How to Make a Homespun Wall Hanging

Homespun art has been around for centuries. It's the craft of decorating with the things we have on hand. A homespun wall hanging is made of fabric or yarn produced at home, using found objects like walnut shells, seeds and feathers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Wooden picture frame
• Ruler
• Brads or tacks
• Hammer
• Yarn
• Stencils
• Colored markers
• Walnut shell
• Drill
• Dowel
• Wire

1. Make a small wall hanging using an 8-inch-by-9-inch wooden picture frame as your loom. Mark off 6 1/2 inches along the top and bottom of the frame in 1/4-inch increments and hammer brads into these points.
2. String yarn tightly between the brads; this is called the warp. Weave your weft, which is yarn going horizontally through your warp, weaving the yarn alternately over and under each warp strand until your fabric is the size you want.
3. Trace patterns of your designs onto your fabric with inexpensive stencils from a craft store. Animals are popular designs so try a turtle; outline your design with colored markers.
4. Work in your found objects by using one half of a walnut shell for the turtle's head. Drill two holes in the center of the walnut half and sew the shell through these holes to fit appropriately on to the colored outline.
5. Draw eyes on your turtle with one of the colored markers.
6. Hang your homespun art by inserting a dowel through the top loops, attach a wire to the dowel and hang it in your favorite spot.

Tips & Warnings

• To keep track of your yarn, try winding it around a sturdy piece of cardboard. This improvised "shuttle" will make it easier to weave the weft of your fabric.