Thank you for visiting dje handwovens and may you weave long and prosper!


Deb Essen
owner/designer

dje handwovens kits for handweavers

Specializing in overshot name drafts (woven secret messages) 

  • My weaving kits feature:

  • Pre-measured and wound warps

  • All the weft yarn

  • Detailed instructions and drawdown drafts

  • Tips and tricks for weaving

"It's magic!" This was my reaction as a 9-year-old watching a handweaver for the first time. How else could she create those beautiful designs in the cloth by simply pushing some pedals on the loom and throwing some yarn back and forth.
Since then, I have learned the magic lies in the skilled hands and creative mind of the weaver.

Kits for 2 shaft/rigid heddle through 8 shaft looms. New kits for 2023 include an overshot name draft wall hanging for 4-shaft looms and Turned Twill napkins for 8 shaft looms joining the returning kits. Check out the natural color cotton yarns. These yarns get darker with washing! Go to the page for 2, 4 & 8 shaft kits.

Swatch Critters

 All of the Swatch Critter kits featured Mountain Colors yarns. However, in March 2023, Mountain Colors Yarns owners retired and so did the Critter kits. However, ALL of the Swatch Critters are being offered as patterns!  (A limited number of kits could be at some retailers.)
Check them all out on the Swatch Critters page!

Kits for 2, 4 and 8 shaft looms

dje handwovens kits are designed for beginners and experienced weavers using Zoom Looms (4" pin looms), rigid heddle and multi-shaft looms.

Learn a new weave structure, enjoy the convenience of having everything you need for a project ready to go on the loom and stretch your weaving budget without having to buy more yarn than you need. I like to call it "instant gratification" weaving.

Looking for a guild program or workshop - either in-person or via Zoom? Check out the Teaching page for Deb's schedule and classes offered. 

For over twenty-five years I have been discovering the magic of weaving. In 2004, I completed and passed, the Handweavers Guild of America Certificate of Excellence, Level 1 in Handweaving. In 2010, I created dje handwovens, designing textiles for kits for handweavers. In 2011, I teamed up with Mountain Colors yarns as their exclusive weaving designer. In 2012, I started offering my kits through retailers across the U.S.

Deb Essen will be teaching at:


Please see the Teaching page for full schedule for 2024/2025 and descriptions of the classes Deb teaches.

In 2020, Deb added a number of options for On-line classes and guild presentations. She is continuing to offer on-line classes as well as in-person classes. On-line classes are a great economical way to bring Deb in for teaching with your guild or your shop. 

Looking for classes in your shop or guild? Contact Deb at info@djehandwovens.com to schedule a date!

The rigid heddle kits feature Lunatic Fringe Tubular Spectrum cottons and American Maid natural-colored cottons plus Bluegrass Mills hemp!  All kits come with a pre-wound warp ready to go on your loom, weft and detailed instructions plus tips/tricks for weaving on your rigid heddle looms! See below for a video showing how to warp your rigid heddle with a pre-wound warp. 

Have questions about putting pre-measured warps on your rigid heddle?


Check out my instructional video on You Tube: Warping your rigid heddle loom

 Rigid Heddle Kits

Deb Essen is the author of "Easy Weaving with Supplemental Warps" as well as several DVD videos. "Easy Weaving..." was re-released November 2022 by Schiffer Publishing. The book includes all of the original version PLUS 5 new projects and a new weave structure! The book is available on-line at Schiffer Publishing,Amazon, The Woolery, Yarn Barn of Kansas or contact your local yarn shop!

All DVD's shown below are available as downloads at Long Thread Media 

dje handwovens kits are sold only through retail shops. 

To locate a shop near you or an on-line retailer carrying dje handwovens kits, please click the button.

Teaching

Photo by Perry Backus

If you would like to carry dje handwovens kits in your shop, please contact me at info@djehandwovens.com for a catalog and price list.

Deb Essen is an inducted member of the Montana Circle of American Masters in Folk and Traditional Art

Contact us:

info@djehandwovens.com
1572 Blue Lupine Lane Victor, MT  59875
​Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mountain Time
Facebook: www.facebook.com/djehandwovens