A Note Before We Begin: This Is Part 1 of a 3-Part Series

This blog is the first in a three-part series written especially for knitters who are curious about weaving.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your stash yarns are suitable for weaving—or how weaving even works—this series will guide you through everything from the basics to project planning and design.

Part 1: Can You Use Knitting Yarns for Weaving? A Beginner's guide: Introduces the basics of weaving and shows how many knitting yarns—even leftovers from your stash—can be used to create woven projects with simple tools and techniques.

Part 2: Understanding Weaving Terminology WPI, EPI, Sett & More (Made Simple for Knitters):  Explains core weaving terms and how they help you understand which of your knitting yarns can be used in the warp or weft.

 

Part 3: Shows you how to design your own weaving projects using a mix of knitting yarns and weaving yarns, so you can confidently plan projects that make the most of your stash.

Whether you’re exploring a new craft or looking to get more from your yarn stash, this series is for you.

Can You Use Knitting Yarns for Weaving?

(Image 1: Knitted square by 'We Are Knitters', Image 2: Sustainable wall-hanging on a frame loom Cassandra Smith, Image 3: 'Stash' knitting yarns for Studio Membership at The Oxford Weaving Studio)

Are you a knitter with a drawer (or an entire cupboard!) full of yarn you’ve never quite gotten around to using up? You’re not alone. Most crafters have a yarn stash that just keeps growing—especially after years of knitting, crochet, or experimenting with other fibre crafts.

If you’ve been curious about weaving, here’s some good news: you can use many of those yarns for weaving too. In fact, it might be the perfect way to finally put those beautiful leftovers to use.

Weaving is a surprisingly versatile, approachable craft—and if you’re coming from a knitting background, you already have a huge head start.

What Makes Weaving So Versatile?

Weaving is the interlacing of two materials—one in the vertical (warp) and one in the horizontal (weft). These threads intersect at right angles to create cloth. That structure may sound simple, but the possibilities are endless.

Unlike knitting, which builds fabric using a single continuous thread, weaving allows you to use lots of different yarns in one piece. This makes it ideal for using up leftover balls, mini skeins, or textured yarns that aren’t enough for a full knitting project.

And just like knitting has beginner stitches (like knit and purl) and advanced ones (like cables or lace), weaving can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.

(Image 1: Handwoven wall-hanging, handwoven scarf on The Oxford Frame Loom, handwoven cushion, all featuring short length yarns & fibres, all designed by Cassandra Smith)

Plain weave—the over-under pattern you may remember from childhood crafts—is the weaving equivalent of stockinette or garter stitch. Once you’ve mastered it, you can explore more intricate techniques and designs, depending on your loom and your creativity.

The projects you can create also vary in complexity:

• Some can be finished right on the loom (like scarves, wall hangings, or cushion panels)

• Others can be constructed into garments or larger items, like fabric for jackets or bags

Weaving also uses many skills that knitters already have: sewing in ends, colour work, tension control, and understanding fibre behaviour. You’re more prepared than you think.

Weaving also lets you experiment with colour play, blending different fibres or tones in ways that are often more challenging to achieve in knitting. The contrast between warp and weft creates layered patterns that change depending on how your yarns interact.

Why Knitters Love Weaving

One of the reasons knitters are drawn to weaving is because you can use up your stash more creatively and efficiently.

You might only have a small amount of DK, sock yarn, or laceweight leftover—but that can still add colour, texture, or structure to a woven piece. Cushions, bookmarks, wall hangings, and scarves are all great projects that use just a few metres of yarn in unique ways.

Another key difference is that you can weave with both fine and very thick yarns. In fact, some fibres that are difficult to knit with—like wool roving—are more durable and easier to handle in weaving. When roving is used in the weft, the warp supports the structure and reduces the surface area exposed to friction, making the cloth more stable than arm-knitted fabric.

You don’t need matching balls or full skeins to get started—just a curiosity to see what your yarns can do when woven.

The sample below was woven using short lengths of 'scrap' yarn.

What About Equipment?

One thing that makes knitting feel approachable is its simplicity: just a pair of needles and a ball of yarn.

But let’s be honest—even knitters end up with multiple sets of needles, circulars, DPNs, cable hooks, and more. It’s not always the “minimal” hobby we imagine.

Weaving equipment can be just as streamlined—especially when you start with a frame loom.

At The Oxford Weaving Studio, we offer two looms designed to grow with you:

• The Rainbow Loom is a small, affordable option ideal for complete beginners. It’s perfect for testing the waters before making a bigger investment.

• The Oxford Frame Loom offers more flexibility, allowing you to experiment with a wider range of sett (thread spacing). This loom supports creative exploration and gives you room to grow as your skills develop.

And if you decide to pursue weaving more seriously, you might eventually explore table or floor looms, which let you weave longer lengths or more intricate patterns. But there’s no need to rush. Many weavers stick with frame looms for years—using them to create stunning and personal pieces.

From Stash to Studio

By now, you’ve seen that weaving can make use of many of the yarns you already own. You might already be picturing how a soft merino blend or a textured hand-dyed skein could be woven into something beautiful.

But before you dive in, there’s a little more to know. Just because a yarn looks like it’ll work for weaving doesn’t always mean it will—especially when it comes to warp yarns, which are held under tension on your loom.

That’s where the next blog post comes in.

In Part 2, I’ll walk you through some foundational weaving concepts—like WPI (Wraps Per Inch), EPI (Ends Per Inch) and Sett—and how these tools help you figure out whether a yarn is best used in the warp or the weft.

These ideas might sound technical now, but I promise they’ll unlock a new way of thinking about your yarn stash—and help you weave with much more confidence.

Want to get started right away?

You can explore our Intro to Frame Loom Weaving e-book or browse our loom and yarn kits for beginner-friendly supplies.

And remember: weaving isn’t about perfection—it’s about curiosity, experimentation, and discovering your own weaving style.