Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving
The Mirrix Looms 2017 Summer Weaving Challenge
Summer is here and we’re looking forward to sunshine, longer days and weaving in the sunshine on those longer days. To help keep our wonderful community inspired this July and August, today we are launching Mirrix’s very first Summer Weaving Challenge.
Every Monday through the end of August members of the challenge group will get an email with a new weaving-related (we are going to focus on bead and tapestry/weft-faced weaving, but all weavers are welcome to join) challenge. Challenges will be about the weaving process rather than the product and can be completed at any time through the end of August.
Here are some challenge examples:
–Give someone a weaving lesson. This could be a young person, a family
member, a friend, a stranger… anyone! Even if you’re a beginner, there’s always someone who can learn from you.
–Take your loom out of the house. Go weave in a coffee shop, on the beach, in a park… somewhere where you’ve never taken your loom before.
–Weave something totally out of your comfort zone. This challenge gives you permission to make mistakes, to do something crazy or silly and wildly creative.
Everyone who completes 7 of the 9 challenges will get a personalized Mirrix Summer Challenge completion certificate emailed to them at the end of the challenge. There will also be awards!
This challenge has ended
Bead/Fiber Combination
Win The Tapestry Bracelet Kit for Weave-Along 24!
This contest has ended.
Mirrix’s 24th Weave-Along is a FREE online event. In it participants will learn how to make a beautiful tapestry bracelet. This weave-along was designed specifically for beginners who hope to get some extra support learning basic tapestry skills.
To learn more about this fun (and free) event, click here.
Want to win the weave-along kit?
(If you already purchased the kit and you win we can either issue a refund for the full cost of the kit or send you a second kit.)
TO WIN: Tag a friend you think would like to take part in Mirrix’s 24th Weave-Along on [ONLY] one of the following three posts:
On Instagram
On our Facebook Group (pinned post)
On our Facebook Page (pinned post)
Winner will be chosen at random on June 1st and contacted via social media. Contest ends at the end of day on May 31st, 2017.
Good luck!
Bead/Fiber Combination
Weave-Along 24: The Take-Your-Loom-Out-Of-The-Box Tapestry Bracelet
Interested in weaving tapestry but a tad intimidated to jump right in? Our 24th weave-along is perfect for your first foray into tapestry.
You will learn to make a colorful silk tapestry bracelet.
We will hold your hand through set-up and warping, basic tapestry techniques (slit tapestry, pick and pick and wavy lines) and finishing. By the end of this
weave-along
you’ll be more confident with your loom and able to set off on your weaving journey with a sturdy foundation of tapestry knowledge.
This project takes only a few hours to complete, so dive right in, we promise you that this will not be the last time you weave tapestry!
This weave-along has already taken place. You can still buy the kit here and get the weave-along emails.
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Weaving
What Can Be Made on a Mirrix Loom?
Mirrix Looms are versatile frame looms meant for tapestry and bead weaving; but with their great tension, 8 different available sizes and a myraid of available accessories, you can weave more than just jewelry and wall-hangings on a Mirrix!
What project can you make on a Mirrix Loom? See our list below and tell what we missed in the comments!
Woven Tapestries
Wall-Hangings
Pillows
Table Runners
Purses/Pouches/Cases
Rugs
Wool Rugs
Roving Rugs
Knotted Rugs
Rag Rugs
Beaded Jewelry
Bracelets
Necklaces
Amulets
Large Beaded Pieces
Beaded Wall-Hangings
Beaded Purses
Guitar Straps
Belts
Lanyards
Other Weaving
Bead/Fiber Combination
Mixed Media Weaving
Wire Weaving
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, FAQ, Policies, Tapestry Weaving, Weaving
What Do You Need to Begin Weaving?
One question we get a lot here at Mirrix is, “What do I need to begin weaving?”
This depends, of course, but you may be surprised at how little you need to get started!
For Tapestry Weaving:
-A Loom and. We recommend one with a shedding device like the 16″ Big Sister Loom.
-Heddles. You only need these if you are using the shedding device. You can either purchase pre-made ones, or make your own. We have instructions on this page.
-Warp. Warp can come in a variety of different fibers including cotton, linen or wool. Your warp is going to be under extreme tension and therefore has to be very strong. You should not be able to easily break it just using your hands.
-A Tapestry Beater. Tapestry beaters are available in wood, metal or a combination of the two. We sell two wooden versions. This weighted one is a great choice. You can also use a simple fork.
-Weft. The most important quality in a tapestry yarn (which is the weft) is beauty. It doesn’t have to be warm or soft or have any of the yarn qualities you would want for making a sweater. It just has to be beautiful and available in whatever colors you want. If you were to spin your own tapestry yarn you would use the fleece from a sheep with long, lustrous locks. You would not use the fiber from something like a Marino Sheep which has short fuzzy fleece. Short fuzzy fleece is warm, but it does not make for pretty tapestry yarn.
Optional:
–Tapestry bobbins
–A tapestry needle (especially if you are not using the shedding device)
You’ll also want some basic supplies like a good pair of scissors and a measuring tape.
Check out our tapestry basics guide for more on weaving tapestry!
For Bead Weaving:
-A Loom. The 8″ Lani Loom is a very popular size.
-Heddles. You only need these if you are using the shedding device. You can either purchase pre-made ones, or make your own. We have instructions on this page.
-Beading Thread. Here at Mirrix Loom we love C-Lon size D beading thread because it is specifically designed for use with beads. It doesn’t fray easily, it’s strong and it comes in many beautiful colors. Other people use Fireline. Any beading thread you have that is strong might work.
-Beads. Delicas, Tohos… almost any bead works!
-A Beading Needle. A strong beading needle like a Tulip Bead Weaving Needle is perfect for weaving beads on a loom.
You’ll also want some basic supplies like a good pair of scissors and a measuring tape.
Check out our bead weaving basics guide for more on weaving beads!
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Weaving
The Age-Old Question: Is Warping Easy?
Today I got an email with a question I get every day and still haven’t quite figured out how to answer: Are Mirrix Looms easy to warp?
The short answer is yes. The basic concept of warping is very simple: you wrap warp around the loom. There are different ways to warp with varying degrees of difficulty depending on if you are using the shedding device, want continuous warping, are using an add-on kit like the No Warp-Ends Kit or Extra Warping Bar Kit, are using our Easy Warp Method, etc.
The long answer is:
1.) Warping ease is in the mind of the beholder and depends on experience. Once anyone has some practice warping it becomes second nature. You just have to develop the motions and relax enough to get even tension. It is much easier to get even tension on a Mirrix because of the continuous warp method.2.) The ease of warping depends a lot on what you’re warping for. Want to warp for a bead piece at 18 EPI (meaning your warp threads are very close together) with the shedding device woven the width of a
2.) The ease of warping depends a lot on what you’re warping for. Want to warp for a bead piece at 18 EPI (meaning your warp threads are very close together) with the shedding device woven the width of a 38″ Loom? You’ll want practice before tackling that. We suggest, even if you have big dreams of large pieces, if you’ve never warped the Mirrix, try something little so you can figure out what mistakes there are to make and how to fix them. That way, when you move on to larger pieces you’ll be able to troubleshoot better if you do make a mistake.
3.) Warping takes patience. There is nothing difficult about the process, but you have to pay attention so you don’t make mistakes. The reason warping a wider piece is more difficult is simply because there are more places to make mistakes. And yes we all make mistakes. We still make mistakes when we are not paying full attention. And that’s the thing about life though. Mistakes are part of life, part of learning. That doesn’t take away from the fact that making them is such a bore!
4.) If you’re a beginner and want to weave but are afraid that warping will be too difficult, fear not: There are easy options to get you started. The easiest? Our new “Easy Warp” method. This method simply has you wrap your warp in a circle around the loom. You can even use a shedding device. The disadvantage is only that you won’t have continuous warping (which allows you to weave a piece longer than the length of your loom), so the pieces you weave using this method will be shorter.
Here are some different warping methods ranked by difficulty:
Easiest
Warping using the “Easy Warp” Method
If you are at all tentative about warping, we suggest going on the bunny slope a couple of times. Just to be really clear, there is no warping method for any other loom on earth that is easier than warping with the “Easy Warp” Method. Once you’ve sailed down the bunny slope with nary a hitch, you will be ready to advance to more difficult methods of warping.
Warping for bead or tapestry weaving without the shedding device using the standard Mirrix warping method
Warping without the shedding device is the next easiest. You should definitely look at our instructional videos and ebooks first to get a sense of the pattern and to be forewarned of possible mistakes. For example, crossing your warp through the body of the loom instead of making sure the warp is always going around the loom is a mistake that frequently crops up for newbies. But it’s a mistake you will only make a few times once you’ve figured out the pattern. And this mistake is a show stopper because once you’ve crossed through the loom you cannot properly advance your weaving. So stay out of the proverbial loom gutter and keep your ball of warp rolling around the outside of the loom only. And keep that tension even. You will tighten it when you are done warping.
Warping with the No Warp-Ends Kit
The No Warp-Ends Kit is probably a tie with the method above in terms of difficulty. But that really depends on how your mind works! This method requires that you suspend two bars in front of the loom that are adorned with S-hooks. You tie onto the first s-hook and then loop around the one on the other bar, going back and forth until you are sufficiently warped. Tie off the final end and then apply tension.
Warping using the Extra Warping Bar Kit
Warping with the extra warping bar allows you to put on a much shorter warp (so as not to waste it) and it also eliminates the warp on the back of the loom so that if you are weaving wide pieces without the shedding device you will have ample room to get your hand in there to hold the beads in place while sewing through them. Again, depending on how your mind works, this method might actually be the easiest of all.
Warping for tapestry with the shedding device
Warping for tapestry with the shedding device adds only one thing to the standard Mirrix warping method: once the loom is warped, you add the shedding device. This is actually very easy to do. But it’s also fairly easy to mess up. If you cross your heddles or miss putting a heddle on a warp thread, you will find yourself with an unworkable situation. You will have to hunt down and fix the recalcitrant heddle before you can move forward. And sometimes this does require removing a bunch of heddles to find the naughty one. Ah but once the bad heddle is put in his place, all will be well with the world and your weaving.
Warping for bead weaving with the shedding device
The most difficult warping situation for the Mirrix is for bead weaving using the shedding device. The time made up for with the ease of weaving certainly makes up for this. But there are a few things that can go wrong. First of all, you are putting on twice as many warp threads (two in each dent of the spring) and then all those threads are going to need to be paired with heddles. So it’s not so much difficulty as just paying close attention and making sure everything goes in its proper place. But the one thing you will notice is that getting even tension is so much easier on the Mirrix than any other loom we know of. And tension, even tension, is everything!
Hardest
The lesson? You can warp! If you’re nervous about warping, start slow. Once you understand the concept, you’ll have no problem moving on to slightly more complex warping methods. Pretty soon, warping will be second nature!
Want to learn more about Mirrix Looms? Click here to download our free “Weaving is Easy” Ebook
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Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Tapestry Weaving, Weaving
Mirrix Looms: Looms To Grow With
When you first decide to take on something new, be it a sport or craft or hobby, you have to decide early on how much money you want to invest in your new commitment.
When I started doing yoga a few years ago I was using a paper-thin mat I found in my closet. After about a week of sore knees I realized if I was going to spend $100 a month on classes, I might as well get a nice mat. I ended up getting a fairly high-end mat that is still in great condition many hundreds of uses later. Looking back, choosing a good mat once I’d committed to my practice instead of investing a little less in a not-so-good one was a great choice.
If I were a beginner looking for a tapestry or bead loom, I would take a similar approach to loom buying.
For Tapestry
Before investing in a Mirrix for tapestry, you want to make sure that you like tapestry. Instead of going out and buying a mediocre loom, we suggest either making your own basic tapestry frame, using a rigid heddle loom if you happen to already own one for tapestry or borrowing a friend’s loom. Note that a basic frame and a rigid heddle loom are not going to be ideal for tapestry, but they will give you an idea of whether you want to pursue tapestry weaving. Check out this blog post to learn how to make a basic frame loom for tapestry.
Once you’ve decided that you want to learn how to weave tapestry, it’s time to choose a loom. The great thing about Mirrix Looms is that they will last you from being a beginner to becoming an expert. Plus, there are a few ways to save money as a beginner that will allow you to add-on as you grow.
For example:
As a beginner: Purchase a 12″ Little Guy Loom without the shedding device. With some warp, weft and a simple fork you can begin your tapestry weaving journey! This loom is only $205, not much more than you’ll pay for an unexceptional loom that you’ll eventually want to trade for a Mirrix anyway.
A little later: Add on a shedding device and some extra warp coils. Purchase some heddles for the shedding device. Now you’re taking tapestry weaving to the next level!
As your progress: Add a Sitting/Standing Loom Stand and a Spencer Power Treadle to your collection, and you’ve turned your Mirrix into a mini floor loom!
For Bead Weaving
Before investing in a Mirrix for bead weaving, you want to make sure that you like weaving beads. Instead of going out and buying a mediocre loom, we suggest trying out a very simple bead loom. We bet someone you know has one lying around! Now, you won’t be able to do much on this loom besides weave a bracelet, and the experience might be a little frustrating (the tension on those little looms will drive you nuts), but it will give you a good idea if you want to move on to bigger and better thing!
Once you’ve decided that you want to experiment more with weaving beads, it’s time to choose a loom. The great thing about Mirrix Looms is that they will last you from being a beginner to becoming an expert. Plus, there are a few ways to save money as a beginner that will allow you to add-on as you grow.
For example:
As a beginner: Get the “Easy Warp” Sam Loom with the bead weaving package. Get your hands on good pair of scissors and a measuring tape and you’re ready to get started! This loom is super easy to warp and use and will
A little later: Get a warping bar and a set of wooden clips to warp your loom so you can advance your weaving (giving you more weaving length) plus some extra springs to accommodate different bead sizes and a Bottom Spring Kit to help organize your warp threads when weaving wider pieces. Maybe you want to try a No Warp-Ends Kit as well, to make fast pieces that are easy to finish!
As your progress: Purchase a shedding device and a spring bar to try weaving beads with a shedding device. If you’re interested in belts or longer pieces, add on some loom extenders, too!
Bead/Fiber Combination, Uncategorized
Weave-Along 18:
There are two types jewelry most women have: The jewelry you wear all the time and the jewelry that sits in your jewelry box waiting for a special occasion. This bracelet, made of silk and crystals, falls into that first category. In fact, you’re never going to want to take it off your wrist.
For our eighteenth weave-along, we will be making this gorgeous bracelet.
What’s a Weave-Along, you ask?
A weave-along is a FREE online course. Claudia Chase and Elena Zuyok of Mirrix Looms will lead participants through a project woven on a loom. Every Sunday participants will get an email going over what had been worked on the week before and giving instructions and tips for the week ahead. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and engage with other members of the weave-along via email and social media sites including the Mirrix Facebook Page, Mirrix Facebook Group and Mirrix Ravelry Page. This is a community event!
Please note you must be using a genuine Mirrix Loom to participate in these Mirrix-sponsored events.
When? Where? How?
September 13th – September 27th, 2015
September 13th- 19th: Warping & Weaving
September 20th – 27th: Finishing
Bead Weaving, Bead/Fiber Combination, Projects
Woven Silk and Crystals
If you weave, whatever you weave, you love the materials with which you weave. After all, those materials are the bricks that make your weaving and if those bricks are crumbling and dull, what you weave will embody those traits. Materials that are rich and filled with color and texture and body will make your project sing. Hence, it’s no surprise that I get excited when I wield my paint brush over skeins of silk or receive a box of materials in the mail. Admiring that hand-painted silk once it has dried and put on skeins gives me the same feeling as receiving, as I recently did, a box of crystals. The goal is of course to make something worthy of the materials. It doesn’t have to be an intensely complicated long-term project. It can be something very simple that elegantly incorporates the gems and threads.
To that end, I made the following two woven projects which I would like to share with you.
Okay, you’ve seen the hand-painted silk a million times but I am going to post a picture of them anyway. The crystals are new, at least to me. I have frequently used size 4mm fire polish crystals in my work. This is the first time I’ve used the more delicate size 2mm fire polish crystals. I kept my color choices simple: a couple of versions of gold and just clear crystals.
Bead/Fiber Combination
Save With a Loom Weave-Along Package!
Interested in learning to combine beads and fiber on a Mirrix Loom? We have the perfect way to get started!
Next week, our 17th weave-along will begin. A weave-along is a free online class where participants receive weekly emails with instructions (written, pictures and video) for each step of the weave-along project. For this weave-along, we will revisit our fabulous (and famous) Tapestry/Bead Cuff Bracelet Project. In it you will learn the basics of weaving on a Mirrix, how to combine beads and fiber, a few tapestry techniques and how to finish this gorgeous bracelet. You can learn more about the weave-along and sign-up here.
If you haven’t yet purchased a Mirrix yet, we have a special loom package available just for this weave-along that includes everything you need to get started (besides basics like a good pair of scissors). You’ll save $20 on the package and get a free 10-dent coil that is perfect for this project. It’s a great deal and the perfect way to get started making beautiful, handmade bead and fiber creations!
Check out the Weave-Along 17 Loom and Kit Package here.
We look forward to weaving-along with you!