Fingerweaving - pencils, belts, finishes

The fingerweaving is coming along, but I find it terribly slow. I found that using pencils to hold the two warp layers separate is helpful, but still very slow. Using rubber bands to hold the pencil to one set of warps makes it easy to add that weft string that comes out each row to become warp. Use short rubber bands or twist your rubber bands to shorten them.

Thank goodness I’m using fat cotton worsted yarn! I think I want to try this with some leather strips and laces.

On the yahoogroup Weaving, Sharon says she bought the book "Fingerweaving Basics", Gerald Findley. She says the illustrations are fantastic, but she can't find any directions for stopping or starting without braids or fringe. She would like to make a belt with a buckle or D rings.

Finishing by braid and fringe is traditional and about the only way to finish it without sewing.

"Basic Book of Fingerweaving" by Esther Warner Dendel shows a couple of belts, including one belt that uses a standard buckle at one end and finishes with a pointed end on the other. You might find this book in your library or it is available from the usual booksellers.

As Robin said, you could start your weaving by looping your warp through a D ring (or two D rings) and weaving down from there. I think with D rings at one end you could tie off the other end with overhand knots close to the weft, trim the fringe short and have a strap that can be run through the D rings.

If you want a squared off edge at one end, try looping your warp over a piece of coat hanger wire or other thick wire, then tying that to a dowel. This is a trick that strap weavers use to get a tiny set of loops on one edge that can be finished after weaving by pulling the wire out and weaving a final row or two of weft through the loops with a needle. The other end would still need to be finished by knotting or sewing.

Another way of doing would be to use a sewing machine to sew a couple rows across to stabilize the weave, cut across the strap, attach buckle and sew the strap down like you would a store bought strap.

Lastly, I have been wondering if a person could weave the ends back into the piece, in the manner of tapestry weavers and rug makers.

Another reply on Weaving by JEC of NEPA suggested the use of leather or plastic fabric to make a tab to fasten the buckle to the strap by sewing. Then take two pieces fashioned into a point to fit the buckle, then inserting the belt into the point and sew it in.

It's really good to be able to tap into all these sources of ideas and inquiries.

Have a good day!