When you start bandweaving, all you really need is a way to hold your warp in place and under tension and something with which to beat your weft. While an inkle loom and a band shuttle are a great starting point, other tools can help make weaving easier in general—and on your body.
A knife-edge shuttle, like the one shown here, helps to make packing weft easier and more efficient. Photo by Christina Garton
For example, if you look for bandweaving shuttles, you might see some listed as “knife shuttles” or having a “knife edge.” Knife-edge shuttles have one long beveled edge that resembles the edge of a knife (hence the name). No, these shuttles are not for self-protection (although do be careful with them), but rather for beating in the weft. The sharp edge allows you to beat your weft in tighter with less effort, allowing you to weave more efficiently.
Bandweaving rigid heddles can be used with a backstrap setup, as shown here, or on inkle or other bandweaving looms. Photo by Kate Larson
If you’re not fond of the shedding options on inkle looms or have difficulty threading string heddles, consider looking into a rigid heddle. Long before the rigid-heddle loom, bandweavers used small handheld rigid heddles as shedding devices in their weaving. These heddles tend to be much narrower than those found on rigid-heddle looms, but they work in the same way: The warp is threaded through slots and holes, and when you lift or lower the heddle, the hole threads are moved up or down with the heddle to create the shed. They can also be threaded using hooks, making it easier for weavers with limited hand mobility or vision.
Some bandweaving rigid heddles even have more than just long slots and holes—they also have pattern slots or two sets of holes or combinations of all 4 for more complex “automated” pattern options. For those who like to do pick-up patterns in their bandweaving, the rigid heddle makes pick up more efficient by spreading out the warp more, making it easier to see and pick up the correct threads. If you have trouble with visually picking out the ends before you pick them up or have physical trouble doing so when the warp ends are so close together, a rigid heddle can help make this job easier.
Used by Sámi weavers for centuries, these curved shuttles known as “gepha” make picking up threads easier and more ergonmic. Photo by Matt Graves
Speaking of pick up, if you do a lot of it and find it hard on the hands, some weavers find using a Sámi-style shuttle, also sometimes called a gepha, to be more ergonomic. These shuttles are based on the ones used by the Sámi people of Scandinavia who are world renowned for their beautiful bandweaving. Sámi-style shuttles are curved on one end, which also comes to a point. This curve of the shuttle makes picking up threads easier on the body and in general.
Whether you’re looking to make weaving more efficient or trying to find tools to help minimize the wear and tear on your body (the most important weaving tool you have!) these bandweaving tools can help you out. They’re available from a variety of retailers in different styles at different price points, so you can find the tool that fits your weaving, your budget, and your body.
Happy Weaving!
Christina
Originally published 12/5/2022; updated 2/26/2026