I’ve recently discovered that one of the most popular posts I’ve published here on the blog is my tutorial on how to build your own DIY weaving lap loom and I thought today I’d put together a list of 15 fun and creative weaving projects for the beginner weaver. You can make any of these beginner weaving projects at home using your handmade DIY lap loom and could be made by adults and kids!
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Beginner Weaving Projects
I put this list together with the assumption that most of us are beginners or somewhat fairly new to weaving. So these weaving project ideas and inspiration I’ve gathered should be something even a brand new beginner can complete.
Also, I put together this list with the intention of including projects other than the standard woven tapestry project that you normally see when you think of weaving.
I love an intricately designed handcrafted tapestry as much as the next person but personally I don’t want to make tapestry after tapestry to hang on my walls. With a little creativity you can make tons of things from weaving that go beyond a nice wall hanging.
Take a look at some of the fun weaving projects I’ve found that aren’t tapestries or wall hangings!
Coasters
What’s great about this weaving project is that you can make several of these hand woven coasters on a single loom weft set up since they’re smaller. You can also practice different techniques and mix up the design in a single project. Doing a larger weaving project often requires you to repeat the same design and pattern over and over again which can get boring. With DIY woven coasters you have the ability to mix things up keeping things interesting.
Throw Blankets
Speaking of a larger project it doesn’t get much larger than a handwoven blanket. This is a great beginner weaving project for someone who is feeling ambitious.
Personally, I’m not sure I have the patience to try and tackle a project this large but I’m tempted when I see this blanket Hello Hydrangea designed for Anthropologie.
Clutch or Handbag
I’ve seen simple clutches that would be a snap for a beginner weaver to make but I’ve also seen some beautiful designs with pretty sequins and textures added in that look just as much a piece of art as it does a high-end designer handbag.
Decorative Pillows
Gosh, I have seen so many different gorgeous handwoven pillows that I would love to either attempt to recreate or just outright buy but I have to at least include in this list a photo of the handwoven pillow I created from my DIY loom. This was my very first completed weaving project I made after making my loom and I think it turned out pretty well for a first time attempt. You can find the full tutorial HERE.
Doormat or Rug
If you’ve got the patience to do a tapestry I bet you’ve got the patience to do a fun area rug. Why buy a door mat or area rug from a store when you can make your own and it be a one of a kind, custom made by you. I included some photos of some of my personal favorites I found.
Clothing: Vest, Scarf, Skirt
Clothes bought from the store came from yarns and threads that were woven on big industrial machines, so why can’t you hand weave some clothing items for yourself. It’s funny Hello Hydrangea the queen of hand weaving and fiber arts shared this hand woven vest she made for herself a while back. What’s funny is only a couple weeks prior I had the very same idea and had started looking through my collection of vintage patterns looking for a vest pattern that I could use. Not long after did she post her latest completed project of just that. The difference is in execution of course haha. But other clothing could be a scarf like the ones she created for Anthropologie, or how about a skirt? Why not.
Floor Pouf
I mentioned decorative pillows earlier but I also thought this was a great twist on the regular common decorative woven pillow idea, and it’s practical and functional. That’s my kind of home decor and craft project.
Framed Wall Art
When you think weaving and wall art most people probably jump to tapestries. But I’ve found some really cool weaving wall art projects that were not tapestries but some were almost like paintings and framed pictures. Like this one of a landscape. I really like how this project utilizes the exposed wefts rather than having to completely weave a whole loom size.
Lampshade or Chandelier
I’m very envious of some of the lamp shades and chandeliers I’ve seen. Anthropologie I’ve noticed has a lot of products that utilize fiber arts in a beautiful and creative way. Their chandelieress and lamp shades are no different.
Plush Toy
I bet you didn’t consider the idea of creating plush kids’ toy from a weaving project! While I haven’t done it myself I have seen the process of homemade stuffed toys before. There are tons of free toy crochet patterns out there for kids’ toys and I imagine, making a stuffed animal would involve a similar process. You’d sketch the outline of the toy’s pattern on your loom and use that outline as a guide to creating your pieces. Then individually attach the pieces together to form the toy.
Bookmarks
Arguably one of the simplest DIY weaving project ideas in this list would be to weave yourself or someone you love a bookmark. You could even make it more unique by embroidering a design or name onto the bookmark and give it as a sweet personalized gift to your loved ones.
Ipad/Tablet or Laptop Case
Making a fiber art Ipad and a laptop case has actually been on my todo list for quite some time now. Currently, I don’t have a case for either my Ipad or laptop and I use both multiple times a day. I was going to buy one a while back but I saw one of these at one point and thought it would be a fun project to complete!
Jewelry: Necklace, Earrings, Hair Barretts
Another really simple and quick beginner weaving project is handwoven jewelry. I’ve seen necklaces a few times before but the idea of earrings and even a hair barrette is a new idea to me. Keep in mind, the hardware that might be required. However, I’ve seen some really pretty handmade pieces being sold on Etsy.
Pot Holders and Baskets
You see all kinds of plant holders including woven baskets all over the place in retail stores. Therefore naturally, they would be on this list too. Here are a couple plant pot holders that I thought had some fun and stylish designs.
Decorative Lace
Last on the list is decorative lace. This is a new project idea that Hello Hydrangea started recently in her project of the month subscription and it’s something that has really caught my fancy as I have an obsession with lace. I never considered you could make lace from weaving. But this photo of floral lace tapestry Hello Hydrangea has me staring at it trying to analyze the technique.
Although this is a list of only 15 beginner weaving projects, there are tons of other creative things I found just while writing this post! And I recommend you explore some others if you’re interested in finding more fiber art inspiration.
Hello Hydrangea has amazing Pinterest and Instagram accounts. I highly recommend taking a look and following her for fiber art resources. Her knowledge reaches beyond just weaving and it’s super fun to look through some of the things she and others have created.
If you’re new to weaving and wondering where to get started, take a look at my tutorial on how to make a weaving lap loom from a picture frame, and for a step-by-step weaving tutorial head over to my DIY handwoven pillow post.
This DIY handwoven pillow was actually my very first weaving project. So I know it’s a great option in the beginner weaving projects list.
Additionally, I have a board on my Pinterest account dedicated specifically to weaving tips, tutorials, and inspiration.
I hope this post was helpful and as much fun to read as it was for me to write! If you try out weaving for yourself I’d love to see some of your creations, you can connect with me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or even just leave a comment below!
Thanks again for all your support and stopping by!!
