Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
EASY STEPS TO YOUR WOVEN WALL HANGING
If you are looking for a new craft to learn, let it be how to weave. It’s one of those centuries-old traditions that is both practical and beautiful, and has that soothing, therapeutic feel to the actual work. Wall hangings are a great way to cut your teeth on weaving and add instant charm to your space. Here are simple techniques to get you started.
Gather your supplies
• 64 x 19mm x 1.8m pine
• String
• 12 ply, chunky and textured yarn
• Dowel
You’ll also need Saw; drill; screws; ruler; marker; nails; needlenose pliers; hammer; wide-tooth comb
Here’s how
STEP 1 Cut 4 lengths of pine. Position ends on long sides and join using 2 screws in each corner, checking for square as you go. TIP Predrill so you don’t split the timber.
STEP 2 Use a ruler to mark every 10mm in a straight line on loom top and base (short ends of frame). Hold nails in place with pliers while you hammer them into the frame.
STEP 3 To create the warp, knot string around first nail in the upper corner. Then, keeping tension in the string, take it down to the first nail at the base of the loom, wrap around first and second nail, take back to top of loom and around second and third nail.
STEP 4 Go back down to base and wrap around the third and fourth nail. Keeping the same tension, repeat until loom is strung, then knot string at last nail on base. Cut string with a 4cm tail.
STEP 5 At loom base on le outer warp, make a half-hitch knot. Pick up warp with middle finger, hook string around your pointer finger and bring over top of warp and under so it comes under the loop created. Then take string over and under each warp to other side.
STEP 6 Come back, going over and under warps, using a comb to help you. Weave several rows. This is the we. STEP 7 For rya knots (tassels at weave base), work out fringe length and double it. Cut about 5 lengths of 12 ply yarn, and take under 2 warps with centre at back. Pass both lengths behind warps and bring through centre underneath head of knot. Carefully pull into position. For next rya knot, pick up adjoining 2 warps. Continue along base. Push rya knots down with comb. Trim tassels straight or on an angle. STEP 8 For basic weaving, hitch on yarn of choice. With your fingers, pick up every second warp and feed weft under. Create a hill with weft and push down. Leave weft loose so you don’t weave too tight and edges start to pull in.
STEP 9 For soumak (braided) weaving, tuck end of yarn of choice between outer and next warp with a 10cm tail on back. Skip 2 warps, then wrap yarn over top and around fourth warp. Continue and you’ll see a stair-step paern. Gently push down to rest on rya knots. At end, wrap yarn around outer warp twice to build up height for next row. Continue soumak and it will slant in opposite direction, creating braided paern. Tuck tail around outer warp and go over, under and behind. Trim to 10cm.
STEP 10 Add more basic weaving, soumak and rya knots to weaving, finishing with a section of basic. Snip warp strings at base; tie off.
STEP 11 Cut warp strings at loom top and tie off, then tie over dowel.