Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn to weave on a loom
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Weaving is half puzzle and half rhythm, because you plan and make a warp, set it up on the loom, then settle into weaving the cloth. Beginners' courses lend you a loom and supply the yarn, so you can learn properly before deciding whether to buy one.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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What a beginners' course covers
Much of the learning is in setting up. West Dean College's five-day introduction teaches students to design cloth, plan a warp and set up an 8-shaft table loom, with a dedicated loom for each student and the yarn supplied, ending with samples or a finished piece of fabric.
Floor looms are the other common way in. NC State's Crafts Center teaches beginners on Schacht Baby Wolf floor looms over nine evenings, with enough yarn to practise and to make a scarf, and personal use of a loom for some weeks after.
Guilds keep it going after the course. The London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers meets on the second Saturday of each month, welcomes visitors and runs interest groups for loom weaving and tapestry weaving. The Crafts Council lists UK studios from Oxford to Dundee offering short courses and tasters from about £45.
What beginners pay
| Where | Course | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| West Dean College, London | Five days on an 8-shaft table loom; loom and yarn provided; for complete beginners | £650 |
| City Lit, London | Textiles: frame loom weaving, five Thursday sessions for beginners | £399, or £319 senior and £259 concession |
| NC State Crafts Center, North Carolina | Nine evenings on a floor loom; yarn for a scarf included; open to the public | $225 public rate |
How to start
- Book a beginners' course that provides a loom for each student, such as a table loom or floor loom course at an arts college or crafts centre.
- Visit a local weavers' guild meeting; the UK has more than 110 guilds affiliated to the national association, and the London guild, for one, welcomes visitors.
- Weave samples first, then a simple project such as a scarf, before buying your own loom.
Where to go
- Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers: about the guilds UK
- Crafts Council: where you can learn to weave in the UK UK
- West Dean College: Introduction to 8-shaft table loom weaving (London) UK
- NC State Crafts Center: Weaving on a Floor Loom, Beginning Weaving (North Carolina) US
We opened these links on 8 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need my own loom to learn weaving?
No. West Dean College gives each student a dedicated table loom, and NC State's beginners' class includes personal use of a floor loom.
Where can I learn to weave in the UK?
At arts colleges such as West Dean and City Lit, at independent studios listed by the Crafts Council, and through local guilds of weavers, spinners and dyers.
Are there weaving guilds near me?
Probably. The Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers has more than 110 affiliated guilds across the UK, and its website lists and maps them.
What will I make on a beginners' weaving course?
Usually samples, then a small project. West Dean's students weave samples or a finished piece of fabric; NC State's class supplies enough yarn for a scarf.
Where this comes from: Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, About AGWSD; Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, London guild; Crafts Council, Where you can learn to weave in the UK; West Dean College, Introduction to 8-shaft table loom weaving; City Lit, Textiles: frame loom weaving; NC State Crafts Center, Weaving on a Floor Loom: Beginning Weaving. Opened 8 November 2026.
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