Well, it’s a little more than a dime….but not by much! ๐
If you always wanted to try your hand at weaving but shied away from the price of a loom thenย I have a low-cost solution for you.
All you need is a piece of cardboard (I used the lid of a shoebox), yarn in your favorite color palette, and a tapestry needle…and you’re ready to make your first weaving.
But first this….
(Image found on Wikipedia)
~1. Cut a rectangle out of your cardboard, pencil in 1/2″ markers on the top and bottom, then cut triangles so the point is between the markers.
~2. Make a little cut before the first, and behind the last triangle at the bottom. This will keep your yarn in place once you start winding the warp (the set of lengthwise yarn).
~3. Take a length of non-stretchy (!!!) yarn – I learnedย thatย the hard way – now I use cotton or hemp. You want to wind your yarn twice around the first triangle. Otherwise you won’t have a little loop at the bottom, which you will need later – I learned that the hard way too!
~4. Wind your warp yarn around the triangles.
~5. Now you can start your weaving.
With your tapestry needle and your favorite yarn you will create the weft.
Secure your yarn around the first warp, by looping it around twice.
Alternate between weaving your thread above and under the warp, and reverse in the 2nd row, and be sure to never pull the weft too tight.
Now just keep going – but always check the previous row -just to make sure that you go over when the previous row was under and vice versa.
If you don’t like ‘cleaning up’ your edges, aka hiding/sewing away the tails, you can use multicolored yarn to get a fun, colorful piece. Or, you can knot the lengths of yarn together – and let the knots show for some extra texture.
~5.ย After a few rows push your weaving together using a wide tooth comb or your fingers. Repeat after every 4, 5 rows of weaving.
When you get to the top, loop the weft around the last warp string twice, secure it – either with a knot or by sewing it down the side.
Look at it – you made your first weaving! How cool is that?!
Now what do you do with it?
You can
– add fringes (that’s why you need the loops of the warp ย ย ) and a rod (knitting needle, twig) and display your first masterpiece
(If you like add more fringes in between the loops)
-make multiples and stitch them together for a scarf, a bigger wallhanging,
a pillow, a purse, a baby-hat ….
~This one is crochet, but it would great in woven fabric
I sure hope this tutorial is helpful – if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Have fun! ๐ ย …..and please show me your creations!
Until next time!
Take care! ๐
~Tina xoxo