www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 1

Introduction

Definitions

Pattern 1

Skinny Scarf

A “Pegs & Sticks” Pattern

The Skinny Scarf

Weaving Sticks are so simple to use that anyone can create beautiful and useful woven

items.

This pattern, The Skinny Scarf, uses the set of 6 Weaving Sticks available from

www.weavingmehome.com

If you have purchased our Skinny Scarf Kit, you will be using the chunky, self-patterning

yarn supplied.

If you are supplying your own yarn, you will need approximately 200g (7 oz. / 312 metres /

341 yards) of any soft, chunky yarn. You can buy the perfect chunky yarn from our shop at

www.weavingmehome.com

The Finished Scarf

Following this pattern, you will make a Skinny Scarf that is 2 1/2 inches wide and approximately 6 feet long, with an additional 10 inches of fringe at each end. This gives you

plenty of length to wrap around your neck for lots of snuggly warmth. Of course, you can

choose to make it shorter or longer.

Warp – the warp yarns are threaded through the weaving sticks and stretch down the

length of your weaving. They provide the strength and structure. They are like the “bones”

of your weaving. They will not show on the finished weaving unless you use the ends as a

fringe. (See below for recommendations on what to use for warp yarns.)

Weft – the weft yarns are woven around the sticks and thus are woven around the warp

yarns. They are the decorative part of the weaving that shows on the outside.

Weaving Sticks – the wooden sticks that you hold in your hand. Each stick is pierced with

a hole at one end, through which you will thread a warp yarn. Most people can hold 6

sticks at once comfortably, although you can weave with as few as 2 sticks.

Threader Tool – a short piece of wood dowel with a loop attached to one end. The

threader tool is used to thread a warp yarn through the hole in each stick.

A long, skinny scarf to wrap around your neck for lots

of snuggly warmth.

So easy to weave with Weaving Sticks

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 2

Warping (Threading) the Sticks

What to Use for Warp Yarns?

If you have purchased our complete Skinny Scarf Kit, you will be using the chunky yarn

supplied.

If you are supplying your own yarn, use any soft, chunky yarn. (I recommend wool or acrylic

or wool/acrylic blends.) However, be sure to use a smooth-ish yarn, so that the weaving can

easily slide down the warp (don’t use bobble or knobby yarn). If the warp is going to show in

the fringe, use an appropriate colour.

Measure and Cut the Warp Yarns

You will cut 6 warp yarns, each measuring 16 feet in length.

The easiest way to measure a long length of yarn is to wrap it

around a ruler the appropriate number of times, then cut.

Thread the Sticks

Place the loop of the threader tool through the hole in the end

of a stick. Place one end of a warp yarn into the loop of the

threader tool.

Pull the loop of the threader tool back through the hole in the

stick, bringing the end of the warp yarn with it. Then remove

the threader tool from the yarn.

Pull on the end of the warp yarn until ½ of the warp yarn lies on either side of the stick

(both ends of the warp yarn meeting and the stick lying halfway along the length of the

warp yarn).

Repeat for the other 5 sticks.

With a loose, over-hand knot, you can tie the bottom ends of the warp yarns together. This

may prevent them from becoming tangled, although some weavers prefer not to tie the

warps yarns together. Try both ways and see what works best for you.

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 3

Start Weaving the Weft

Make a loose slip knot with the end of the weft yarn (like

you do before starting a crochet chain), leaving a tail of

about 4-6 inches.

Slip the loop over one of the weaving sticks, securing it

lightly about half way down the stick.

Hold all the sticks in your non-dominant hand (left hand for

right-handers or right hand for left-handers).

Hold the sticks side-by-side with an even gap between

them. The hole end of the sticks should be towards you.

For right-handers, the stick with the slip knot should be on

the far left. For left-handers, the stick with the slip knot

should be on the far right.

Start weaving the weft yarn in and out of the sticks—behind one stick then in front of the

next. Do not pull the weft yarn too tight.

When you come to the end stick, loop around it and proceed back along the sticks in the

other direction.

Continue in this manner.

Your weaving should look like a wicker

fence.

If a weft yarn lies in front of a stick on

one pass, it should lie in back of the stick

on the next pass.

You are essentially encasing the sticks

within your weft yarn, which will result in

encasing the warp yarns within the weft

yarns.

Watch your tension. Keep a slightly loose

tension. The biggest mistake beginners

make is to pull the yarn too tight. Be especially mindful of the tension of the yarn around the

end sticks.

Don’t worry about the tail at this point. You will weave it in later.

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 4

Changing Weft / Changing Colours

If you run out of yarn or want to change colours,

you will need to add in a new weft yarn.

Do not tie the new yarn to the old yarn, as this will

result in the knot inevitably being in the wrong

place once the weaving is finished.

Instead, simply introduce the new yarn so that it

follows the old yarn along the last few sticks,

leaving the new yarn with a tail of about 4 inches.

Then let go of the old yarn, and continue weaving

with the new yarn. Cut the old yarn, leaving a tail

of about 4 inches.

Don’t worry about the ends now. You will weave in

the ends later, when you are finishing the scarf.

By changing colours in this way, you can create

stripes or blocks of colour.

For more complex patterns, see the later section

“Creating More Complex Colour Patterns”.

Slide the Weft Down the Warp

When the weft yarn is nearing the top of the sticks

(about 3/4 of the way up), gently pull the first

stick a little ways through the weaving, pulling

some warp yarn along with it.

DO NOT PULL IT ALL THE WAY OUT OF THE

WEAVING. LEAVE A FEW INCHES OF WEAVING

STILL CLINGING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE STICK.

Repeat with each stick.

As you repeat this process, the weaving starts to

move down onto the warp yarns.

As you go along, periodically distribute and

smooth the weaving over the warp yarns so that you maintain a weaving that is not too

thick and not too thin.

Carry on until your woven scarf reaches a length of approximately 6 feet long (or the length

you desire).

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 5

Tie Off and Create the Fringe

Distribute and smooth the weaving over the warp yarns so that you have a woven scarf that

is not too thick and not too thin.

You don’t want the scarf so thin that the warp yarns show through; the warp yarns should

be well hidden in the weaving. You may find it helpful to lay the scarf out flat on a table

while you do this.

At this point, you will see why it is helpful to have plenty of warp yarn to work with, as you

must be careful not to pull the ends of the warp yarns up into the weaving.

Adjusting the Tension

Starting on one end of the scarf, separate the warp yarns so that you can clearly see them.

Note that two warp yarns exit each warp channel. These two warp yarns will be referred to

as a “warp pair”.

You are going to tie each warp pair to the one next to it, thus securing the end of the weav-

ing. BUT FIRST, WE WILL ADD IN SOME MORE FRINGE YARNS.

Measure and cut 4 lengths of yarn, each measuring 2 feet in length.

Take this group of 4 fringe yarns, and place it between two warp pairs, so that ½ of the

fringe yarn lies on either side of each warp pair.

Tie the warp pairs together with an overhand knot,

catching the group of fringe yarns between them.

Make the knot snug against the edge of the weav-

ing, so that it actually disappears into the warp

channel a little.

Repeat the overhand knot to secure it.

Continued on next page...

Removing the Weaving Sticks

Once your scarf is the length you desire, it is time to remove the weaving sticks.

Pull the weaving sticks (and thus the warp yarns) through the weaving, one by one, until an

approximately equal length of warp yarn lies at the top and bottom of the weaving.

Cut the warp yarns from the weaving sticks, cutting close to each stick.

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 6

Tie Off and Create the Fringe (...continued from previous page)

Now take the warp pairs and the group of added

fringe yarns into one hand, and tie them all

together with an overhand knot.

Push the knot snuggly up against the edge of the

weaving.

Repeat this knotting / fringing process for the

other 2 warp pairs.

Your finished edge will have 3 groups of knotted

fringe.

Now take a moment to check the overall tension

of your scarf again.

You may want to smooth out some areas before

you knot the other edge.

Once you are happy with the tension along the

entire length of your scarf, repeat the knotting

and fringing process for the other end of your

scarf.

Adding Beads to the Fringe

Place the loop of the threader tool through the hole in the

bead. Place one end of a fringe yarn into the loop of the

threader tool. Pull the loop of the threader tool back

through the hole in the bead, bringing the end of the

fringe yarn with it. Then remove the threader tool from

the fringe yarn and tie an overhand knot to secure the

bead in place.

Beads of a contrasting colour make a striking effect.

www.weavingmehome.com Pattern 1, The Skinny Scarf, page 7

More Ideas and Resources

Join the Pegs & Sticks Ravelry group:

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/pegs--sticks

More ideas at the Weaving Me Home blog:

www.weavingmehome.com/blog

More patterns, weaving sticks, peg looms, kits, and yarn at the Weaving Me Home shop:

www.weavingmehome.com/shop

Creating More Complex Colour Patterns

You may wish to try this more complex colour pattern to add even

more visual interest to your scarf.

With colour A, weave across all 6 sticks, back and forth a few times.

Then weave across only 5 sticks, back and forth a few times.

Then weave across only 4 sticks, back and forth and few times.

Then weave across only 3 sticks, back and forth a few times.

Then weave across only 2 sticks, back and forth a few times.

Now start colour B from the opposite side (the far right stick in these

photos. Wrap the yarn around the first stick a few times.

Then weave across 2 sticks a few times.

Then weave across 3 sticks a few times.

Then weave across 4 sticks a few times.

Then weave across 5 sticks a few times.

Then weave across all 6 sticks a few times.

You can see that with colour B you have filled in the

open steps left by colour A.

With experimentation, you can create new patterns of

your own: weaving steps, triangles, diamonds, waves,

and zig-zags in an array of colours.

Weaving in the Ends

As a very last step, you will hide any loose ends.

Using a tapestry needle, crochet hook, or the threader tool,

weave loose ends into the nearest warp channel.

Then cut the ends close to the weaving.

The cut end will disappear into the weaving, becoming

virtually invisible.