What do you do with the end of the yarn after you soumak weave? This is a question that I’ve received a few times, so I wanted to share the simple way I finish my soumak weave. I’m showing how I did this on a circular weave, but you can finish it the same way on a normal weave too.
Below I have a video on how to soumak on a circular weave. Assuming you have already created your soumak (here are steps on how to soumak on a regular loom), the finishing steps are as follows:
step 1| on the front of your loom, take the end tails in your hand and wrap them over the next warp thread in the pattern.
In this example I’m weaving a soumak over each warp thread, but if your weaving a soumak over two warp threads then end the soumak over two warp threads. Or if you have woven your soumak to the edge of a regular weave, just pull the end tails around the edge.
step 2| flip your loom over to the back.
step 3| taking one end tail of thread on your tapestry needle, pull the end tail under the warp thread 2 over from where your soumak ended. You’ll want your thread end to pass under the warp thread, but between the soumak weave “bumps” so that it will be hidden in the front of the weave.
Since I’m finishing on a circular weave, I’m pulling my end tails towards the start of my soumak to finish. This continues the circle and will make sure I do not leave any gaps. If you’re finishing the soumak on a regular weave, you’ll want to pull your end tails back towards your soumak and secure the ends through the back of your soumak in the same way as pictured.
step 4| now that one end tail is secured, take the second end tail and pull it under the warp thread 3 over from where the soumak ended. This is so that you’re not securing both end tails on the same warp thread, which better hides the finish in the front.
step 5| trim the end tails in the back, flip over to the front. You may have to pinch your soumak stitches together again to hide any gaps, but your secured end tails should not be showing.
If you’re wondering how to weave the grey spiral, I posted about that here. Hopefully this clears up any questions about finishing the soumak weave. I’m happy to help (as best I can) with any issues you might be having, so let me know in the comments below.
And for that soumak weaving on a circular loom video, here it is…
Interested in more circular weaving techniques? Here are all my circular tutorials including how to start one on an embroidery hoop.
Happy Weaving!
Kate
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Shirah Miriam "Mimi" Aumann
June 23, 2016 at 3:47 pmHow is the soumak technique done here (not the soumak weave you have done in another post, making half the braid and then reversing it to complete the braid) different then the chain stitch? I have to teach twining and chain stitch (they already know soumak and soumak reverse to make a braided look), and I want to be sure I am thinking about the same technique… Mimi
Kate
June 24, 2016 at 9:21 amHi Mimi, I’m actually not sure if this is different then the soumak, but you might be right that it would have a different name. I just see it as the same since you’re doing the same wrapping around the warp threads.
Shirah Miriam "Mimi" Aumann
June 24, 2016 at 9:37 amThanks… I think with the roving especially it is a much more simple and efficient approach, rather than weaving a row of one half of soumak and then having to reverse it to get the other part of the braid. It looks really nice in roving… Mimi
Circular Weaving Guide
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