Warping Your Loom

First, let’s talk about yarn. I use all sorts of yarn, but I always enjoy the cheap, wiry acrylics. Not only are they inexpensive, but they come in all sorts of brazen colors and are sturdy and slightly elastic. This time around, you want to use a medium-sized (worsted weight) yarn that’s fairly sturdy and not fuzzy. Wool would do nicely, but if you’re just trying this out, why not go the cheap route?

Warping is amazingly easy. Take the end of your yarn and put it into the upper, left-hand slot, leaving the end of an inch or two facing you. You’re going to warp starting in the back so you’ll have enough yarn for the fringe. Wrap the yarn firmly around the back and insert it into the first left-hand slot on the bottom. Then bring it up the front, again with a firm tension, and slide it into the same first slot that you put the end in. Keep wrapping the yarn firmly around the cardboard, placing it in each slot as you go. When you finish, turn the cardboard over and cut the yarn more than half-way down the loom--you’re doing this so you’ll have enough yarn for the fringe. Then tuck the end into some of the warp yarns to keep it safe and out of your way.

Finally, turn the cardboard back to the front and gently bend each end towards you. The key word is gently. You’re not trying to fold the board in half, but to create a little concave curve, which will make weaving easier.

That’s it! You have now successfully warped your loom!