A Weaver’s Carol: The 12 Delays of Weaving

Today we’re revisiting this weaver’s carol originally published back in 2012. We think it’s a theme most of us can relate to: falling in love with a project only to find that before you can get started you need more shuttles, heddles, or (and especially!) yarn. This carol is for every weaver who thought they had everything they needed, only to fall in love with a project that required a 6-dent reed or that one back issue of Handwoven not in their collection.

(We also suggest you check out this video by Bonnie Tarses where she sings The 12 Days of Weaving, a similar weaver’s carol that highlights our tendency to build yarn and equipment stashes even when we don’t have the room.)

“Well first you need your boat shuttle and then you need your other boat shuttle for when you weave overshot. Oh, but if you want to weave with rags you need a rag shuttle although sometimes you’ll want a ski shuttle . . .”

The 12 Delays of Weaving

When I first started weaving, all I thought I’d need was a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my second project, and now I also need 2 boat shuttles and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my third project, and now I also need 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my fourth project, and now I also need 4 more shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my fifth project, and now I also need 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my sixth project, and now I also need 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my seventh project, and now I also need 7 trips to workshops, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my eighth project, and now I also need 8 skeins of linen, 7 trips to workshops, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my ninth project, and now I also need 9 reference readings, 8 skeins of linen, 7 trips to workshops, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my tenth project, and now I also need 10 cones of Tencel, 9 reference readings, 8 skeins of linen, 7 trips to workshops, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my eleventh project, and now I also need 11 repair heddles (oops), 10 cones of Tencel, 9 reference readings, 8 skeins of linen, 7 trips to workshops, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

Then I chose my twelfth project, and now I also need 12 extra bobbins, 11 repair heddles (oops), 10 cones of Tencel, 9 reference readings, 8 shafts for weaving, 8 skeins of linen, 6 cones of cotton, 5 weaving books, 4 extra shafts, 3 T-pins, 2 boat shuttles, and a loom with a 10-dent reed.

And now I need more room!

Happy Weaving! Christina

Originally published December 2012, Revised December 2021