How to Do Needle Weaving

Needle weaving can add texture and color to a piece of even-weave cotton or linen fabric. Needle weaving, like tapestry, produces interesting intricate designs in fabric.
A needle weaver removes bands of thread from the fabric and reworks what remains into beautiful geometric designs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Linen fabric
• Small scissors
• Thread
• Blunt end tapestry needle

1. Mark the top and bottom border of the area of fabric you're working. Sew large stitches between two horizontal threads, top and bottom. This marks the area where you must remove the horizontal threads in the linen and leave the vertical threads intact.

2. Cut the horizontal threads of linen in the center of your needle weaving work area, or panel. Unweave the cut horizontal threads in both directions to the end of the panel. Darn them back into the linen about ½ inch, and trim off what remains. This gives your work a nice, finished edge.

3. Start with the first group of three vertical, or warp, threads on the wrong side of the prepared fabric. Hold the end of the thread on your needle with the first group of warp threads, and wrap the thread around the whole group. Start at the bottom and continue wrapping the thread tightly around the warp threads to create a round bar. Continue wrapping all the way to the top.

4. Wrap the thread around the next group of three warp threads, working downward to make another round bar. Continue wrapping in this manner until you reach the end of the panel. You've just finished a panel of basic needle weaving stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a thread that's slightly heavier than the linen fabric so the stitches stand out. Twisted thread works well because it gives a satiny finish to your tapestry-like work.
• Cut carefully so you do not damage any of the vertical stitches as you are prepare the fabric for needle weaving.