How to Start Tapestry Weaving: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Tapestry weaving is one of the most calming, creative, and rewarding crafts you can learn — and the best part is that you can start with very little equipment. Whether you’re brand new to weaving or returning after a long break, this guide will walk you through the essentials so you can begin with confidence.

What You Need to Get Started

You don’t need a studio full of tools to begin tapestry weaving. In fact, many beginners start with simple, affordable materials.

Basic supplies include:

• A small frame loom or pocket loom

• Warp thread

• A few colours of yarn (just DK wool is good)

• A tapestry needle

• Scissors

• A kitchen fork for beating down the weft

If you’re taking Liz’s Beginner Course, she even shows you how to build your own loom, making it easy to start without buying expensive equipment.

Choosing the Right Yarn

For beginners, DK‑weight yarn is perfect. It’s easy to handle, forgiving, and comes in a wide range of colours. As you progress, you can explore finer yarns for more detailed work (as you see in the photos).

First Techniques to Learn when Starting Tapestry Weaving

Start with the foundational skills that every tapestry weaver uses:

• Warping your loom

• Plain weave

• Meet and separate

• Shallow and steep angles

• Simple shapes like squares and curves

These basics open the door to more advanced techniques later on.

A Simple First Project

A small abstract tapestry is the perfect beginner project. Choose 3–5 colours you love, practice your angles and shapes or hatching, and enjoy the process without pressure. You will be practising your tension whilst having some fun!

Ready to Learn More?

Liz’s Beginner’s Tapestry Course takes you step‑by‑step through everything you need to know — including building your own loom.

Go to Tapestry Courses