How to Make a Primitive Loom

By Joan Lindeman
Published on July 1, 1973
1 / 2

Building the primitive loom from dowels and string.
Building the primitive loom from dowels and string.
2 / 2

TOP: The primitive loom is ready for its first weaving assignment.BOTTOM: A woven mat made of string and cattail leaves.
TOP: The primitive loom is ready for its first weaving assignment.BOTTOM: A woven mat made of string and cattail leaves.

To the hopeful, hopeless, or hapless (pick your category) beginner, a full-size loom can be an alarming contraption … and the mystique in which some experienced weavers like to veil their craft doesn’t help matters any. Well, if weaving appeals to you, you may be glad to know that you can dispel your awe and discover the basic principles of the skill by building a very primitive device in your back yard.

“Primitive” is the word for this gadget, all right. Nothing could be simpler to construct (just pound sticks into the ground and tie strings on them) and the resulting machine is so easy to operate that I’ve seen first- and second-grade children using one in their school playground. Of course, you’re not going to turn out tapestries or patterned fabrics on such an invention … but as an introduction to weaving, the outdoor loom is hard to beat.

Here’s what you’ll need to begin the project:

[1] Earth soft enough to pound sticks into.
[2] Fifteen dowels, each approximately 18 inches long. Sturdy sticks cut to a uniform length will do just as well . . . I used dowels because I had some given to me.
[3] Ball of postal or baling twine, or heavy string.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368