A Portable Heddle Kit for Weaving Unique Belts, Braids and Straps in Any Cotton Yarn
 
Learn inkle-style backstrap weaving with this portable loom kit - a body-tensioned weaving technique for producing narrow, patterned belts, braids and straps that you can take anywhere. No fixed workspace needed. Choose your own colours; every piece you make will be one of a kind. Yarn not included - use any strong DK or 4ply cotton yarn in your chosen colours.
 
What Is Backstrap Belt Weaving?
Backstrap weaving is a portable, body-tensioned technique. One end of the warp attaches to a fixed point (a door handle, tree, or post) and the other loops around your body at the hips or back. You control the warp tension by leaning forward or backward. The TabbyandTweed kit uses an inkle-style heddle to create the shed - the gap through which the weft passes - to produce a narrow woven band. In this style of weaving, the warp threads are packed closely together so the pattern appears entirely in your colour choices: change the warp colours and you change the design.
 
What You Can Make
Backstrap belt weaving produces narrow woven bands of any length: belts, bag straps, hat bands, guitar straps, lanyards, bookmarks, wrist cuffs, hair ties, and decorative braids. The width of the band is determined by the number of warp threads - this heddle typically produces a band of approximately 3–4cm width depending on yarn weight. The length is limited only by your yarn supply.
 
Yarn Choice
Yarn is not included with this kit. Use any strong, smooth, low-stretch yarn in your chosen colours:
DK cotton - TabbyandTweed's recommended choice for a standard-weight belt with clear pattern definition
4ply cotton - for a finer, lighter band with tighter patterning
Cotton is preferred over wool for backstrap weaving because it has low stretch, which makes maintaining consistent body tension easier. Avoid highly elastic yarn as a beginner.
 
What's Included
Inkle-style heddle - 9cm x 8.5cm
Shuttle
Lease sticks - used to keep the warp threads in the correct order when setting up
Cord - to act as the backstrap belt if needed
Detailed step-by-step instruction booklet - setup, warping, and weaving process
 
Yarn is not included. You will need DK or 4ply cotton yarn in your chosen colours to begin.
 
Learning to Weave with This Kit
Backstrap weaving has a slightly steeper initial learning curve than rigid heddle weaving - maintaining consistent body tension takes practice. The instruction booklet covers every stage of the process from the beginning: setting up, warping, creating the shed, and weaving. The kit is designed for a beginner, with an honest acknowledgement that a new craft takes time to learn. Most new weavers find the technique accessible within a few hours of practice.
 
Made in the UK
The TabbyandTweed backstrap heddle is made in their Salisbury, Wiltshire workshop.
 
FAQ's
What is inkle-style belt weaving?
Inkle (or inkle-style) weaving is a technique for producing narrow warp-faced bands using a small heddle. The pattern in the finished band comes entirely from the warp colour arrangement - change the colours and you change the design. This kit uses an inkle-style heddle with a backstrap setup.
 
Does this kit include yarn?
No. The kit contains the heddle, shuttle, lease sticks, cord and instructions. You supply your own DK or 4ply cotton yarn in your chosen colours.
 
What can I make with this kit?
Belts, bag straps, lanyards, hat bands, bookmarks, wrist cuffs, hair ties, and decorative braids of any length.
 
What yarn should I use?
DK cotton for a standard belt; 4ply cotton for a finer band. Use a smooth, low-stretch yarn. Avoid highly elastic yarn as a beginner.
 
Is this suitable for a complete beginner?
Yes, with patience. The instructions cover every step from the beginning. Backstrap weaving has a slight initial learning curve, but most beginners find it accessible within a few hours of practice.
 
Is this portable?
Yes - this is the most portable weaving kit in the TabbyandTweed range. It can be used anywhere a fixed anchor point is available: a door handle, a tree, a post. No loom frame or table is needed.