I know. It is hard to imagine loom weaving as the latest craft trend, but as you guys are doing more and more DIY Bohemian decor, weaving crafts fit right in. Rainbow Loom Bracelets are a cousin of good old fashioned weaving, but looms can be as small as hand-held or as big as tapestries. You can make some rustic wall decor with weaving and creating a tapestry. Tapestry? You may think that that form of art has long died out since the Middle Ages, but they are making a comeback into the modern age.
HOT New Craft Trend: Weaving and Tapestries
So what exactly are tapestries? In the Middle Ages, their main purpose was to insulate large stone castles and protect the insides from dampness. Since they required large looms and many workers to make them to cover expansive wall areas, they quickly grew to be a symbol of wealth and power to be able to commission these wall decorations to be made. Kings would take them on their travels for prestigious status and for comfort in their depictions of their favorite stories or past times for thought and reflection. Pictures of victory battles were commissioned after wars starting in the late 1500’s (source). Until the 18th century, they were completely made by hand and dyed from plants and insects until the first automatic loom was made by Jacques de Vaucanson which made the tapestries far more sophisticated in pattern (source). Today, tapestries are rarely hand woven. Although the manual labor of hand-weaving has been taken over by machines and an automatic press, the amount of time has been reduced, but they are nonetheless still an intricate piece of artwork (source).
I promise I won’t be making you build a huge loom and start juicing pomegranates to make your own DIY wall decor. This is the 21st century after all! No, I will just make you buy the dye instead of juicing fruits and insects, but you still have to make a huge loom…totally kidding. Loom projects may seem super scary just by the history alone, but we still craft even with Martha Stuart in business, don’t we? This is a trade and a skill that you can take with you for the rest of your life. Small weaving projects are a great place to start. You may love this so much that you may want to go big and create your own tapestries.
Here are a few projects to get you started!
DIY Make A Weaving Loom from Super Super HQ
How To Weave Without Special Equipment
Make Your Own Loom from Emily Franceschini
Woven Circle DIY Mat from A Beautiful Mess
Weaving With Wool Roving from A Beautiful Mess
Weaving Lopped Rya from Hello Hydrangea
Do you think tapestries and hand-weaving are going to die out with technology taking over?
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I have an antique barn loom that is older than 1862. Do you know of anyone in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago who would work with me to teach me how to weave rugs. I’ve got every thing I remember seeing my great grandmother use (up to 1980) but it just isn’t working. Unfortunately I was busy starting a family instead of learning from my great grandmother. Now, everyone is gone or unable to remember how.
Weaving looks so cool. Definitely something I want to try.
A tapestry is never a bad idea, and it’s even better when you can make it yourself! I’ve never really thought about them as a DIY project, but that’s mostly because I didn’t realize they could be. Until I get to that point, though, smaller projects like the woven circle mat are a great way to add a fun, personal touch to a room. The woven chair back gets me thinking about other possible weaving projects I could do. I’d like to think these kind of hand-woven projects will stay relevant given the sense of care and detail they hold. I know I definitely plan on trying out some of my own weaving ideas!
I totally caught the weaving but last winter. I bought a smallish childs loom on Amazon to get started and then my husband bought a “real” loom for me for Christmas. I’m totally hooked.
Next I want to try to weave in the round. One example I saw used a hula hoop. Has anyone tried that?
I totally caught the weaving but last winter. I bought a smallish childs loom on Amazon to get started and then my husband bought a “real” loom for me for Christmas. I’m totally hooked.
Next I want to try to weave in the round. One example I saw used a hula hoop. Has anyone tried that?
Angie, I’m sure you can find some videos on YouTube or one of the crafty video sites.
Tapestries looks so cool & Amazing. Definitely something I will to try. Thanks for share this post!!!!!