George Weil Blog & FAQs

Welcome to the George Weil Blog FAQs which includes information about the art and craft products sold on this website. There are project ideas, photographs of items created by our customers, product reviews, and step-by-step instructions. See also our USEFUL LINKS page which includes a listing of websites offering information about the products sold on our website, training resources and Guilds.

If there is anything you would like to see included here or if you would like to contribute an item, please email graphics@georgeweil.com

Auto reed hooks | Autodenters

Sleying the Reed with the Autodenter

The autodenter is most helpful for sleying the reed when threading the warp onto the weaving loom back-to-front. You can work left-to-right or right-to-left across the reed, whichever your handedness prefers. The Autodenter Looking at the autodenter you will see...
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art-clay-silver-new

Art Clay Silver Clay, An Overview

The magical medium of Art Clay Silver clay consists of finely ground pure silver mixed with non-toxic binders and water. Presented as an off-white putty, this malleable clay can be easily worked into unique and personalised jewellery or ornaments. Items...
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Ans Drost weaving

Tied Weave – Summer & Winter, by Ans Drost

Complex weaver, Ans Drost, emailed these photographs of the weavings she has achieved on her Lout Megado loom. Ans says of the image below ‘the same pattern in a different colour. It is still done in tied weave, Summer and...
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Angline Fibre Heat Moulded

Moulding with Angelina Fibre

Here we have discovered a fun and simple way to bind the heat bondable Angelina fibres into a three-dimensional shape. The fibres need only a very small amount of indirect heat to make them fuse, in this instance, boiling water...
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learn-knitting-01

Knitting, Casting On

Learn How to Knit – Casting On There are a number of ways to cast on. This method creates a chain of knit stitches on the needle. Once you have mastered this method of casting on, you are not far...
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alison-butcher-woven-skirt

Rigid Heddle Weaving by Alison Butcher

Our resident weaver, Susan Litton, is often heard expounding the virtues of the basic rigid heddle (also known as tabby loom). ‘It’s a very good experimental loom for creating woven cloth for tea towels, soft furnishings and clothing!’ In 2002...
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mohair_knitting

Knitting 100g Scarves

If you’ve never knitted before DO NOT be alarmed! All these scarves were knitted with the basic knit stitch using 100g hanks of yarn and the people that knitted are novices to the craft. Why not join in by learning...
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Jacquard Acid Dyes, 14g

What are Acid Dyes?

Acid dyes provide a simple dye system for use with wool, animal fibres and nylon. They give a brighter colour on silk than Procion MX Fibre Reactive Dyes. They can be used to dye fur, feathers, soya bean fibre, angora...
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Hand-dyed silk fibres

Dye Recipes using Acid Dyes

The dye recipes included in this post are for dyeing protein fibres such as silk and wool using Acid dyes (a synthetic dye which is set with vinegar or citric acid). We hope you will find the  acid dye instructions helpful...
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milliput

Milliput Epoxy Putty

Milliput is a remarkably versatile putty. It can be used to seal or bond many materials. Metals, plastics, masonry, wood, glass, tile brick and ceramics, and can also be cast or used for mould making. The two-part epoxy putty is...
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Pochade Box - Small

A Penchant for a Pochade?

If you enjoy painting on the move, these robust beach wood pochade boxes are the ideal companion. These boxes are light and practical, the perfect gift for the travelling artist. Available in two sizes, they include an easel, a palette...
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Hand felted spider

Hand Felted Spider for Halloween

Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and whey, along came a spider… a felt spider made from Merino wool tops!   Making a Felted Spider for Halloween This is a fun and simple project for all ages...
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Oil Pastels

Drawing with Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are a drawing medium that can be used on their own or along with other pastels. The pigment is mixed with a non-drying oil and wax binder making a soft, buttery consistency which fills the grain of the...
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Polymer clay cake toppers

Polymer Clay Cake Toppers

We often send out regular orders to our customers, but our curiosity was piqued when we began to receive an order every Tuesday for polymer clay from customer Cheryl Locke. Julie (who is an important member of our sales team...
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Needle felted caterpillar

Needle Felted Caterpillar from Somerset

Look who came back from Somerset with Philippa! This little fella was found at the One Craft Gallery in Shepton Mallet. We think we have identified the maker; jewellery designer Rachel Kerrison needle felts small animals and creatures when working...
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Armatures and wire

Armatures for Model Making

An armature is the framework or skeleton used as the base when making models of figures or animals. A good starting point for a model is a scale sketch or marquette. Once the design has been established, the ‘skeleton’ can...
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Schacht Zoom Loom test

Schacht Zoom Loom – Tried & Tested

The Schacht Zoom Loom is a pin loom that is very easy and comfortable to use. The instructions contain a step by step process of how to use the loom and a selection of projects. The loom has been designed...
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Modroc pots

Pots made from Modroc

These special little pots have been created by molding Modroc over the base of an empty bottle. The embellishments have been added while the Modroc is still wet allowing the resin based plaster to act as an adhesive. ModRoc can...
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silk-rolls-large

George Weil Fabric Range

Most of the materials featured are suitable for dressmaking, needlecrafts, dyeing, batik and interior design. The silk, satin and velvet fabrics will appeal to the Wedding dress maker as they are available in varying weights and differ in their light...
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block-design-5

Different Types of Lino Cutters

There are two types of lino cutters available from George Weil. The traditional lino cutter requires you to push the blade away from you in order to cut the block. It is important to keep your hands well away from...
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