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

Merino Wool Tops for Felt Making

August 15, 2011The Team at George WeilFeltmaking,FibresWool

Felt making is most effective using wool fibres. The best to use is wool that has been cleaned and combed. The treated wool is known as wool tops, or wool roving. Fibre with a Bradford count of 60 or higher...

Hand Papermaking

August 9, 2011The Team at George WeilPaper CraftsPaper

You can make paper out of a number of materials using either a prepared pulp, cotton linters or from recycled papers. You can also make paper from plant fibres which need first to be soaked in water for up to...

The Jacquard Tie Dye Kit

August 5, 2011The Team at George WeilDyes & DyeingProcion MX Dyes,Project Ideas

The Jacquard Tie Dye Kit has been designed for children, and is especially fun while enjoying the Summer weather (this activity is guaranteed to pry them away from the Xbox!). Children over 8 (and adults too) will enjoy making their...

What is Batik?

July 26, 2011The Team at George WeilDyes & Dyeing,PaintingBatik,Silk

Batik is a method of patterning fabric or paper using melted wax. This creates a barrier, or resist, to prevent dye from colouring the waxed areas. Wax Melting Pot The safest and easiest way to melt the wax is with...

Ashford Wide Drum Carder

July 22, 2011The Team at George WeilFeltmaking,SpinningWool

The Ashford Wide Drum Carder has arrived in stock, and is a great investment for production spinning and blending fibres for felt making. Specification The drum carder has an extra wide 29cm drum which can produce batts of up to...

Polymer Clay Pendant & Earrings

July 21, 2011The Team at George WeilGallery,Jewellery Making,Polymer ClayAll that Glisters,Polymer Clay

Here’s proof of just how colourful and versatile polymer clay can be for jewellery makers. This pendant and earrings were created from Premo Sculpey clay by customer Hazel Hampshire. Hazel began by making a number of different style canes (Learn...

Tried & Tested: Schacht Sidekick Spinning Wheel

July 13, 2011The Team at George WeilNews and Celebration,SpinningSpinning Wheels,Wool,Yarns

Susan Litton’s review of Schacht’s latest spinning wheel ‘The Sidekick‘: ‘I have been spinning for twenty five years and for a long time have been a very happy owner of a Schacht Matchless wheel. This wheel does everything I could...

Mixed Media Embroidered Message

July 6, 2011The Team at George WeilGallery,PrintingCard Making,Mixed Media

Linda Chapman worked for George Weil as our Sales Manager. She studied a BA Honours degree in Design and specialised in fine art. Her love of textiles was inspired by her travels to Malaysia, India, Nepal and Australia. Her experimentation...

polymer clay necklace black white - - George Weil

Simple Tribal Beads

June 28, 2011The Team at George WeilJewellery Making,Polymer ClayPolymer Clay,Project Ideas

An ethnic necklace made by a complete novice from left over polymer clay! The ratio of colours was approximately 70:30 black to white, both colours were rolled into logs of the same length. The logs were then placed side by side...

Crafted Creatures

June 7, 2011The Team at George WeilFeltmaking,Model Making,Polymer ClayAir-dry Clay,Mixed Media,Needle Felting,Polymer Clay,Wool

Here are an assortment of creatures crafted from the materials sold at George Weil! Felted Merino The mouse and caterpillar have been made from felted Merino wool tops. The fibres were wetted with soap and hot water before being rolled...

Scrap Booking Ideas

June 7, 2011The Team at George WeilPaper CraftsCard Making,Paper,Project Ideas

The handmade books featured on this page have been made from Lokta paper. The handmade Lokta paper is made from the bark of the Daphne tree which regenerates after a few years, ensuring resources are never depleted. Skeleton leaves, paper...

Magical Angelina Fibres

June 3, 2011The Team at George WeilFibres,Paper Crafts,SpinningAll that Glisters,Project Ideas

The glistening Angelina fibres can be used in a number of ways. This 15 denier synthetic fibre has a low melting point. This means it can be fused together easily to make a flat sheet. Fusing the Fibres using boiling...

Nuno Felting

May 24, 2011The Team at George WeilFeltmaking,FibresSilk,Wool

Nuno felting is an effective felt making technique where wool fibres are placed on an open weave fabric and then felted until the wool fibres shrink, making the fabric pucker. The fabric puckers as the wool fibre shrinks Merino Wool...

Craft Ideas for Half Term

May 20, 2011The Team at George WeilNews and CelebrationMixed Media,Project Ideas,Tapestry

With half term and school holidays looming, we’d like to offer you a number of craft ideas for keeping the children occupied and for encouraging their creativity. Tapestry Weaving You will need a tapestry frame or an old picture frame...

Decorative woven straps, bands & belts

May 18, 2011The Team at George WeilWeavingBraiding

Tablet Weaving Tablet weaving is an ancient technique for weaving decorative bands of cloth for use as belts or straps. The equipment takes up only a limited amount of space and provides a surprising diversity in patterning, depending on the...

New boy Felix woos George Weil staff

May 16, 2011The Team at George WeilNews and Celebration

The newest member of our team popped in with Mum on Thursday – much to our delight! Now Felix, what would you like to do? Packing room, order processing, buying, website, accounts or warehouse? You’re most welcome!...

Printing and Painting with Procion MX dyes and Acid dyes

May 11, 2011The Team at George WeilDyes & Dyeing,Painting,PrintingAcid Dyes,Printing on Fabric,Procion MX Dyes

Painting or printing fabric with dyes will leave the fabric with a softer handle than with paints. Painting with Fabric Paints Silk and fabric paints contain pigments that settle on the surface of the fibre from which the fabric is woven...

blending 2 colours of polymer clay 7 - - George Weil

Blending Polymer Clay

May 3, 2011The Team at George WeilJewellery Making,Polymer ClayColour Theory,Polymer Clay,Project Ideas

with Sue Heaser Creating a sheet of clay that blends from one colour to another is a basic technique that you will find has dozens of uses when working with polymer clay. It is most often used in millefiori canes...

Weaver Peter Sheridan

May 12, 2010The Team at George WeilGallery,WeavingScarves

This balanced double weave scarf (pictured right) set at 20 epi uses a design from Handwoven magazine. It includes a Celtic Knot in the design with a final size of 25cm x 150cm (10″ x 60″). The back face is...

Bernadette B.

1 week ago

I've been ordering George Weil dyes and cyanotype chemicals for over 16 years for the art college I work at. Great quality and spectacularly fast shipping!

Gill M.

Incredible service. Ordered my spinning wheel and within 24 hrs it was at my front door, thankyou I will certainly shop with George weil again.

Priscilla R.

2 weeks ago

I love AI and when asked, it recommended AKD as the best sizing for paper pulp for my bas relief. I searched long and hard and could only find it available in large, expensive drums. Not the sort of thing one needs for private, small-scale artwork. So, back to AI. I asked for a recommendation for a supplier who could accommodate individual artists and, voila, it gave me George Will. I just received notice that my sizing has been shipped. I’m absolutely thrilled with George Will’s warp-speed assistance and shipping. I can hardly wait to get on with my project!

Virginia Maria Ramos M.

1 month ago

Lovely store tucked away behind a gas station. They have anything you would need for crafts.

Bindu B.

3 months ago

I am very impressed with this business. The delivery was prompt, the goods were as described online. I had an issue with the postal service in Ireland and contacted the company. They responded straight away and were more than helpful and supportive with my situation. I would highly recommend dealing with them.

Sally C.

4 months ago

Although I've not received my order yet, dispatch was amazingly fast. Looking forward to it's arrival.

Rk K

5 months ago

I have had absolutely superb delivery service on multiple occasions with wonderful help when needed always at the end of the phone ..very friendly I really wish more stores were like them a big Thank you!

Hilary A.

6 months ago

I would like to say a huge thankyou, to everyone at George Weil, with a special shout out to Jo, who opened up the shop especially for my Son and I so that we could collect the loom that I purchased. I would also like to thank them for making the loom up for me, I didn't feel confident about building it and they stepped in and built it for me, then waited for us to arrive to collect it. Above and beyond I feel..... Thank you x x x

Michelle B.

7 months ago

Great little hobby shop. Unfortunately I didn't find what I needed as I was looking for ceramic pottery clay. They do stock dry air clay for those who use it.

Teresa W.

Very quick delivery, and the company kindly noted and perfectly met my request to deliver paper flat not folded.

Sally D.

Good stock. I love to visit to collect instead of being sent things.

Lyn W.

8 months ago

Received my order much earlier than expected; this company dispatches very quickly, even for small orders like mine. I called to add an item to my order yesterday, which was very easy to do. My order arrived today , and I am thrilled. The fibre quality Merino tops is exceptional, the best I have encountered. And the art fibres (banana thread waste from the textile industry) are GORGEOUS. This product arrives in a mixed, tangled bag of beautiful colours, but is easy to sort into shades. The threads are curled but easily straightened by wetting. I now plan to play with my new textile toys and can’t wait to see what I create. I will definitely come back to this store. The best customer service, the best fibre quality, and super-quick dispatch make George Weil the first choice for all your fibre craft needs.

Erla C.

9 months ago

I ordered a number of items on the day that the shop opened in 2026 after the Christmas break and all the products were delivered correctly in less than 24 hours. Thank you for your superb service!

Jacqueline Langer H.

10 months ago

Very pleased with Fibrecrafts natural dye kit and its speedy delivery.

YNW S.

11 months ago

Diane S.

I am consistently amazed by the efficiency of this store. Being based in North Yorkshire, I'm a long way from Guildford so order online and invariably my parcel arrives earlier than I would expect from any other seller. Brilliant service! One day I'll get to Guildford to visit you.

Lynn W.

1 year ago

An excellent company, give great support and prompt service.

Yen R.

Ordered two bobbins last night. They are already on their way to me. Now it is up to Royal mail to deliver!

Alison M.

I ordered a range of dyes and paints on Thursday and they arrived the next day! Superb items! And it was great they arrived so quick. Thanks team!

Terry S.

Good stock, very helpful.

Henrietta J.

Nora P.

I ordered a spinning starter kit plus some extra bits for my loom yesterday. Both arrived today and I am thrilled with my kit and eager to start learning to spin

Response from the owner

Nora, thank you for your very positive response. We all work hard to make sure the products on our web site are in stock and that they are with you the next working day.

David S.

I recently purchased a weaving loom and stand from George Weil, when this is boxed it comes partially assembled and the rest needs to be constructed. As always I lay all of the parts out to check if they are all there, three of them were missing from the loom and the instruction booklet from the stand, I contacted George Weil and was pleasantly surprised by the response I received, firstly I spoke to Sara who was concerned about the missing parts. I laid all the parts out as per loom instruction booklet, and took pictures so they could see what was missing and emailed this together with the part numbers. This was a Friday, come Monday I recieved an email promptly explaining the situation from Jo, Jo was also very concerned about the incomplete loom and sent the appropriate parts by next day delivery, I also received the instruction booklet by pdf for the stand. I am very pleased with my loom and stand and I would like to thank both Jo and Sara for the diligence and professionalism I providing me with an exceptional service. Thanks GUY'S David

Thank you for setting out your concerns and approving the manner in which they were handled by our team. They take great pride in working with customers to make sure they are satisfied with the products we supply. There are occasions when a boxed up product supplied by a manufacturer, which, of course we must assume is complete when delivered to us, has shortages. For that reason we keep a stock of replacement parts, which came invaluable on this occasion. Now that the loom is in full working order, we all hope you get great satisfaction from your weaving. Ian Bowers Managing Director.

Della B.

Hi there , Thankyou so much for such a fantastic service. I have a new weaving student on Sunday and I was a bit worried that the loom wouldn’t be here on time, but I got it today thanks to your great service, Thanks again , kind regards Della

I am glad we met your expectations, Della. Hopefully your students will also find we provide a reliable service with products in stock and sent out the same working day as they order, for delivery the next working day.

Sukey

2 years ago

As a final year student on a tight deadline, I ran out of a product I desperately needed. Everywhere else said that it would be delivered in at least a month ( if not several). Thank goodness for George Weil who shipped same day and the product arrived the next day. Thank you so much!

Thank you for letting us know how we performed. It is really encouraging for the team to hear that they have met the standards we set ourselves of holding good levels of stock and getting orders out in quick time, then using 1st class post or courier service to have the products with you the next working day.

Vicky E.

Thank you for going out of your way to send my order so promptly

It is always a pleasure to be set a high standard of service and then hear from a satisfied customer that we achieved it!

Marly M.

Excellent, my parcel was delivered as promised and the product is exactly what I wanted.

Thank you for your review. We work hard to delight our customers and it cheers us to hear when we do.

NAPREZENT

Very help Staff and good product

Thank you for this review. We look forward to working with you in the near future.

Christopher J.

Always friendly and great selection of items

Thank you for your kind words. We aim for high standards on both of these, it is good to have your confirmation.

Barrie D.

Thank you for this ranking. It is good to hear that we have met our standards

Observer E.

Service I thought had been lost. Matched thread, sent sample, sent order all within 1 week. Fabulous!

That's made our day! Thank you. We do set ourselves a high standard; to hold good stock and dispatch orders the same day by 1st Class post or courier for next working day delivery. And it works!!

Julia S.

I put my order in on Friday morning and it was with me by lunchtime Saturday. I always get such wonderful service thank you. You are my first stop for all my weaving equipment and my first recommendation to my clients. I have never been anything but satisfied 100%.

emma A.

Absolutely brilliant first experience ordering online. Cheapest Art Clay Silver prices I have found (better than Amazon!), arrived fast and customer service was super responsive and helpful. They are 100% doing things right here :)

G H.

3 years ago

Updated August 2023. Having had afternoon tea where else to go but to this place to pick up some bits of silk to play dyeing. Perfect little basket of remnants, nicely priced, and plenty of lovely things to inspire weaving upstairs. Originally... First time here. Was not sure what to expect, but found an Aladdin's cave of crafty goodness. The pens and pencils on the way in whet the appetite for the cornucopia of paper, dyes, silk paints and mordants on the ground floor, whilst the upper floor has a fair few looms, spinning wheels, yarn, silk stuff (hankies, shredded saris and so on), as well as various bits and bobs to effectively turn fresh wool into something knitted. Wonderful place, even has a small book store holding interesting tomes for crafty people.

Tara M

4 years ago

I bought an Ashford blending board and couldn't believe how fast it arrived! I got a good deal on it from them too. Good merino in nice colours. Will definitely buy from them again!

George Weil Blog & FAQs

Merino Wool Tops for Felt Making

Hand Papermaking

The Jacquard Tie Dye Kit

What is Batik?

Ashford Wide Drum Carder

Polymer Clay Pendant & Earrings

Tried & Tested: Schacht Sidekick Spinning Wheel

Mixed Media Embroidered Message

Simple Tribal Beads

Crafted Creatures

Scrap Booking Ideas

Magical Angelina Fibres

Nuno Felting

Craft Ideas for Half Term

Decorative woven straps, bands & belts

New boy Felix woos George Weil staff

Printing and Painting with Procion MX dyes and Acid dyes

Blending Polymer Clay

Weaver Peter Sheridan

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George Weil Blog & FAQs

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Please check your email inbox to confirm your subscription