Weaving Techniques || The Soumak Weave (Braid Weave)

The soumak is a very fun weave to add to your wall hanging. Since this technique sits on top of the warp threads, it adds some texture and dimension to your weave. Also when two rows of soumak weave are put next to each other, it creates a braid effect on your weave.

I’ve also made a video on the soumak weave that you can find here!

For simplicity of instruction, I will number the warps, but you can put a soumak stitch wherever you want in your weave. To create the soumak weave:

• Pull your weft thread from behind your weave to up and over the top of warp #1 and warp #2. (The tail for your weft thread will be in the back of your weave, leave this long enough to weave into the back later)

• Loop your weft thread down and around warp #2, so that the weft comes back out over the top of warp #2

• Pass the weft over the top of warp #2 and #3.
• Loop down and around warp #3, so that your thread come back over the top of warp #3

• Repeat this pattern for the length of the soumak stitch you want to make

So the basic pattern for the soumak is over two warps, loop around, over two warps, loop around, etc.

Something to note is, the side of the soumak stitch that you bring the thread through will control the angle of the soumak stitch. I weave my needle and thread on the right side of the previous soumak stitch, which causes the weft threads to stack left to right.

If you just make one row of soumak stitches you will get raised diagonally stacked stitches.

If you want to create a braid look, all you have to do is complete your row of soumak stitches, then go back the other way making soumak stitches following the same steps. Also note that if you looped the thread around and over and around on the left side of the soumak stitch, then you would repeat this again when weaving the opposite way in the second row.

 

Do you like the look of the soumak stitch in a weave?  Have you tried the soumak in one of your weaves before?  Would you add it to one of your wall hangings?  I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Weaving!

Kate

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