DIY Woven Wall Hanging

 

This is a wonderful project for adults and kids to try. It is easy and fun and you can find stuff in and around your house to use. My son, Ruan, made a very cute one for his teacher as her holiday gift this year.

You will need:

• some yarn and/or fabric
• cardboard box
• a stick, twig or driftwood
• ruler, pencil and scissors

Cut a piece of cardboard box. The one I used is 5 x 7. Measure half inch marks on the box.

Cut slits approximately 3/4 inch deep.

Use yarn as your base and start by adding the yarn though the slits you just cut. Leave a little piece (3-4 inch) dangling so you can tie them together later. Start weaving the base by going up and down in the front and a short loop at the back. Using the slits to secure the yarn. When you are done, your front needs to show long vertical lines of yarn and your back, short horizontal lines.

 

When I use yarn, especially the thin ones, I like to do a double, or even more, strand. It looks fluffier and is thicker and therefore will go quicker too. You can use the cardboard slit to secure the yarn and start weaving.

 

Start by going under the ‘base’ yarn and then on top, follow the sequence.. on top, underneath,  when you reach the end make sure you loop back with the last ‘base’ yarn.

 

Now your sequence will change so where the top one is underneath the bottom one will be on top.

When you have done a couple of lines use you fingers and push the yarn all the way to the top to make it tight. Even though we want it tight don’t pull tight from left to right. Be sure to keep the shape.

You can change your color, texture of weaving material. To add a new piece, just make a knot. you can cut of extra pieces or ‘weave’ them in. (When you push back the yarn the whole time, it will stay tight and you will not see any knots.)

Add different textures of yarn or fabric.

You will have to go all the way to the bottom. Squeeze even another line of yarn in. Below is what you front should look like when you are done. Tie knots to secure the ‘base’ yarn and the ‘ woven’ yarn at the ends.

 

… and your back side is empty

Carefully take the loop of yarn at the bottom,  off the cardboard box.

 

Tie a few pieces of yarn together for tassels. You can add beads etc too.

 

At the top take the loop of yarn off the cardboard box and add the stick through the yarn loops. You can use the box over and over again.

Ready to hang!

 

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