Swedish Weaving Instructions
Traditional Swedish weaving, also known as huck embroidery, was a popular pastime in the 1930s and '40s when weavers used embroidery floss to edge white linens. Today's weavers use floss on a variety of even-weave fabrics--such as aida or monk's cloth--to make elaborate designs. In Swedish weaving, floss is threaded along horizontal rows through the "float" of the fabric, picking up just the top threads so stitches are not seen from the back side. Once the basic stitch is learned, weavers can try a variety of patterns.
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Things You'll Need
- Huck toweling, preshrunk and cut to desired size
- Ruler
- Embroidery floss or pearl cotton
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of your fabric. Swedish weaving is worked in horizontal rows. If you switch colors from row to row, cut your floss to 2 1/2 times the width of the cloth. If using the same color in several rows, keep the floss as long as you can comfortably work with.
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2
Determine whether you want to hem or fray the bottom edge. Start your first row far enough above the bottom edge to accommodate your hem or fray.
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Anchor your thread without a knot. If you're right-handed, start at the right selvage, or edge, and count left five pairs of threads. Slide your needle under each pair of threads, moving right toward the selvage. Once back at the edge, reverse direction, skip the first pair of threads and go back under the others.
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4
Continue the basic stitch across row one. Slide your needle left under each pair of raised threads. When you reach the left edge, if you using the same color in row two, continue without cutting the thread. If switching colors, anchor the thread and cut it close.
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Repeat for each row, working upward. You may follow a pattern--many are available online--or simply freehand your stitches.
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Tips & Warnings
If you run out of thread in the middle of a row, anchor and begin again.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit close up of knotted woven matting red and blue image by Barcabloo from Fotolia.com
