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.	Getting elements together, such as threads and beads.	Close-up of neckline and African figures.  Usually I like wearing necklaces on a plain background, so this will be different.	Pearle cotton yarns in warm orange and brown colors.	Computer print out of my idea of design and colors.

For more details on Planning your necklace go to

Lesson #1  Lesson #2 and Lesson #3

Pin Placement on board and patterns

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	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

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.

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	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. At this point we combine both sides together in the middle, use of multiple threads and needles, hiding and cutting tails

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	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

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.

Lesson #8	Here I was trying to decide which center piece looked best. Lesson #8	The finished pendant part of the needleweaving.	Learn the lark's head knot for the fringe.

Add threads and beads to the bottom of necklace

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.

Learn the different ways to finish bottom of the pendant.  Lesson #9	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.	If you add beads at this point it helps hide the transition point of pendant to straps.

Add beads to the straps and start weaving.

You may need to add more graph paper. Use pins to keep the warps straight.	This shows both side being woven evenly.	Weave to the desired length.

How to decrease the threads and securing the linen before you braid.

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 probably take one with a large hole.

You can add extra linen for a thicker tie cord and how to braid

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.	Step #1 This shows you how to do a regular braid.	Step #2	Step #3

Add the beads for the tie tassels.

Pictures for different types of closures go to Lesson #10 Pictures	Completed Needlewoven Necklace

Needleweaving Lesson Index Page All lessons listed on one page
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 and finishing)

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

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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
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