Are you interested in knowing more about the basics of learning to weave or spin? The Right From the Start articles in Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot are a great place to begin. Check out your guild's library copy of the following SS&Ds. Or to order a copy of the SS&D containing the article, click here.

Additional information to support “Right from the Start” can be found on this website here:

• Keep a Personal Fiber Work Inventory: Tables for Weaving, Spinning, and Knitting.
• Plan a Weaving Project Chart
• First Time at Convergence?
• Planning a Project
• Shrinkage
• Calculating Warp Length
• Adding Plain Weave to Satins
• Combining Other Structures
• Answers to Questions Posed in Fall 2000 Issue
• Buying a First Loom
• Which Loom Should I buy?
• Things You Need to Start Weaving
• Special Considerations When Buying a Used Loom
• Doubleweave
• Which Type of Loom Should I Choose?
• Twill Gamp Directions
• Weaving Structure Classification

Index of “Right from the Start” Topics

Fall 1994 -- Keep Good Records

Winter 1994/1995 -- Learn to Handle the Bobbin, Quill or Pirn

Spring 1995 -- The Best Kind of Shuttle

Summer 1995 -- Continue to Learn

Fall 1995 -- Workshop Looms

Winter 1995/1996 -- Specialty Looms

Spring 1996 -- Maintaining Equipment

Summer 1996 -- Spinning Wheel Basics & Maintenance

Fall 1996 -- Publicizing Fiber Group Activities

Winter 1996-1997 -- Interest Young People in Fiber Arts

Spring 1997 -- Warping Methods and Techniques

Summer 1997 -- Warping Front to Back

Fall 1997 -- Warping Back to Front

Winter 1997/1998 -- Sectional Warping/Long Warps

Summer 1998 -- Problem Solving: Floating Selvedges, Warp Threads, Tools, Knots

Fall 1998 -- Supported Spindles

Winter 1998/1999 -- Tabby (Balanced Plain Weave)

Spring 1999 -- Grouped Weave Structures

Summer 1999 -- Dressing the Loom with Two Warps

Fall 1999 -- Adding Blocks of Plain Weave to One Shuttle Weaves

Winter 1999/2000 -- Choosing the Correct Yarn (Wool, Silk, Cotton, Rayon, Linen)

Spring 2000 -- Setts

Summer 2000 -- Adding Plain Weave to Other Weave Structures

Fall 2000 -- Extending Four-Shaft Structures to Eight or More

Winter 2000/2001 -- Buying a First Loom

Spring 2001 -- Know Which Loom is Most Appropriate for a Particular Task

Summer 2001 -- Learn How to Avoid Common Mistakes

Fall 2001 -- Treadling Options

Winter 2001/2002 -- Planning for Your Weaving Project

Spring 2002 -- Profile Drafts

Summer 2002 -- Developing a Personal Fiber Philosophy

Fall 2002 -- Profile Drafts

Winter 2002/2003 -- Color

Spring 2003 -- The Anatomy of a Drawdown

Summer 2003 -- Guilds

Fall 2003 -- Choosing the Perfect Seminar or Workshop at Convergence

Winter 2003/2004 -- Basic Principles of Weaving Questions

Spring 2004 -- Planning Time at Convergence and Other Conferences

Summer 2004 -- Share the Magic of Your Crafts

Fall 2004 -- Is Selling Your Work an Option?

Winter 2004/2005 -- Plan a Project

Spring 2005 -- Design Fabrics Using Versatile Twills

Summer 2005 -- Weave Weft-faced, Warp-faced, and Uneven Fabrics

Fall 2005 -- Exhibits - Is my work good enough?

Winter 2005/2006 -- Compare Summer-and-Winter and Overshot

Spring 2006 -- Keep a Personal Fiber Work Inventory

Summer 2006 -- Incorporate Conference Attendance into Your Learning Process

Fall 2006 -- Understand the Weave Structure You Are Using

Winter 2006/2007 -- Use Treadling Methods to Extend Your Options on Four Shafts

Spring 2007 -- Plan Your Warp Carefully

Summer 2007 -- Keep Your Loom in Top Shape with the Appropriate Number of Heddles

Fall 2007 -- Assess Your Progress

Winter 2007/2008 -- Sley Your Reed According to Your Sett

Spring 2008 -- What Can I Make with Just One?

Summer 2008 -- Learn Fabric Analysis

Fall 2008 -- Sources of Inspiration

Winter 2008/2009 -- Explore Plain Weave and Its Derivatives

Spring 2009 -- Extend Your Weaving to Upholstery Fabrics

Summer 2009 -- Weaving Block Designs

Fall 2009 -- How to Get to Convergence 2010

Winter 2009/2010 -- Time Savers—or Not?

Spring 2010 -- A Juror Can Provide Useful Feedback

Summer 2010 -- Learn a Variety of Treadling Patterns Step-by-Step

Fall 2010 -- Make a Plan to Learn about Weaving

Winter 2010/2011 -- Overshot and Monks Belt on 4 and 8 Shafts

Spring 2011 -- Mixing Fibers Successfully

Summer 2011 -- Flow Sheets Can Aid Your Design Process

Fall 2011 -- Shopping for Inspiring Fibers at Convergence®

Winter 2011-2012 -- Weaving Twill on a Plain Weave Warp

Spring 2012 -- From Twills to False and True Satins

Summer 2012 -- Choosing a Structure for Your Project

Fall 2012 -- Try Some Saori® Free-Style Weaving

Winter 2012/2013 -- Expand Your Fiber Life

Spring 2013 -- The Basics of Crackle

Summer 2013 -- Find Common Ground

Fall 2013 -- You know the threading of the structure you want to use, and know what you want to make—but don’t know how to combine the two…

Winter 2013/2014 -- Weaving Structures Without a Fixed Threading Sequence

Spring 2014 -- Maintaining Good Tension

Summer 2014 -- Plan your Selvedges

Fall 2014 -- Designing Plain Weave Selvedges

Winter 2014-2015 -- Creating Double-wide Fabric with Double Weave

Spring 2015 -- Double-wide Fabric Part II, Beyond Double Weave

Summer 2015 -- What Makes a Fabric Color-and-Weave?