Online Weaving Resources
Handweaving.net
This site contains a huge collection of weaving drafts, journals, and other publications. Basic access is free, but an annual subscription unlocks many useful features, including full draft and color editing, block substitution, and the ability to download WIF files.
On-Line Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving and Related Topics
This valuable resource contains thousands of periodicals, books, articles, and other documents about weaving, basketry, lace, and related topics. It is free to use.
The Master Yarn Chart
The Master Yarn Chart shows life-sized images of all sorts of yarns with recommended setts for open plain weave (as you would use for lace weaves), balanced plain weave, and twills. The setts are a good starting point. It also includes info about each yarn. This is a great resource, even if your specific yarn is not shown. Find something with the same fiber content and yards/pound measurement, and go from there. The photos are life-sized if you print the document on letter-sized paper.
Reed Substitution Chart
A reed substitution chart tells you how many ends you need in each dent of your reed to obtain a given sett with different reed sizes. This one is published by Schacht, and is one of many available online. The reed dents per inch is along the top, the sleying order is on the left (i.e. 1-2), and the sett is in the center of the chart. You want to pick a sleying order that is as regular as possible so that you don’t wind up with reed marks in the fabric. Sleying 1-2 across the reed is better than 1-1-1-1-2.
Tim’s Treadle Reducer
A web-based tool to create a skeleton tie-up (one that uses 2 or more treadles simultaneously) based on a draft that needs more treadles than your loom has available. This is free to use.
Jane Stafford School of Weaving
This is a subscription-based online course in weaving. It is very thorough and recommended by many.
The Handweaving Academy
Janet Dawson and Tien Chiu have created this subscription-based online course to help you design unique fabric.
Inkle, Tablet, and Backstrap Weaving
Inkle Loom Pattern Designer
A web-based pattern design tool for inkle bands to help you create and visualize your own patterns
The Loomy Bin
A design tool for tablet weaving, an article about shadow weave on floor looms, and list of the author’s publications
Twisted Threads
A design tool for tablet weaving as well as a huge collection of drafts. Allows you to design and save drafts on the site.
Backstrap Weaving
Laverne Waddington’s website and collected information on backstrap weaving
Dyeing Resources
Dharma Trading Company
Dharma has many how-to articles as well as being a major supplier of dyes, dye supplies, and dyeable goods
Maiwa
Maiwa has a wealth of information on natural dyes, as well as being a supplier of natural dyes, dye supplies and dyeable goods
Paula Burch All About Hand Dyeing
A valuable resource on dyeing with many details about the hows and whys of dyes. Paula’s background in chemistry gives her insight into the process of dyeing.