We are really putting on our boho crafty hats today.  I’ve seen woven wall hangings in lots of high end shops recently and since don’t like paying hundreds of dollars for something I could make, I took the plunge. I have a ton of yarn on hand (because I keep thinking I can knit, but I can’t) so I had plenty of materials on hand to experiment with!

Most of the projects I make are just a few steps and I chirp on and on about how quick they are.  This isn’t one of those projects.  It isn’t hard to do, it’s just one of those ‘get-a-glass-of-wine-and-settle-in-for-the-longhaul’ projects.  This little woven banner took me about four hours from start to finish, but since it was just mindless, it would be an awesome project to do with a group of girlfriends (over that aforementioned glass of vino).

I love the way it turned out, but I wish it were bigger… which would take even more time! I might try a macrame version as well and see how that goes, but in the meantime, let’s get started on this fun and funky project! 

The materials are easy enough, assorted yarns are key, but maybe a little something sparkly would be a wonderful addition.  Even those really hairy yarns would be really cool.  I used some sequins because it’s what I had, but I loved how they added a different texture to the overall look.

For the weaving, you’ll need an empty photo frame, thin crochet yarn (or string), a plastic yarn needle (although I used a metal upholstery needle because it’s what I had handy). You’ll also need a piece of wooden dowel (not pictured).  You could use a wooden spoon if you don’t have a dowel. If you’d like to tie the finished work onto a birch stick, go ahead and get one of those prepped and ready too (e.g. cut to size).

ONE starting at the corner of one of your frames short ends, tie off the end of the crochet yarn.  TWO wrap the crochet yarn around the frame at even intervals (approx 1/2 inch).  Once you’re all they way across the frame, tie off the yarn just like where you started.

THREE weave your dowel into the crochet string so that the string is crossed in between the dowel and the frame edge.  This ensures that your yarn has a tight spot to start.

FOUR Put about 4 feet of yarn onto your needed and weave it through the string in the opposite pattern as the dowel.  So, if the dowel is down, up, down, up, then your yarn will be up, down, up, down.  Pull the entire 4 feet of yarn all of the way through the string, leaving just a small tail where you started.  Turn your needed around and repeat going in the opposite direction – again, in the opposite pattern as your first yarn strand.

FIVE once you’ve woven back and forth enough times for your design, cut off the yarn leaving a small tail like when you started.  Then, start over with a different yarn or trim.  If using sequins, be sure to pull the sequins through WITH the grain of the sequins.  They’re like fish scales and only lay one way. If you try to pull them through against the grain, it will not work very well.

Switch up the yarns as often as you would like!  SIX Once you’re ready for tassels, Cut 3-4 pieces of yarn to 8″ long.  Bundle them together and loop them around one of the crochet strings toward the edge.  Knot the strings into one big knot.  Repeat across the length of the crochet string.  If you’re using thick yarn for the fringes, you will put more space between the bundles than if you’re using thinner yarn. If you’d like, you can only put the fringes partially across as well, like I did with the white fringe below.

SEVEN After you’re finished with your fringe, flip them all up and continue weaving underneath them.

EIGHT Continue weaving in your various yarns!  If you have a very thin yarn, I think it’s ok to double it up.  Plus it gives you a nice little basket weave design.

NINE If you do any fringes just partially across, make sure to fill in the side with some woven yarn, just don’t go all of the way across (since the fringes will be in the way).

TEN For the very bottom, create an entire row of fringe by using just one 8″ piece instead of a bundle.  Tie together two pieces of crochet string with each fringe knot.

ELEVEN Once your weaving is complete, you are going to release it from the frame.  ONE AT A TIME, cut the piece of crochet yarn that is looped around your frame and tie it in a double knot. Go all of the way down the row securing each loop in a double knot.  You should be knotting together a piece of string from the top of the frame to a piece from the bottom of your frame, essentially knotting in the yarn so it doesn’t fall out.

TWELVE After all of your knots are complete, attach your work of art to a stick by looping yarn through the top of the weaving and around the stick.

THIRTEEN At the very end, cut your fringes so that they’re equally sized.  I cut some of mine in a ‘V’ shape as well!  I think that adds to the cool-factor!

Whew!  Thirteen steps!  I don’t think I’ve ever shared a project so involved, but as you can see, there is a lot of redundancy.  The reason I love this project is similar to a lot of the projects I share however, because it’s SO customizable.  You could make this in a bazillion different colors, sizes, and designs.  Everyone could have their own spin on it which makes it all the more fun.

If you’ve make it this far, a big kudos to you… you’re clearly invested in this now, so why not give it a try?!