Free Tapestry Weaving Projects and Guides

I love tapestry weaving for so many reasons. It allows you to paint with yarn, mixing colors as easily as a painter mixes oils on a palette. You can create depth and wonder in a flat surface, or add techniques such as soumak and pile that make your surface not-so-flat. Tapestry can be almost photo-realistic, or it can be deeply evocative with the simplest shapes. You can weave tapestry on a fancy tapestry loom, on a simple wooden, copper, or PVC frame, or on a piece of cardboard. Tapestry weaving is easily portable, if you're not making an epic piece, and it gives the slow-weaving, fingers-in-the-warp, tactile satisfaction that I love.

If you're interested in tapestry, but aren't sure whre to start, we've got a free eBook for you! In Easy Weaving with Little Looms: Free Tapestry Weaving Instructions, Projects, and Tips for Using a Tapestry Loom you'll learn so much including:

• How to create a basic cartoon for tapestry
• Steps for weaving different shapes including squares, rectangles, and triangles
• Three illustrated techniques for what to do when two wefts meet in the same shed
• How to use tapestry techniques to weave a bag on a cardboard box—no sewing required!
• The basics of wedge-weave style tapestry
• Ideas for weaving tapestry postcards
• So much more!

Want a sneak peek inside the eBook? Look below for more information on what you'll find in this incredible, free eBook. Download your copy here today!

Learn How to Make a Hanging Wall Tapestry

Photo credit: Joe Coca

Geometry Man Tapestry by Karen Donde Karen stumbled upon this design while designing a sample for her Certificate of Excellence. She was arranging random geometric shapes in her design software when "Geometry Man" appeared! Create your own "Geometry Man" or try out other geometric designs. Either way, this is an easy way to jump right into weaving your own wall hanging. You'll learn to use a cartoon as well as how to weave straight lines, curves, and diagonals, all with seamless weft joins.

DIY Cardboard Tapestry Loom

Photo credit: Sarah Swett

Weave a Tapestry Bag on a Box by Sarah Swett Weaving on a cardboard box is immensely satisfying. You can take your time and play with blocks of color without fancy equipment. Sarah usually recommends a small box for your first bag, but there’s no limit to the fun you can have playing with size, shape, and designs to fit the future life of the bag. Even better? There's no sewing required!

Tapestry Weaving on an Embroidery Hoop

Photo credit: Margaret Windeknecht

Wedge Weave in Miniature by Margaret Windeknecht All you need to weave your own wedge-weave tapestry is some cotton and linen fabric, an embroidery hoop, a tapestry needle, and some cotton, silk, or wool floss. This article is an introduction to a very unique adaptation of this old tapestry weaving technique with Margaret giving instructions on weaving and examples of some of her more elaborate art pieces. Create your own miniature wedge-weave tapestries framed on your wall, turn into small bits of jewelry, or even decorate a dollhouse.

Tapestry Postcard

Photo credit: Nancy Taylor

Postcards from the Field by Nancy Taylor If you've ever wondered how to make your own tapestry in the traditional, photo-realistic style, this is the perfect place to start. This woven tapestry project allows you to try your hand at emulating a real-life scene on a small scale. These woven tapestries are each only the size of a postcard! This is a great travel or holiday tapestry project, since it's woven on a portable tapestry loom.

Make a Tapestry Loom Stand from an Art Easel

Photo credit: Karen Piegorsch

Set Your Body (and Your Loom) Free by Karen Piegorsch Frame looms are popular among both tapestry weavers due to their portability, low cost, and ease of warping. Commonly, the frame loom is used in the lap, balanced against the edge of a table, but this isn't very ergonomic. Learn to use a painter's box easel to make a tapestry loom stand in this article.