Free

Silk Weaving: Free Guide on How to Weave with Silk and More

Project Type Scarves/Shawls
Loom Type Rigid-Heddle
Weave Structures Plain Weave
Author Handwoven Contributors
Format eBook

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Silk is mesmerizing, luscious, shining, beautiful. For weavers, silk yarn comes in a wide variety of forms, and the resulting woven textiles can range from a tissue-fine fabric you can read through to tough, heavy fabrics suitable for wall hangings, rugs, and coats.

However, silk has a reputation for being tricky to work with. The fine threads can be slippery and fiddly to weave with, and silk requires special care during wet-finishing and subsequent washing. We're here to walk you through the complete process of silk weaving in this free eBook!

Inside you'll find:

  • The Discerning Weaver's Guide to Silk by Michael Cook - This detailed article shows you the difference between the various types of silk and suggests which types of silk weaving yarn to look out for. You'll be a discerning silk weaver in no time!

  • Weaving and Caring for Silk by Susan Du Bois - Although you may be accustomed to buying silk clothing labeled “Dry Clean Only,” you can actually wet-finish and wash silk. Washing silk requires a bit of care but is not difficult. Learn how it should be treated in this guide.

  • Ombre Silk Shawl by Susan E Horton - This silk shawl works up beautifully on a rigid-heddle loom. It's simple to warp, simpler to weave, and allows you to use a silk boucle thread if you so desire.

Many weavers dream of weaving with silk, but are scared away by the idea that silk is expensive, tricky to weave, and difficult to care for. Silk can be expensive (though some is quite affordable!), but there's nothing to be afraid of, as long as you follow this guide to choosing, weaving, and caring for silk. And it's a wonderful, strong fiber to weave!

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