Tapestry Weaving
Rebecca Mezoff
Testing out the Duet tapestry beater from ...

It is no secret that I love my tapestry forks/beaters with metal tines. Many people make them with dog combs. The metal tines slide through the warp easily and if the handles are shaped well, they provide a nice snap for work on tapestries large or small.

Over the years I’ve purchased many tapestry forks from Magpie Woodworks, Thomas Creations (Threads Thru Time), and Timber and Twine. These are beautiful hand-crafted tools and every tapestry weaver should have at least one of these in their toolbox.

But I have had so many students who were unable to get one of these forks or had to wait many months just because when a tool is hand-made one at a time, it takes a long time to produce them and more people want them than can get them.

Testing out the Duet tapestry beater from Schacht
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How much of your tapestry warp is useable?

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How much of your tapestry warp is useable?

For many of us, not wasting things is important. When it comes to weaving and warp however, there will always be some warp you can’t use. How much is that?

The answer of course depends on the loom and your tolerance for easy versus not-so-easy weaving. As I discussed here on the blog a few months ago, the longer the loom is, the easier the weaving is. But it is possible to weave all the way to the end of a warp where you have no shed at all. If you’re willing to do that, you’ll get the award for most warp used.

I prefer to have some loom waste and have an easier time weaving. All forms of weaving except for four-selvedge methods involve some loom waste. The video below discusses how much extra warp you need to leave on a continuously warped loom such as the Mirrix or Arras. This concept will help you decide on loom size and warp length as you set up your next tapestry weaving.

The Art of Tapestry Weaving: a whole year!

The Art of Tapestry Weaving: a whole year!

My book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving, was published a year ago this week. It was a labor of love and I’m pleased at how well-received it has been all over the world.

This week I stopped by my local library and found a copy on the shelves. This was rather thrilling since every time I stop at the bookstore, they don’t have it. I am choosing to believe it has been sold and they buy another and it has been sold and they buy another and it has been sold...

A new beginners tapestry course, a loom/yarn kit, and a holiday beginners bundle!

A new beginners tapestry course, a loom/yarn kit, and a holiday beginners bundle!

Before my Colorado Trail hike I made a new tapestry course which has just gone live. For years many of you have been asking for an intro course that is less of a commitment than Warp and Weft. This course leads into Warp and Weft but it is also a stand-alone class that can help you figure out if you want to do more tapestry weaving. I am also collaborating with Gist Yarn in their roll-out of their new tapestry yarn, Array. They are offering a kit that includes my course.

And finally if you know someone who wants to dive into tapestry, I’m offering a beginners bundle for the holidays that includes a signed copy of my book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving and the Introduction to Tapestry Course along with a bonus. All the details are in this post.

Sampling for a new large-format tapestry

Sampling for a new large-format tapestry

When I sample for a large tapestry as I’m doing now, I usually take the full-size cartoon and weave a portion of it at the size it’ll be woven in the tapestry. The sample isn’t a tiny version of the large piece but a piece of the whole woven as it would be in the final tapestry (potentially). In reality, I often ask more questions as I weave a sample so I try out different things as I weave along and the sample does not look like a chunk of the final tapestry but a collection of possibilities.

Art on the trail | Colorado Trail thru-hike 2021

Art on the trail | Colorado Trail thru-hike 2021

Last month I finished a 500-mile backpack along the Colorado Trail. This beautiful route goes through some of the most wonderful scenery in a very beautiful state. I talked about my reasons for hiking the trail and included some photos in a blog post last week as well as HERE and HERE. And I did a preparation post about the art materials I was bringing along HERE.

In that post I talked about bringing along journaling materials including watercolors as well as a small loom and a spindle and fleece. I didn’t bring exactly those materials and not everything stayed with me for the whole 6-week hike.

When thinking about making art on the trail, I wanted to make sure I had some basic materials to record my thoughts and sketch out some potential tapestry designs. In general when backpacking I only bring journal paper and a pen. This year I added a small watercolor kit so that I could add some color to my scribbled sketches. I was surprised how effective having that little bit of color was. It turned out that that journaling was the most powerful art practice for me during the hike. A thru-hike is a big physical undertaking and your job each day becomes walking and making sure you have what you need for survival (water, food, a place to camp, the right gear).

Which course should I take: Little Looms or Introduction to Tapestry Weaving?

Which course should I take: Little Looms or Introduction to Tapestry Weaving?

“I am an absolute beginner. I have just purchased two tapestry looms and Rebecca's book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving. I wish to take a course, Weaving on Little Looms or the newest course, Introduction to Tapestry Weaving. I can't decide. Which would be the right course?: —Marilyn

Marilyn’s question is a good one! I want to clarify the difference in these two classes and help you choose the one you might want to start with.

Walking 500 miles | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2021

Walking 500 miles | Colorado Trail Thru-Hike 2021

I walked from Denver to Durango this summer which is a distance of about 500 miles. I didn’t do it to figure out the meaning of life, answer any big questions, or recover from any sort of trauma. I just did it because I wanted to walk for a long time. I started July 27th, 2021 at Waterton Canyon in Denver.

I finished the trail on September 9, 2021 in Durango. I wrote a lot about my experience while I was on the trail in my Instagram feed. The posts started July 29th and you can read all about the trail in more depth there. I wrote those posts when I had zero days in town. I did not have much cell coverage on the trail and I would not have spent hiking time posting to social media in any case! I was there to live outside, not to remain connected.