Weave a bag
Materials
Read weaving (pages 178-179) before you begin this project.
1 Cut a piece of cardboard the size you want your bag to be. Leave an
extra inch (13 mm) along the edge that will be the top of the bag.
Use the cardboard to make a notched loom (see loom, page 178). Make
notches along the top edge only.
2 For the warp, wind yarn around the loom, as shown. Tie the yarn
around the first notch at the left. Then loop the .yarn around the
notches, passing the yarn around the loom from top to bottom and from
front to back. You should loop the yarn twice around each notch, once
from the front and once from the back. You should have warp yarns on
both the front and back sides of the loom. When you get to the
right-hand edge of the loom, tie the yarn around the last notch.
blunt needle
cardboard (stiff)
fork or comb
pencil
ruler
scissors
stick needle
yarn
3 Use the basket weave (see basket weave, page 179) to make the bag.
Begin weaving at the middle of the edge opposite the notches (see start
and finish off, page 179). Pull the weft yarns through the warp with a
stick needle (see stick needle, page 178). When you reach the last warp
strand, turn the loom over and continue weaving on the other side. Keep
weaving around and around. Beat the threads together as you weave (see
beater, page 178).
Finish off your weaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the top of the
bag.
4 For handles, make two braids (see three-strand braid, page
181). Cut the yarn for each strand at least four times as long as the
top of your bag.
Weave each braid in a basket weave around the front and back of the bag.
Tie together the ends of each braid.
6 Carefully unhook each loop from around the notches. Loop the
knotted ends around the last row of weaving, as shown. Tuck in the ends.
You can use your bag to hold marbles or toys. Or, you can use the bag as
a coin bag or purse.
5 Use a blunt needle to finish the bag
with a plain weave (see plain weave, page 179). Whenever you weave
a bag, you must finish off the top with a plain weave to keep the
weaving from coming apart.
