Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Stack three layers of corrugated cardboard that are larger than the amulet bag pattern and staple them together. This will serve as your loom.
Draw the amulet bag pattern onto the cardboard. The pattern should be long and narrow with a triangular top. This is because you will fold the finished strip of fabric over to make the bag so that the triangular top becomes the front flap.
Place push pins along the top and bottom of the pattern. Place the pins about a quarter-inch apart. The top and bottom should have equal numbers of pins.
String the warp, or lengthwise fibers, of your bag between the pins. The warp can be yarn, upholstery thread, ribbon, or whatever you like as long as there is enough of it. Begin at the top left pin and tie the warp thread in a knot around that pin. Loop the thread around the first pin on the bottom left, then bring it up to the second pin on the top and loop it around that one. Keep looping the thread around the pins in order from left to right, alternating top to bottom until you have covered the entire pattern with lengthwise loops. Tie it off at the end.
Weave the weft into the warp. The weft will be what you weave in and out of the warp threads. Pin-weavers usually use leftover strips of fabric, ribbon, yarn and other materials that they have saved from other projects to use as the weft. Pin-weaving normally has more than one kind of weft in a single item.
Thread the first weft material through the eye of the tapestry needle. Weave the needle over and under the warp thread, beginning at the bottom of the pattern, pulling the weft material through. After the first line of weft, pull it down firmly next to the pins to make sure the weave stays tight.
Turn the needle and weave the weft back the other direction, over and under the warp, opposite to the first weave. In other words, if you wove the weft over a particular warp thread for the first line, weave it under that same warp thread on the way back.
Continue weaving the weft back and forth in this manner until the pattern is full. Change the weft material as often as you like, using the tapestry needle. When you change from one weft material to another, weave them both together through three or four warp threads so that no ends stick out. Make sure to pull each line down firmly to create a tight weave.
Remove the pins and sew the ends of the weft on the top and bottom to the inside of the piece so they will not show.
Sew the lining onto the back of the piece and make it into a bag. Fold the piece in half, leaving the triangular flap free to fold over the front. Sew the sides of the bag together.
Braid, weave or bead a strap for your bag and sew it to the top corners at the base of the triangular piece. The strap should be long enough so you can wear the bag around your neck like a pendant.