People often think of weaving in terms of floor or table top looms. Certainly those forms of weaving give a versatility to weaving you might not get with a simpler weaving technique but weaving can, as it has for centuries, be done on very simple looms or even without a loom at all. Only your imagination will limit you. Here's a few ideas.
First......There are four words that a person should learn if they want to weave anything on any loom. Those are WARP (usually the vertical support in a weaving project); WEFT (usually the horizontal filll); OVER and UNDER (the process). There are lots of other words associated with weaving but knowing just these four words can help you produce a simple woven peice.
The Over and Under simply refers to the Weft being laid over the first Warp thread and then Under the next warp thread and etc across and that in the next row of your weaving the opposite is used. (Weft under the first and then over the second) Each row alternating is what 'holds' your piece together.
A couple of ordinary items will help with the weaving projects. A fork or comb will work as a "beater" to press the weft strands together. Yarn needles can help to get the weft where you want it as can "shuttles" that are made to hold yarn wrapped around them. Pick up sticks, flat smooth pointed sticks' make it easy to pick up certain warp threads (and hold them up by turning the stick sideways) so you can place your weft threads through in a smoother motion can also be helpful. You can, however, do this all with your fingers.
Now that is a very simplistic intro to weaving but you can use it to "imagine" all sorts of projects.
Paper weaving: Strips of paper can be woven just laying on a table and turn out interesting place mats. For children, we often just cut multiple slits in a piece of construction paper that leaves about an inch all the way around solid. Then give them strips of paper or cut ribbon to weave in and out as they desire. It is not always even or neat with younger children but the outer rim of paper keeps it all contained and it almost always is BEAUTIFUL. A great weaving project for a very young child is to take a strip of cardboard perhaps two inches wide and six or eight inches long, cut openings cross ways up the length and let them "weave" ribbon in and out of those openings. This makes a wonderful book marker. There are a lot of more intricate forms of paper weaving that can make baskets and different designs. You'll find a challenging woven paper heart basket here ...http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Heartbasket.shtml There are lots of projects online for paper weaving.
Cardboard is another great weaving medium. The simplest one is just a piece of cardboard with slits cut at top and bottom about a quarter inch apart. Yarn or string is wrapped around each slit at the top, down the front, and around the slits at the bottom and back up again until all the slits are filled, creating the Warp. Then using a yarn needle and a long strand of yarn or thread (the weft), starting at the top or the bottom, thread yarn over and under each Warp thread, remembering to alternate each row the opposite of the one next to it, until the cardboard is filled. You can also just wrap the Warp around the cardboard "loom" and fill both sides, creating a longer piece. Cardboard looms make great bags but they must be warped in a way that allows the piece to be open at the top. More on that later if anyone is interested. A cardboard box makes a great loom as well. Just cut out an opening in the lid using that area to work in. Warp the box by wrapping the yarn around it, put the lid on (it helps hold the yarn in place), and have fun.
An open door makes a great loom. If you have two children who both want to weave, a bottom cupboard door works great as the yarn can be wrapped totally around the door and each child works on a side of it. When they tire of it for the day, just leave the pieces on the door and shut it out of the way. Using a full sized door, perhaps on a bathroom or bedroom, gives a larger piece when finished and is a great medium for those in apartments who have little space for any kind of loom. It also makes a good decorating statement, especially if it's in the colors that match your room or you get creative and weave a tapestry like picture into it.
Picture frame loom: An ordinary picture frame with the glass removed makes a grood loom.. It can be used as is with the yarn wrapped around it or small finishing nails can be placed at intervals across the top and bottom for use in warping the loom. Even round ones can be used but the weaving has to be from the center out in a circle and is a bit more tricky but very fun. Or a round or oval one might be used like the spool knitters and stocking hats or bags made on them. (You can buy these looms, sometimes called knitting boards, online or look at them and make your own.)
Wagon wheel rugs were made in the past using the rim from ...you guessed it,,,, a wagon wheel but smaller versions can be made using an embroidery hoop and bigger, usable ones, can be made using a Hoola Hoop. Just try to get one that doesn't have lights in it. The one I have does and it "blinks" at me each time I use it. LOL My DH made a round loom for me out of a motorcycle tire rim. A bit heavy but works for smaller rugs. You can find the directions for this type of weaving online under Wagon Wheel Rugs.
You can weave with nothing but a stick/wooden dowel, or chair back by just tying your warp to it and finger weaving them over and under starting at one side and continuing to weave from that side as did the Native Americans for their belts. You can also use a clip board for this as well if the spring is tight.
The choice of weaving material can determine the piece too. I've woven with pipe cleaners, long thin branches from trees, ribbon, rafia, corn leaves, wheat, straw, and anything else that might lend itself to over and under.
These are just a few of the possibilities for weaving. You are only limited by your imagination and if you once get the basics down you can find so many things to weave on or in. It might not be possible to weave all the material you might need in a SHTF situation but knowing the basics might give you an edge by letting you produce bags or straining cloths, or any number of items that would help.
Okay everyone, be sure to jump in here with ideas of your own.
