Inkle Looms

Understanding Inkle Looms

Inkle looms are compact, portable weaving looms designed for creating narrow woven bands, straps, and ribbons. They are perfect for making intricate patterns or sturdy, functional pieces like belts, guitar straps, and more. Inkle looms typically consist of a simple frame, a set of tensioning devices, and a shuttle for weaving.

You may also have heard about inklette looms. Inklette looms are even more compact and designed for weaving very narrow bands or delicate projects. They are ideal for intricate patterns, jewellery, or as an introduction to inkle weaving. The key components of inklette looms are similar to inkle looms but on a smaller scale, allowing for more detailed work.

What is Inkle Weaving?

Inkle weaving is a versatile technique that enables weavers to create stunning patterns using a simple set-up. Also called “card weaving” or “tablet weaving”, this technique refers to the art of using 'ribbon' or ‘tape'. Due to the narrow nature of this method, these small and portable looms have been aptly named.

An inkle loom has been designed to create very strong, long braids. They are also great for making trims, belts and bands, and are an affordable means to your hand at weaving, and creating woven textile art wherever you go. On your lap, the warp and weft on these frames can easily be set up. 

If you're new to this textile art form, inkle looms provide you with plenty of time, room, and space to master the fundamentals of weaving and experiment with various yarns. We love to provide unlimited options for creative expression to hobbyists and fibre crafters all across Australia, which lend themselves ideally to this time-honoured weaving method.

Working with a range of quality textile manufacturers, we stock with the best in the business to bring choices directly to you, spreading our love and passion for threads, looms, and textile supplies.

Tools You Need to Get Started

To start inkle loom weaving, you'll need a few basic tools to get you started. Apart from the inkle loom itself, here are some of the essential items:

• Belt Shuttle:  A shuttle is a tool used to carry the weft yarn through the shed (the opening between the warp threads). In inkle weaving, a flat shuttle, like a belt shuttle, is used during the weaving process. Choose a weaving shuttle that feels comfortable and suits your weaving style.
• Inkle Weaving Books: Utilise inkle weaving books to learn different weaving techniques on an inkle loom. With informative books, you can learn how to create your own colourful and useful braids, such as belts, bracelets, guitar straps, ties, shoelaces, and many more. If you have an Ashford Inkle Loom, we recommend flipping through the pages of the "Learn to Weave on the Inkle Loom" booklet by Ashford.
• Weaving Cards: Weaving cards, also known as tablet weaving cards or simply tablets, are small square or rectangular cards. These offer a great deal of versatility and flexibility in creating patterns, as the weaver has control over the card rotations and can experiment with various combinations.
• Weaving Yarn: Choose a sturdy and strong yarn that can withstand tension. Cotton or linen are commonly used for inkle weaving, but you can experiment with other fibres as well.

With these basic tools, you'll be well-equipped to begin your inkle loom weaving journey and create beautiful woven bands. 

Learn the Basics of Inkle Weaving

Learning the basics of inkle loom weaving opens up a vibrant world of creativity and craftsmanship. The basic skills of warping and weaving can be mastered with the help of a straightforward and portable tool like the inkle loom. Each pass adds a fresh layer by deftly manipulating the warp threads with a shuttle, showing the exquisiteness of colour and texture.

The process of learning inkle loom weaving is not only an exploration of ancient techniques but also a journey of self-expression and skill development that brings both joy and fulfilment to the weaver.

If you are a beginner looking to learn the basics of inkle weaving, read our blog post The Complete Inkle Loom Weaving for Beginners Guide, in which we discuss what tools you need to start inkle loom weaving, the different inkle loom options in the market, what yarns are best to use in inkle weaving, the benefits of using an inkle loom for weaving, and many more.

Inkle Looms for Sale in Australia

In the colourful world of weaving, Thread Collective is your gateway to creativity and self-expression. We invite you to explore our diverse inkle loom collection, where you'll find the perfect tool to kickstart or enhance your weaving journey. 

Are you ready to start your inkle weaving journey or looking to upgrade your equipment? Don't hesitate; begin your weaving journey today by checking out our inkle loom collection and let your creativity flow!