Tapestry weaving - learn the basics

An in-depth guide to get you started with tapestry weaving. You will learn how to put a warp on a simple weaving frame, use weft yarn to start weaving, blend colours and create simple shapes in your tapestry.

Ability: Beginners
The minimum time required to watch and respond to the video content and complete the tasks is 12 hours. The tutor also recommends how you can develop your work further so that you can continue to use the skills acquired on this course for future projects. Six months of online access to all of the course content.

Introduction to tutor Philip Sanderson and workshop overview

Getting Started

Health and safety, tools, materials and set up requirements

Workshops

Putting the warp on your frame
The basic process of weaving
Weaving two blocks of colour
Creating a diagonal
Hatching
Weaving a circle

Completion

Knotting, cutting off and finishing your tapestry
Looking ahead to your next weaving
Further information and resources
Additional notes and ideas

Course includes:

Access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with course content
A series of instructional videos to work through and repeat at your own pace
Practical tasks to complete
Helpful materials suppliers list
Student online gallery where you can post images of your work for tutors to review and comment on
Support from the college and tutors via email should you need it during the course
Additional notes and ideas

You will need:

A small tapestry frame
A bobbin
A spool of cotton warp yarn
Three spools of coloured wool yarn for the weft
A tape measure or steel rule
A pencil and a permanent marker pen
Masking tape and a pair of scissors
A circular lid/object, approximate diameter 5cm
Two woodworkers’ clamps (G-Clamps)
A large eyed needle and thread

Have a question? Read our FAQs.

I found Philip Sanderson's clear explanations and demonstrations very easy to follow.Being able to watch the teaching sessions several times over was especially helpful. I liked the pace of delivery on the whole, making the most of being able to stop and go back over the various steps as needed also helped.
I chose this course because I had done some enjoyable "wild-weaving" previously, but had realised I was missing some fundamentals when I couldn't achieve the weft-faces I wanted - as a result of this course I am now able to warp-up much more consistently and manage weft tension much more effectively. With these fundamentals firmly in place I am enjoying tapestry weaving all the more and feel very motivated to keep going!

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Tapestry weaving - learn the basics

Tutor

Philip Sanderson

Course content

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