Weaving Techniques

Weaving Technique || Shag Weave Stash Buster

Shag Weave Stash Buster | The Weaving LoomThis is probably my most favorite post yet, because it is a way to use up all those left over yarn tails and have fun too! If you’re like me, you save all those slightly long end tails you cut off when your finishing up your weaves (and if you don’t have yarn tail ends you can cut lengths of yarn to make this.  But, start saving those ends now so you can make this again in the future). I usually have a plastic sandwich bag that I stuff the long end tails into while I weave, and I’ve accumulated a lot of these bags over the years. So for today’s post I just dumped out one of the bags. It’s full of end tails from probably 4 or 5 different weaves and I really like how the colors are so different. I may not have picked all these colors to go together, so this is especially fun.

The best part of making a shag weave with end tails is:

  • I’m just using what is in this one bag I’ve collected so I’m not going to worry about colors
  • These are already cut, so I’m going to just add them short and long and later trim them as I feel necessary. Although, for the most part I didn’t trim too much
  • Since the two steps above make it so simple, I really enjoyed just focusing on the process of this weave with little pressure

So now that you’re excited too, grab your end tails and let’s begin!

Shag Weave Stash Buster | The Weaving Loomstep 1| weave a few rows of plain stitch to make your foundation. I wove 3 rows of two threads together, but if you want more of a hidden top, weave two rows of a thin thread.

step 2| add your first row of Rya Knots, I have more detailed instructions of how to make them here.

Shag Weave Stash Buster | The Weaving Loomstep 3| weave 2 rows of the plain weave again, this helps stabilize your rya knots

step 4| continue alternating between a row of rya knots and rows of plain weave. You can also play around with the look you like best. If you want a bulkier shag, then rya knot 2 rows and plain weave 2 rows with a thin yarn. If you want a longer thin shag then add more rows of plain weave between your rya knots. There really is no wrong way to do this!

Shag Weave Stash Buster | The Weaving Loomstep 5| once you have made the weave to your liking, make sure to weave at least 2 rows of plain weave at the bottom to lock in your warp threads. Then finish your weave as normal (steps on that here).  I also went through and trimmed a little of the fringe here and there to even the weave out.

Shag Weave Stash Buster | The Weaving LoomDo you also keep bags of yarn tails? I hope I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to throw out even the smaller bits of all this pretty yarn. If you do make one of these, let me know. I would love to see what everyone makes! You can comment below or tag me on Instagram!

Happy Weaving!

Kate

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  • Meredith
    March 17, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    Whoa, such a great idea! I, too, save all the yarn tails when I weave, and I also have them all sorted by color into plastic zipper bags. I go so far to as to save the wastage weft from my floor loom after finishing a project, which sometimes can be 1 or 2 feet. I don’t know why they call it wastage because I hate to see it go to waste! I thought I may as well as it in tapestry, and this is a perfect idea for it. Thanks so much for sharing!

    • Kate
      March 17, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      Hi Meredith, right! 1 to 2 feet is way too much to waste. I used some of my cut warp, but they aren’t anywhere near that long. I know floor looms are a completely different ball game 🙂

  • Aisha Khanam
    March 18, 2016 at 7:51 am

    I do keep all the yarn tails, even the smallest bits, my crafts revolve around upcycling so I can’t even think of trashing my yarn bits. This is a wonderful idea! Now I have two ideas to work on with my yarn bits 😀
    I am new to weaving and your website is helping me alot! I self-taught myself few things from YouTube.

    https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1117023857

    I would really like to have your feedback on this one 🙂

    • Kate
      March 18, 2016 at 9:39 am

      Hi Aisha, I love that you upcycle, that is great! I tried to look at your link, but it gave me an error. I looked at your shop and I like how colorful your stuff is 🙂

      • Aisha Khanam
        March 21, 2016 at 9:23 am

        Oh! I am sorry the link didn’t work. Its one of my sold items and the one I absolutely loved 🙂

        Thank you Kate <3

        • Kate
          March 21, 2016 at 1:43 pm

          Yay that it sold, it must have been good 😀