How to Weave Denim

Denim has a noticeable diagonal weave pattern created by the twill weave.

Denim was thought to have originated in France during the Middle Ages, but wasn't made into what we now consider "jeans" until 1873 when Levi Strauss registered his pants design made from denim. Making denim is fairly easy once you get the basic weave pattern down. The denim weave is considered a twill or double weave because the weft or filler is weaved through double warps or vertical yarns creating a strong, durable fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Loom
• Indigo-dyed cotton yarn
• White cotton yarn

Instructions

1. Loop and tie off the yarn around the pegs located along the top and bottom of the loom. This yarn will be used as the warp or vertical strands.

2. Insert the white yarn at the top of the loom from either the left or right side as the weft or filler. Weave the white weft yarn horizontally through the weft by going over two or three warp strands then under two warp strands then over two or three warp strands again. If you choose to go over three rather than two warp strands, be consistent throughout the whole fabric and continue that same pattern.

3. Push the weft upward as you weave to keep the weave tight and without gaps. At the end of each horizontal row, reverse direction and continue to weave back to the other side. Alternate the weave pattern with the preceding row; for example, if the last weave of the row is an over weave, the first weave of the row directly below it should be an under weave.

4. Weave the entire fabric in this alternating over/under twill pattern. Remove the denim from the loom when it is completed by lifting it off the pegs. You can trim the edges of the weave to cut away any loose strands of yarn.

References

• Textile School: Denim Construction
• Garmento: History of Denim
• Textile Exchange: Manufacturing Process of Denim
• Denim Addikt: Glossary and History