way like you ;)

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Thank you, good to know! 😁

[@karinvaleri7130]

oommmggg...magnets yes!!!! i am beginner and enjoyed your video...I'm only 1 month into it...been doing traditional floor weaving and thought i'd put my 21 inch Strutco loom into play and sampling sampling sampling...I have to stop worrying about the lice...can't get the right sett with the wool I have, but now making the licey samples part of the art process...thank you!!! But will def try and find the right tapestry yarn for certain projects. Love the creative process..thank you for great video! I think i'll buy a tapestry loom with heddles tho., just to have cuz neck can get sore.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Magnets are a game changer! I have been asked about how many strands to use for tapestry, so I will chat about that in my next Studio Vlog too 😉

[@LizGridleyArtist]

I am happy to watch the tapestry masters but good sounding advice

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Hey, I would imagine advice for new oil painters would be quite similar, no? 😁

[@LizGridleyArtist]

@@ThreefoldDesigns yes definetly haha and #hittheundo everything is reversible!

[@christopherallworth2514]

Having a weak back causes me to wonder just how one sits close enough to the weaving without leaning into it and thus creating a strain on the back? Appreciate any advice! Chris

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Hey Chris! Do you have a frame that tips up like a table when you weave? The Ashford one does that, and you can also move it up/down to make it easier on your back too. Also, make sure your chair or stool is adjustable so you can move it up as you get further up the tapestry. And get up and stretch every so often! 😁

[@alancowan4377]

Hi. I like your videos. I have viewed slits and Interlocking methods. It made me think I don't want slits. How do you make that decision? Thanks.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Thanks Alan! It really depends on the look that you are after - slits give a 'cleaner' finish, whereas interlocking looks 'choppier', if that makes sense? I might do a video on that next month ;)

[@oliverg6864]

Your videos are really interesting! I do a lot of fiber arts, dyeing and tablet weaving but I'm interested in getting into tapestry. Do you have any videos or links about doing like basic stitches and stuff?

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Thanks! Tapestry is handwoven, so there are no 'stitches' as such ;) I don't do those sorts of videos, but check out Rebecca Mezoff - she has a great KZbin channel, has an online course, and has also written a great book for beginners :)

[@oliverg6864]

Thank you!

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

@@oliverg6864 You're most welcome!

[@karinvaleri7130]

oh question...do you ever use a stretcher bar(temple) that is usually used for rug weaving? I haven't yet, but just womdering if it could help with selvedges

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

Hi Karin! No, there are a few tricks I use to get straight edges - one of them is the 'lazy line' technique I talked about in my latest Studio Vlog - I might chat about others in my next Studio Vlog, so subscribe and stay tuned!! 😁

[@zanelleaero]

❤Wonderful! I like to use a booking to weave sometimes!

[@zanelleaero]

Bodkin

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

@@zanelleaero Thank you! :D

[@homebody80]

Also, kittens will stop your progress. Cute, but a huge hurdle.

[@ThreefoldDesigns]

LOL, I've been pretty lucky with my kitties not touching my weaving!!