Weave Experiments

Weave Experiments || Stick Weaving

How to Make Your Own Stick WeaveI have been admiring stick weaves for a while now and I finally decided to try it out.  This is also really great for those who want to get into weaving, but don’t own a loom just yet.  It’s a perfect free loom to play around on.

I really like the rough texture of the stick next to the soft woven textures of yarn. And it wasn’t too hard to make either. My boys magically find sticks everywhere outside, so I enlisted their help for this project. We almost got all the way to the end of our walk with just thin sticks, but then we found this one and it was perfect for what I wanted. If you’d like to try weaving on a stick also here’s what I did:

How to Make Your Own Stick Weavestep 1| search for the perfect stick. Preferably you’ll want a stick that has two branches and you’ll want it to be strong so that it doesn’t snap while you weave on it.

step 2| taking the end of your warp thread, double knot it towards the inside of the branch split.

How to Make Your Own Stick Weavestep 3| pull your warp thread across to the second branch and wrap the warp all the way around it. Your warp thread will cross the branches in a figure 8 pattern. So you’ll pull the warp across from one branch to the other, loop around the branch once, then bring the warp thread from the bottom of the second branch to the top of the first branch. Then the pattern repeats, loop around the branch, bring the warp thread from the bottom across to the top of the opposite branch and loop around. Continue in this way until you run out of space on your branches. Your warp threads probably won’t be uniform because of the natural branch shape, but that is part of the fun!

How to Make Your Own Stick Weavestep 4| now using a tapestry needle you can weave across the warp threads as you normally would. Need some ideas or more explanation, check out these weaving techniques.

The benefit to warping the branch in a figure 8 is that the warp threads will meet in the middle, which makes it much easier to weave on. As you weave more rows, you’re warp threads will flatten out. If you want to understand figure 8 warping better, I talk about it in more detail here.

How to Make Your Own Stick Weavestep 5| secure your yarn tails as normal (this explains how) and you’re done!

I think the best part is, no worrying about taking the weave off the loom and what might happen to your weave shape as the tension changes.

So what do you think of branch weaving? Have you tried it yourself before? Is there some other weaving project you’d love to try? I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Weaving!

Kate

For more fun, follow me here -> pinterestinstagram

You Might Also Like

  • Heidi
    July 21, 2016 at 4:42 pm

    This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing. 🙂

    • Kate
      July 23, 2016 at 7:26 am

      Hi Heidi, thank you so much for sharing it on your blog and what a cute blog it is! I could seriously get lost in all the yarn fun!

  • Picks of the Week for July 22, 2016 | Hands Occupied
    July 22, 2016 at 6:01 am

    […] to make a stick weaving -the weaving loom hogwarts-inspired knit phone sweaters -pattymac knits geometric crochet […]

  • Alexis
    July 24, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    This is just beautiful! I have done some weaving, but only on a little cardboard loom. I would love to get a real loom, but this would be fun in the meantime!

    • Kate
      July 25, 2016 at 6:59 am

      Thanks! I definitely recommend trying a stick weave, they are so fun!

  • Jelica@APrettyFix
    July 26, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    Love this Kate! I’ve had this on my to-try list for ages. I might try it this summer with my godchild – thanks for the step-by-step instructions!

    • Kate
      July 26, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      It is surprisingly fun! I hope your godchild likes it too 🙂

  • FRAN
    August 30, 2016 at 10:09 am

    Thank you so very much for all the tips you give to all weavers. I have just started weaving,and I love it. I have done two branch weaving .My friend came over and when she saw them she said she loved them. Thank you again for all your tips.

    • Kate
      August 30, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Thanks for sharing! I’m so happy to have helped you make something 🙂

  • Deanne
    December 17, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    I have a two-prong deer antler that I’d like to weave! I just have to decide on the design. A meadow with deer grazing in it was my first thought; but NO… way too complicated. LOL.
    I’m always on the look out for the perfect branch to weave. Again, WHAT to weave on it is a stumbling block.
    Weaving lavender together is next on my list… after it grows next summer, I cut and hang and dry it; THEN weave it 🙂

    • Kate
      December 19, 2016 at 2:35 pm

      Weaving lavender sounds amazing! I can only imagine how great that would smell. Also I hear you about deciding on a design, that can be the hardest part sometimes 🙂

  • Kathy
    January 24, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    Want to learn but cant find some important steps any where like: how do you start your first weave…how to tie it. How do you knot new yarn colors…how do you hide those knots. How do you weave in ends with out showing thru…messing up your pattern. I’ve never received a reply from any project I’ve tried to learn….I don’t know how others get answers but sure would like this to be my day! haha. Thank you very much