Thanks to Uncommon Goods for sponsoring this post and offering an item for review.
DIY Weaving Kit Review
Well, now I’m obsessed with weaving.
It started when I stopped by a local shop and saw beautifully complex weavings for sale. They could have easily been an impulse buy, but at $250 a pop, that wasn’t going to happen. So for the last couple of months I’ve been wondering if I should take the plunge and try to DIY it.
I’ve crafted all my life – painting, sewing, macrame, paper mache, tie-dye, and even weaving simple pot holders – but this seemed like it was going to be especially difficult. I’ve never been patient with fiber arts (I quit knitting after about 2 hours) so I put it on the back burner.
Then, a couple weeks ago, I was perusing the Uncommon Goods website – namely wall hangings (still on the hunt for pre-made weavings) and plant-related stuff (because apparently I’m now a plant lady) – and stumbled upon the Mini Loom Weaving Kit.
At $55, it was decidedly more affordable than buying a completed piece and it came with everything I needed to weave my own masterpiece, including a mini loom, needles, pick up stick, comb, yarn, and instructions. Uncommon Goods generously partnered with me so I could try it out for free.
Uncommon Goods is dedicated to supply chain ethics, sustainability, and craftsmanship, and it shows in their collection of curated gifts, art pieces, decor, DIY kits, and more. They’re B-Corp and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, and they make sure that their products reflect their values.
My Experience with the Mini Loom Kit
The first thing you should know about weaving is that it’s not exactly easy.
It takes some time to get your fingers moving and your eyes focused on the patterns you’re trying to create. The kit comes with a photo-heavy instruction booklet to help you create roughly the design I’ve created here, but the product image on the site is slightly different and more closely matches the yarn colors I received in my kit. So the design is really up to you!
The makers predict that this weaving will take about 3 hours to complete. It took me 7.
Not because I messed up or anything – just because I was careful at every step. I get really frustrated if I make mistakes, so it was to my benefit to take things slow. I enjoyed working away at it while watching episodes of The Office and The Middle over the weekend.
The instruction booklet contained just enough guidance to teach me the basics while letting me customize my own design. This is ideal for me, as I really prefer to experiment and go my own way. I’m also more of a visual learner, so the photos were excellent.
Final Thoughts
I’m hooked! To be honest, I haven’t felt this proud of myself in a really long time. I spend so much of my life writing and speaking, and relying on those things to make me feel good about myself.
It was nice to remind myself that I can put my head down and learn how to do something tactile that yields material results. I get this physical proof that I accomplished something! The reward was worth the time spent.
And it made me more aware of the work that goes into artisan craft traditions more broadly. Weaving may be having a moment in the American mainstream, but artisans have been keeping this kind of craft up for centuries.
Their work takes incredible dexterity, creativity, patience, and attention to detail. It makes me proud to be able to feature their work on my blog.
Check out the Mini Loom Kit here. Learn more about Uncommon Goods here.
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.