EASY STEPS TO HOME SWEET HOMES WEAVING

Gather your supplies

• Loom

• 100% mercerised cotton yarn for the warp

• Cardstock

• 4 colours of yarn for each home

• Yarn needles

For you to note

For how to use, buy and make a loom, see page 130.

Here’s how

STEP 1 String 32 warp threads on a loom. Cut a 5cm piece of cardstock to the width of the loom and weave it through the bottom edge of the warp (this will keep your weaving off the pegs and make it easier to add tassels and tie the warp threads when finishing).

STEP 2 Using your first colour of yarn and starting at the bottom right-hand corner of the loom, use the tabby technique (see opposite) to weave 14 rows. Each time you start or stop a new thread, leave a 7.5cm tail to be woven in at the back when you are finishing.

STEP 3 Find the centre warp threads and weave the door of the house, starting 2 threads to the right of centre. The door is 5 warp threads wide and 19 rows high.

STEP 4 For house, start at the lower right-hand side of the door, weave 7 warp threads to the right and back again. Continue for 19 rows to top of door, then weave 5 rows above the door at 19 warp threads wide. Then complete the left-hand side of the house – 7 warp threads to the left of the door.

STEP 5 For the roof, weave 17 rows, making each row 2 warp threads (one on each end) less wide to create the triangular shape.

STEP 6 Complete the scene by filling in the background colour, weaving 9 rows above the roof’s peak and 32 warp threads wide to match the first 14 rows from Step 2.

STEP 7 If desired, add tassels, called rya knots, to the top and bottom. To make a rya knot, cut several pieces of yarn to a length at least twice as long as the desired finished tassel. Fold the bundle in half to find centre and lay the centre over a pair of warps. Pass the right-hand side of the bundle under and around the right-hand warp threads, then bring it to the front between warps. Repeat on left. Holding the 2 ends of the bundle together, slide the knot to the required position. Pull gently on ends to tighten.

STEP 8 Cut warp threads, tie, and bury them in pairs snugly against woven piece.

STEP 9 Find the yarn tails on the back where you stopped and started each colour. Thread each through the yarn needle and feed them through a few rows of weaving to secure. Trim excess tails.

THESE TASSELS, CALLED RYA KNOTS, ADD FUN FLAIR TO WOVEN TAPESTRIES BUT, FOR A SIMPLER LOOK, LEAVE THEM OFF THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF YOUR CREATION.