|
 We
had great fun making this fish at an experimental
tapestry workshop. You can use any flexible
materials to weave, so exploring the craft doesn't have
to be expensive. For this project we used lengths
of left over yarns and wool tops, the technique would
work equally well with ribbons, laces, string or strips
of plastic carrier bag. |
|
 1.
You will need a flexible twig approximately 75cm long.
Bend the twig to create the fish shape 'frame',
overlapping the ends into a 'v'. Bind the ends together
where they cross over using your warp yarn (we used a
cotton warp yarn). |
 2. Take the warp yarn from edge to edge, knotting it in
place as you go, leaving a 1cm space in between each.
This is quite fiddly and will need a little patience! |
 3. When the whole of the fish is strung,
weave your slub yarn* around the 'frame' and in
between each of the wrap threads to cover the loop of
the fish shape. Now you are ready
to begin the fun and relaxing tapestry weaving.
*
wool tops work equally well, they can be twisted before
weaving through the warp and become
slightly felted as they are worked. |
 4. Secure your yarn to the frame near the
first warp thread (don't worry about ends, these can be tucked
in later) and begin to weave under the first and over the
next. When you get to the end, take the yarn around the last
warp thread and begin weaving back again ensuring that the
yarn goes under where it previously went over. |
 5. Push each line of weaving up tight
against the previous to hide the warp and ensure there
are no holes. Continue until all of the warp has been
covered. The weaving will get tight near the bottom
and you will have to push the threads through with your
fingers. Finish off at the base of the tail by tightly wrapping
yarn around it. |
6. To create the tail, we used a contrasting
yarn. The cotton yarn can be dyed readily with
Procion MX
dyes or, for a 'quick fix' use Jacquard Dye-na-flow.
The yarn was twisted around the tail in a figure of 8 until
it was completely covered.
7. Finally, a tuft of fine dyed wool
top was pushed through the centre of the fish to create
it's fluffy fin! |