African Design Needleweaving

Needleweaving Project #1 African Needleweaving by Ginger Sizemore

This is a picture library of the progress of the African Needleweaving Project #1. All on one page, it takes a while to download. You can see the progess all at once and then go back and read the instuctions and look at other larger informative photos.

Starting and planning weaving
In Lesson #1 you will find the introduction to Needleweaving with lots of good information..
In Lesson #2 you will see ways to get inspired for your creation. Idea's from Nature.

This dress has bright yellow and orange colors. African women are in black.

Close-up of neckline
and African figures. Usually
I like wearing necklaces on
a plain background, so this
will be different.

Getting elements together, such as threads and beads.

For more details on Planning your necklace go to

Lesson #1 Lesson #2 and Lesson #3

Pearle cotton yarns in warm orange and brown colors.
Computer print out of my idea of design and colors.

Pin Placement on board and pattern

This shows the angle of pin placement looking at side of board. Described more detail and larger pictures Lesson #4

Pin placement. To see larger pictures in more detail Lesson #5

Adding warp (vertical threads) explained more detail in Lesson #6

I started doing this for a necklace but realized later that I should be using my african design and colors to show you. I failed to take pictures at the beginning for the african design. So the technique and design is the same just the thread color is wrong but will catch up below. Sorry if this is confusing.

Your warp threads have been wrapped around the pins as in lesson #6. Beads have been added, described in lesson #7. For more information on adding the beads to the warp(vertical threads) go to Lesson #7

#2 Now we are starting on the top left side of the pattern with the DMC yarn.

Since we already have one extra thread from the slip knot we do not want to add another thread. So, we are starting at the #8 line pin. Leave about 1-2 inch tail, hanging vertically down along the waxed linen thread. More details on weaving the weft (horizontal threads) go to Lesson #8

Remember it is very important wherever the knot is you have to weave over and under each thread of the slip knot to lock in the threads (treat as two threads).Go back the opposite direction, hold the tail of the DMC thread along the waxed linen and weave around it, enclosing the tail. I like weaving about 1 inch to hide the thread. DO NOT CLIP THREAD YET Lesson #8

#3 Here you can see the tail hanging down better.

This shows a full view of our pattern. We are starting on the left side of the pattern. You can start with another thread at the right side of the pattern. Remember to reverse your design when you weave on the other side. Lesson #8

Next push all the threads up with the fork to make them tight. You can also use the needle to push the DMC warp (horizontally) up as straight as you can. Be careful not to pull the DMC too tight so that the waxed linen looks pulled. You can add bank pins to remind you "Don't Pull Tight".

Here I'm weaving down on line #7 pin and still weaving around the DMC tail that is hanging down. See the waxed linen warp threads to the left of the bead. There will be another thread of DMC added to this area. Lesson #8


Sorry, but here's where I decided to switch to the African theme. The brown thread is picked up where I left off with the purple. Lesson #8	#5 Shows how you go to the next set of warps and weave down. You will weave on both sides of the beads. In this picture you will see that you'll have to start another DMC thread along the left side of the bead. Lesson #8

Here we are at the brown thread and the african look. Weaving the pendant part of the neckpiece.


Here you can see I've worked both sides up. Lesson #8	Here you can see where the top light brown threads are coming down and meeting in the middle. Lesson #8

Combining both sides together in the middle, use of multiple threads and needles, hiding and cutting tails

Here you can see that you can use many needles for different threads. Lesson #8

The hidden tails of the threads are pinned at the top, after gluing they can be clipped off. Lesson #8


Lesson #8	Here I was trying to decide which center piece looked best. Lesson #8

Decide on centerpiece. I liked all these choices but the apple coral had some designs in it that looked like the figures in the dress. The bright orange center is covered but the necklace can be turned around and be worn on the other side.

How to make a Lark's head knot for the fringe. Looking at different ways to finish bottom of pendant.


The finished pendant part of the needleweaving.	Learn the lark's head knot for the fringe. Lesson #9


Here I just placed some beads to see how it's going to look. Plan bead placement for the fringe, add the fringe and then add the beads.Lesson #10	Use your crochet hook to get into the bottom warp where the pin is holding it down. Add the extra linen for the tassels. You will make a larks head or sales tag knot.


Here you can see the added beads. Pictures for waxed linen fringe. Lesson #10b Pictures	Attach the centerpiece. Now you can remove all pins, You now have your own "Needleweaving" I hope you enjoy your wearable art necklace.

How to add waxed linen straps


How to add the linen for the straps. For more detail go to Lesson #10. Test Pictures for Lesson#10bPictures	Pins help to secure the threads so you can get the tightness you need.

Add beads to the straps and start weaving.


If you add beads at this point it helps hide the transition point of pendant to straps.	You may need to add more graph paper. Use pins to keep the warps straight.

This shows both side being woven evenly.

Weave the top to the desired length.

How to decrease the threads.

Start decreasing the warp pairs.

You can see it's angling in.

Securing the linen before you braid.

This knot helps secure the threads

Use a bead to hide threads. It will
It will probably take one with a large hole.

You can add extra linen for a thicker tie cord.

I decided to use this long bead and not hide the knot because my design is primitive and the knot looks
good. Also I needed extra
warps for added thickness to the braided ties.

Now I have 3 sets of threads with 4 strands each.

How to Braid

This shows you how to do a regular braid.

Add the beads for the tie tassels.

Pictures for different types of closures go to Lesson #10 Pictures

Click to go to Lesson #1 (Introduction to Needleweaving)
Click to go to Lesson #2 (Get foam core board ready and check beads to see if they fit the waxen linen)
Click to go to Lesson #3 (A fun day with Sue). We gathered threads and beads for needleweaving.
Click to go to Lesson #4 (More on designing and placing pins)
THIS PAGE "African Needleweaving Project #1" Pictures show the necklace progress all on one page.
Click to go to Lesson #6 (Add linen warp, (Vertical Threads)
Click to go to Lesson #7 (We will be adding the beads and the fun begins)
Click to go to Lesson #8 (We are going to start Weaving)
Click to go to Lesson #9 (Learning to make a Lark's head Knot and finish off the bottom warps)
Click to go to Lesson #10(Adding warp threads for straps, adding beads, making tassel

Needleweaver's Studio
Home Page
Needleweavers INFO
Pattern for #1 Project
Needleweaver's Necklace #1
Info about # 1 Project

Needleweaver's Supply List
Bank Pins. Linen Threads, Books,Inspiration ideas, Carved Forks
Supply List of Supplies,

Needleweaver's Showcase

Member's Necklaces
NEEDLEWEAVER'S
FASHION SHOW
(Canceled no interest)

"All That Glistens
is not Gold"
Helen BanesWorkshop
Ginger'a Needleweaving Workshop
Ginger's Workshop

"African Needleweaving Project #1"
Pictures show the African Necklace progress
THIS PAGE
Needleweaving Lesson Index
Lessons for Project #1
Lessons 1 to 10

Needleweaver's Feature Artist
Inspiration for # 1 Project

Inspiration Projects
Inspiration Gallery 1 Hawaiian
Gallery 2 Southwest
Gallery 3 Cultures
Gallery 4 Fancy and Misc.

Beads, Threads and
Weaving Poems
Join in on the fun,
send me your poems

Other ways to use
Needleweaving
Send your ideas for needleweaving

All images (except Needleweaver's Showcase pictures)
and text displayed in Lesson Tutorial pages, Galleries 1,2,3,4
are the sole property of Hawaiian D-Lites (c) 1999
and may not be reproduced in any manner
or form without our permission.

http://www.needleweaver.com
ginger@aloha.net

This dress has bright yellow and orange colors. African women are in black.		Close-up of neckline and African figures. Usually I like wearing necklaces on a plain background, so this will be different.
	Getting elements together, such as threads and beads.


Pearle cotton yarns in warm orange and brown colors.	Computer print out of my idea of design and colors.


Pin placement. To see larger pictures in more detail Lesson #5	Adding warp (vertical threads) explained more detail in Lesson #6


Your warp threads have been wrapped around the pins as in lesson #6. Beads have been added, described in lesson #7. For more information on adding the beads to the warp(vertical threads) go to Lesson #7	#2 Now we are starting on the top left side of the pattern with the DMC yarn. Since we already have one extra thread from the slip knot we do not want to add another thread. So, we are starting at the #8 line pin. Leave about 1-2 inch tail, hanging vertically down along the waxed linen thread. More details on weaving the weft (horizontal threads) go to Lesson #8


Remember it is very important wherever the knot is you have to weave over and under each thread of the slip knot to lock in the threads (treat as two threads).Go back the opposite direction, hold the tail of the DMC thread along the waxed linen and weave around it, enclosing the tail. I like weaving about 1 inch to hide the thread. DO NOT CLIP THREAD YET Lesson #8	#3 Here you can see the tail hanging down better. This shows a full view of our pattern. We are starting on the left side of the pattern. You can start with another thread at the right side of the pattern. Remember to reverse your design when you weave on the other side. Lesson #8


Here you can see that you can use many needles for different threads. Lesson #8	The hidden tails of the threads are pinned at the top, after gluing they can be clipped off. Lesson #8


This shows both side being woven evenly.	Weave the top to the desired length.


Start decreasing the warp pairs.	You can see it's angling in.


This knot helps secure the threads	Use a bead to hide threads. It will It will probably take one with a large hole.


I decided to use this long bead and not hide the knot because my design is primitive and the knot looks good. Also I needed extra warps for added thickness to the braided ties.	Now I have 3 sets of threads with 4 strands each.