How to Loom a Scarf Around Pencils

A simple woven scarf keeps necks warm and spirits high.

No one knows when weaving began. But there is evidence that early people in Mesopotamia were already accomplished weavers as early as 7000 B.C. Looms evolved as weaving advanced. However, all looms have an upper and lower beam that holds the warp and heddles that separate the warp threads for weaving. The Navajo use a simple loom that adapts easily for the beginning weaver. Navajo weavers use a simple method to warp looms for belts, headbands and scarves. To make your own simplified Navajo loom, you can use pencils and dowels for the heddles and beams.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-4-foot wood
• 4 screw-in hooks
• Drill
• 1/4-inch bit
• 2 24-inch dowels, 1/4-inch diameter
• 2 pencils, red and blue
• Yarn
• 4-by-6-inch corrugated cardboard
• Scissors
• Plastic fork

Instructions

Making the Loom

1. Screw two hooks 1 inch from the sides and end of a 24-inch end of the wood. Repeat with the other two hooks on the opposite end.

2. Draw a line down the center of the board. Draw a second line 2 inches to the left of center. Mark the center spot 2 feet from either end.

3. Drill a 1/4-inch hole on the center line, 1 inch below the space between the two hooks on either end of the wooden board. Drill two more holes on the second line Place one hole 2 inches above the center point and the other 2 inches below.

4. Insert the dowels in the holes between the hooks. Insert the pencils in the holes to the left of center.

Warping the Loom

1. Tie the end of the yarn to one of the dowels.

2. Pull the yarn across the board. Go around the red pencil and to the other dowel so the yarn makes two sides of a triangle.

3. Pull the yarn straight down to the other dowel, completing the triangle.

4. Wrap the yarn around the first dowel and then wrap it around the blue pencil before wrapping around the second dowel.

5. Continue wrapping the yarn around the dowels, alternating between the red and blue pencils.

6. Lift the dowels and the pencils out of their holes. Pull the yarn tight and place the dowels in the hooks

Weaving

1. Cut a triangle out of each of the 4-inch sides of the cardboard. This becomes your shuttle. Wrap yarn around the shuttle.

2. Pull the red pencil forward. Half the warp yarns lift. Push the shuttle through the space between the two sets of warp yarn. Release the red pencil.

3. Pull the blue pencil forward. The opposite warp yarns lift. Push the shuttle through the yarn and pull tight. Release the blue pencil.

4. Press the second line of weaving, called the weft, toward the first line with the plastic fork.

5. Continue to pull alternate pencils forward and pressing each weft yarn to create a compact weave.

6. As you reach the top of the warp yarn, pull the entire warp yarn downward. Some of your finished weaving rotates toward the back.

7. Weave and pull your scarf until you have only 6 inches between the beginning and the end of the scarf.

8. Cut three or four warp threads at a time in the center of the 6-inch unwoven portion. Tie a single fringe tassel on either side of the scarf. Continue cutting and tying the fringe

Tips & Warnings

• It is not necessary to use a red and blue pencil. Choose the colors you wish.

• For stripes, wrap different colored yarn on the shuttle.

• It is important to hold the two dowels tight as you move them to the hooks. You may need two people to lift and pull the dowels.

References

• McDaniel College: The Navajo Loom
• Meredith College: Navajo Weaving
• University of Arizona: Navaho and Pueblo Belts, Garters, and Hair Bands
• Georgia College: History of Weaving; Susan C. Wylly