A Weaver’s Christmas Gift Guide
Loom & tools from my Tapestry Weaving Kit
There are many things I love about being a weaver, but among them is that I get to work each day with such wonderful tools. And I also spend far, far too much time hunting down new additions to my ever-expanding collection of weaving tools and paraphernalia!
Whether its a vintage weaving book in a charity shop or a new Scandinavian rug shuttle, I’m always keeping an eye out for something new and useful. Of course, most of the time I don’t even end up using the new tool I’ve bought for months on end! But when I finally do run into a weaving tangle (pun intended) and cast around for something to help with it, there is no better feeling in the world to find that your past self has already purchased the exact thing you needed!
And so, if you have a weaver in your life, one of the best things you can get them for Christmas is something weaving-related. Over the years my family and friends have all chipped in to help me kit out my studio, and every time I use a particular tool I always think fondly of the people who gifted it to me.
In this post I’m sharing the gifts I most recommend for weavers of all skill levels, from those who are just starting out to those who seem like they might have everything they could possibly need. Because if there’s one thing I know from running a weaving studio, it’s that you can never have too many “weaving bits”!
For Those Looking To Start Weaving
If your loved one has expressed an interest in learning to weave, the best place to start is with a book. When I first began trying out tapestry, my family bought me Joanne Soroka’s excellent book, Tapestry Weaving : Design & Technique. It’s become a firm favourite and I still refer back to it from time to time to refresh my memory on various techniques.
However if you’re looking for something a little less dense and technical, I recommend Tapestry Weaving : An Illustrated Guide, the booklet I wrote as an introduction to weaving. It covers a wide range of topics, from the types of looms you can use to the various weaving techniques you can try, all illustrated with detailed pen-and-ink drawings.
The next step, if you want something a little more expansive than a book, is a workshop or a weaving course. My Tapestry Weaving Workshops are an excellent starting point if you’re new to weaving. Each workshop lasts 6 hours and is limited to just 6 students, so there’s plenty of hands-on support and time to ask questions. We cover how to set up your loom and weave your own tapestry design. And students get their own loom, weaving tools and yarn to take away home with them!
A still from my Geometric Weaving online course
Finally, the most comprehensive option for someone looking to start weaving is the Geometric Weaving online course. Over the course of six weeks, students will learn to weave their own geometric tapestries from start to finish. All the content is delivered in downloadable workbooks and pre-recorded videos. Students can watch them at their own pace and they have lifetime access to all course content! Plus I’ll be providing support through weekly emails and in a dedicated community group.
You can also order a course and kit bundle containing the loom, weaving tools and yarn needed for the course - so you’ll have something to wrap up and put under the tree on Christmas morning!
The 28” McKinley Loom from Mirrix
For New Weavers Looking To Expand Their Studio
If you’re buying for someone who has fallen in love with weaving but is still just starting out, you could think about getting them a larger loom. Normally I’d recommend our Balfour & Co Rug Loom - but these are currently out of stock until 2024!
Instead, you could look at gifting them a rigid heddle loom. These are a great way to try out weaving cloth without the expense and complexity of a floor loom. I really like the rigid heddle looms from Ashford, and they have various sizes to choose from.
The other option I always recommend are Mirrix looms. Mirrix have a wide range of looms available, from compact pocket looms to their instantly recognisable classic series. These are an excellent “next step” loom for someone who wants to weave tapestry or rugs on a larger scale.
And in fact, I have also collaborated with Mirrix to create an online course using one of their looms! I demonstrate 8 different rug designs and a multitude of techniques. This course is available to sign up to anytime, so get in touch with us directly if you want to gift an enrolment!
Still from Rug Weaving On A Floor Loom
For Weavers Who Are Feeling Ambitious
Once they’ve mastered weaving on a smaller scale, the weaver in your life may want to tackle something a bit more ambitious, such as weaving on a floor loom If you know someone planning to buy a floor loom or still getting to grips with a new one, here are some ideal gifts that will make their life easier!
First of all, there’s the tools they’ll need for setting up their loom. I really like the Kromski Weaving Hook for dressing a floor loom, or the Schacht Sley Hook. Ashford Warp Weights are also very helpful for adjusting the tension of individual warps once the loom is set up, and Glimakra Weaving Temples come in handy for keeping the selvedges straight and the cloth spread across the loom while weaving.
If you have a bigger budget, you could stretch to a warping board or mill. I have used the Ashford Warping Frame for years, but their Warping Mill is a wonderful product as well! And one thing every weaver needs is a decent loom bench. George Weil have a great selection if you’re in the UK. For US customers, check out the benches at The Woolery.
Last of all, I’ve created an online course to help new weavers use their floor looms to weave rugs! It covers all the basics of setting up a floor loom and starting to weave, and also covers four different rug designs and a multitude of techniques. Get in touch with us directly if you’d like to gift an enrolment!
My weaving studio in 2017
For The Weavers Who Have Everything
Finally, if you know someone who has been weaving for a long time and seems to have their studio fully kitted out - don’t despair! As I noted at the beginning of this post, almost every weaver I know keeps an eye out for new gadgets and gismos to enhance their work at the loom. Here’s a few of the things I have on my own Weaving Wishlist.
I’ve long been a fan of the Ashford Yarn Stand - it looks like the perfect thing to keep my yarn cones standing up right and not rolling about all over the floor. Another excellent gadget is the LeClerc Double Ended Bobbin Winder which allows you to wind up the pirns for your weaving shuttles much faster - and comes with a handy yarn counter so you know how much you have wound! And also from LeClerc is a studio hold-all stand that I’m obsessed with.
Lastly, even if someone has been weaving for years, they can always use more yarn! That’s why I don’t think you can go wrong with a Balfour & Co gift card. It’s available in quantities of £25- £200, or you can get in touch with us to request a custom amount. Gift cards never expire so your loved one can save it for a rainy day and place an order when they next need yarn!
So if you’ve been wondering what to get for Christmas, I hope this post has been helpful! The wonderful thing about weaving is that there’s always more to learn and something new to try. And here at Balfour & Co it’s a real privilege to play a small part in your weaving journey.
Thanks for reading!