From various comments about my bag weaving, I see that a pictures of the bags and a tutorial on how to make them are sorely needed. Please bear with me as this is the first time I have ever tried to write a tutorial.
First, I must show off the bags I have already made. I am still pondering the best way to make a handle. I am currently doing a lucet braid for the red bag. I am surprised that I was even able to find my lucet and that I had kept the instructions.
Next, the green bag is the one Jackie gave me unfinished. I finished it up in no time, but am still having a hard time thinking how to do the jute fringe to make it look good. Jackie told me to do a twist fringe, but I am not all that good at that technique. The other bag was woven with some novelty yarn I spun.
Okay, down to the bare bones of how to do this. A few notes to begin.
1. You don’t necessarily have to use a bottle. Or that particular size bottle. It is a good size to learn on, though. You could use a rigid book and weave a bigger bag.
2. Jackie started me off using jute for the warp. I found I much prefer working with yarn for the warp. Just make sure that what ever you use will match the yarn you are weaving with to some degree, as the warp threads will eventually be your fringe.
3. You are warned at the outset that this is a very habit forming activity.
Don’t put on any eggs to boil while you are doing this!!
Okay, here we go at long last!
Take an empty soda/tea/water bottle, 16 oz. or 20 oz. You know, the regular size ones. Cut a generous length of yarn and tie just at the top of the label area. Leave the tails hanging. These tails will become part of your warp.
Now, you want to cut 23 pieces of yarn 24 inches long. (To make a total of 24, including the tails from the above step. ) Of course, if you are using a larger item to weave on, you would want to increase the number of warp yarns to cut. I like mine to be divisible by 4. You will see why further on.
Take each 24 inch piece; fold in half.
Take the “loop” end of the yarn and pass it underneath the yarn you have tied around the bottle.
Then, take the loose ends and bring up and into the loop.
Pull up on the loose ends and snug the loop around the yarn on the bottle. Repeat this all the way around the bottle.
Now comes the fun part. Cut a really, really long piece of the yarn you want to use for your weft. Fold it in half. You will be weaving with the yarn doubled the whole time.
Take your 1 first “group” of two warp yarns and pass them into the loop end of the weft yarn. The warp yarns should now be passing underneath the top weft yarn and laying across the bottom weft yarn.
Take your next two warp yarns and flip them up and over the bottom weft yarn and under the top weft yarn. Flip the warp yarn back down.
Continue this step until you run out of weft yarn. To start another piece, simply add more yarn the same way you started the weaving.
I usually weave with the old and new sets of weft yarns for a couple of warp threads before dropping the old yarn.
When you have reached the desired size (I only weave until the bottom of the label), tie off your weft yarn and slip the bag up and off of the bottle.
Mash the bag flat and match 2 warp yarns from the front with the corresponding warp yarns in the back and tie in an overhand knot for your fringe. (This is why I like my warp yarns to be divisible by 4). Continue all the way across, and voila!! you have a neat little bag with the bottom all closed in by the fringe being tied.
Finish with a handle and closures as desired.
Enjoy!! Any questions, I will be glad to help.
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