Hello and welcome to Weavolution's BACKSTRAP WEAVING GROUP.
Backstrap weaving is about using sticks to form a loom, which is attached to and tensioned by the weaver, on which anything from simple narrow bands to wide pieces of fabric with complex pick-up patterns can be woven. Backstrap weaving is an ancient form of weaving still in practice today in many regions of the world.
My name is Laverne Waddington and I go here by the name of bolivian warmi. ''Warmi'' is a word in Quechua - the language of many of the indigenous people in Bolivia and Peru which means ''woman''.I have been weaving with a backstrap loom since 1996 when I went to Peru for the first time and wove with an indigenous weaver. Backstrap weaving is my passion. Although I am Australian, I now make my home in Bolivia and have lived in South America since 1993. I have been learning to weave with indigenous weavers in Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Guatemala. They have taught me various complementary and supplementary warp patterning techniques.
The tutorial list can be seen HERE. This page includes links to my tutorials on:
- PUTTING TOGETHER A BACKSTRAP AND BASIC PLAIN WEAVE
- VERTICAL STRIPES
- SUPPLEMENTARY WEFT PATTERNING
- HORIZONTAL STRIPES
- SIMPLE WARP FLOATS
- COMB DESIGNS
- SUPPLEMENTARY WEFT PATTERNING WITH PATTERNING STICKS
- WARP FLOATS GALORE
- WARP SUBSTITUTION
- TUBULAR WOVEN BANDS
These are what I classify as beginner to intermediate techniques and advice is given on what order to do the tutorials. Some of the tutorials include instructional video segments.
An intermediate level tutorial on one-weft double weave can be found HERE.
Other tutorials on finishing techniques such as braiding and cross knit looping can also be found on my BLOG. Follow the links by hitting the TUTORIALS tab at the top of my blog page.
An index of Frequently Asked Questions with links to pages with information on how to set up and weave on a backstrap loom can be seen here.
Please join us here in the Backstrap Weaving Group where we run weave alongs from time to time. Post pictures of your projects, share tips, ask questions and enjoy the resources that our many members have put together.
Happy weaving!
Laverne
