Changing colors of the threads you’re weaving with is a really fun part of weaving. Maybe you’ve only switched threads in a new row, or maybe you have switched colors in the middle of a weave, but didn’t quite like the way it looked. I’ve listed the many ways I deal with weaving in different weft threads.
Whether you’ve run out of your thread length or maybe want to switch colors in a weave, there are some different ways to deal with changing thread in a weave.
1|| Place New Thread Next to Old
If I’m weaving with the same thread, I won’t do anything fancy. I’ll just end my old thread, leaving 2-3 inches in the back of the weave to tuck later, then start my new thread in the same pattern that the old thread left off. I leave 2-3 inches in the start of my new thread. Once I’m in the finishing stage of my weave I’ll tuck these two end thread in so that they cover any gaps in my weave. For example, if my old thread ended on the right side of my weave, the end tail will be under the next warp. My new thread will then start with an end tail under that same warp thread and continue over the next warp thread moving left. When I tuck in these ends I’ll tuck the old thread towards the left side and the new thread towards the right side. This makes the threads pass each other and ensure there isn’t a gap in the weave.
2|| Use a Weaver’s Knot
Do you remember the magical Weaver’s Knot? I really love that technique. It’s a really easy way to go from one thread to another, while securing your threads and saving finishing time later. Read more about the steps here. This is a really great way to switch to a new and different thread or you can use the weaver’s knot to continue a thread that has run out. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about gaps, just weave so that the knot is behind a warp thread and your transition between the threads will be hidden.
3|| Use a Dove Tail Join
This strategy works really well if you’re weaving a block of two different yarns. If you want a vertical block of colors, the dove tail join is a really good technique. Basically your two threads will meet on the same warp thread, where you’ll stack the rows of each thread. This is a really great way to secure your weft threads and not worry about gaps while switching colors. Read more on the dove tail join steps here.
4|| Sew Weft Threads Together
If you want a crisp edge to your blocks of woven color, instead of using the dove tail join that blurs the edges, you can use a sewing technique to secure your weft rows. This works by simply weaving each color on their warp threads, then later using a new piece of thread to sew the weft rows to each other so that there aren’t any gaps showing in your weave. When I’m doing something like this I make sure to keep my yarn turns loose so that there is a bit of extra weft yarn to be sewn together. If you were to pull your yarn turns tight against the warp threads, then when you sewed the wefts together you would probably create an un-even tightness in your finished weave. Read more on the sewing weft threads technique here.
5|| Use the Interlocking Weft Technique
This technique is also helpful when weaving two different yarns next to each other. In this technique, you simply loop your new yarn through the turn loop of the old yarn. The threads then are looped together in between warp threads and eliminates any gaps in your weave. It doesn’t have as crisp of an edge as the sewing weft threads together, but it is a little crisper then the dove tail join. Read more on the interlocking technique here.
If you have more questions on this, let me know. Or if you want to add more to this topic for us all to learn from, leave a comment. I love to hear from you!
Happy Weaving!
Kate
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