Handwoven Wall Hangings with Yarn and Driftwood

5 min read

Handwoven wall hangings with yarn and driftwood bring texture and warmth to a bare wall, and they are one of the most forgiving weaving projects you can try. A wall hanging takes one afternoon, uses yarn scraps and a piece of driftwood, and needs no loom beyond a simple frame. The loose, organic look of a handwoven hanging suits modern, boho, and rustic homes alike, and mistakes blend into the texture. A finished hanging makes a striking gift, since it looks far more complex than it is.

Start with a piece of driftwood about eighteen inches long, yarn in three or four colors, a small frame loom or a cardboard loom, a weaving needle or a fork, and scissors. Choose driftwood that is dry, sturdy, and interestingly shaped, since the wood is the top of your hanging.

Setting Up the Loom

Warp the loom by wrapping yarn vertically around the frame, spacing the warp threads about half an inch apart. Keep the warp threads taut and even, since loose warp makes wavy weaving. Tie the warp threads securely at the top and bottom, and check that they run parallel, because crossed warp threads tangle the weaving. A warp of about twelve threads suits an eighteen-inch hanging, giving you a piece about twelve inches wide.

Choose a warp yarn in a neutral color that will not compete with your weaving yarn, such as cream or gray. If you use a cardboard loom, cut notches along the top and bottom edges and wrap the warp through the notches to keep it spaced. Test the tension by pressing the warp threads with your finger, since they should feel firm and springy, not slack. A well-warped loom makes the weaving step far easier, so take the time to get it right.

Weaving the First Rows

Start weaving with a plain tabby stitch, passing the weft yarn over one warp thread and under the next, then reversing on the way back. Keep the weft yarn slightly loose, leaving a small arc of slack at the edge of each row, since pulling the weft tight makes the hanging narrow in the middle. Pack each row down gently with a fork or a comb, but do not pack so hard that the weaving becomes stiff. After five or six rows, the pattern should start to show.

Change colors every few rows to build stripes, or weave a whole section in one color for a bold block. Leave yarn tails of a few inches when you change colors, and weave them into the back later, since cutting them short makes the weaving unravel.

Adding Texture and Fringe

Add texture with rya knots, which are loops of yarn tied around the warp threads and left hanging, or with soumak stitch, which wraps the weft around the warp in a braided pattern. Rya knots make a shaggy, rug-like texture that suits the bottom of a hanging, while soumak makes a firm, braided line that frames a section. Try one textured section in the middle of your hanging, so the piece has a focal point without looking chaotic.

Leave a fringe at the bottom by letting the warp threads hang long and trimming them to an even length, or by adding extra yarn loops. A fringe of four to six inches looks balanced on a medium hanging, while a longer fringe suits a larger piece. Comb the fringe with your fingers to straighten it, and trim any strands that stick out.

Finishing and Hanging

Finish the weaving by tying off the warp threads at the top around the driftwood, wrapping each warp thread over the wood and knotting it securely. Trim the warp ends close to the knots, and weave in any loose weft tails on the back. Check the hanging from the front for even edges and tidy knots, and trim any stray yarn. A finished hanging should lie flat against the wall and feel secure when you lift it by the driftwood.

Hang the wall hanging from two small nails or hooks, or from a single centered nail if the driftwood is balanced. Step back and check that the hanging sits straight, adjusting the knots if one side droops. Keep the hanging out of direct sunlight, since strong sun fades yarn colors over time.

Designing Your Next Hanging

Design your next hanging with a simple sketch, planning where the color blocks, texture sections, and fringe will go. A sketch keeps you from drifting into a random pattern, and it helps you use your yarn efficiently. Try a new technique each time, such as a curved shape, a woven pocket, or beads woven into the weft, to keep the project fresh. Keep a notebook of the yarn colors and techniques you used, so you can repeat a hanging that turned out well.

Make a second hanging right away in a different color story, since the second one always goes faster and the weaving comes out more even. Hangings make wonderful gifts, especially in colors that match the recipient’s home. With practice, a handwoven wall hanging becomes a weekend project, and a wall full of them turns a plain room into a gallery. Weaving rewards patience, and a wall hanging is the ideal place to learn it.

That is the short version. For the longer one, work through the Fiber Arts guides below.

Reference: Wall Hangings — Wikipedia

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