![loom weaving loom weaving](https://content.instructables.com/ORIG/F5S/F5QH/GPBDFHVF/F5SF5QHGPBDFHVF.jpg)
When I could, I started experimenting with wool and wool-blends, but honestly I couldn’t afford them on a housekeeper’s salary. I started out using acrylics from my Grandma Wick as well as some skeins I had around for my long-lost knitting aspirations. Perfectionism in materials doesn’t need to be one of them. (The Weave podcast from Gist Yarn and Fiber has a great podcast episode about the racist history of textiles in America, including some discussion on how challenging weaving is to access because of the expense, time, and space it requires).
![loom weaving loom weaving](https://i.etsystatic.com/10395645/r/il/31a0c9/1327591985/il_fullxfull.1327591985_643m.jpg)
There are enough barriers to accessing weaving as it is. But not everyone has the time, money, or resources to access high quality yarn early on, or ever. Being intentional with what fibers you use-opting for natural vs. Have a bunch of acrylic yarn from your kids’ craft bin or passed down from Grandma for your long-lost knitting aspirations? Use that. Experiment and figure out what length you like best, and get yourself a bunch of cardboard strips or folded graph papers (me) in that size so that you have them on hand to easily reuse each time you start weaving. I have swollen fingers due to my rheumatoid arthritis, so I try to give myself a comfortable amount of string for me. I like them to be two+ inches, because the purpose is to leave enough warp string open at the bottom of your weaving so that when your piece is done and ready to come off the loom, you have enough warp to comfortably tie in knots, weave in to the back of your weaving, or serve as fringe if that’s what you’d like. So, after warping the loom, weave a strip of cardboard, folded piece of paper, or some other flexible-yet-sturdy material through the warp strings and nestle it nice and snug along the bottom.
![loom weaving loom weaving](https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5614699/il_fullxfull.186526278.jpg)
I did this on my first few weavings, but quickly learned that led to the tension going wonky and the weaving getting warped. Also known as, don’t start your weaving at the bottom of your warp strings, right where they loop around the nails, pegs, or teeth, depending on your loom.