Weaving Tutorial: The Hemstitch

[@1viridis]

This is a great tutorial. I love the simple clarity, her relaxing calm voice, her straightforward, unpretentious manner (love the no nail polish look too!) It's like sitting next to a sister or friend. I'll be looking for more of these great weaving instruction videos, thank you!

[@APrettyFix]

You're welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video (warts and all!). I have a small collection of weaving videos here as well as several tutorials on my blog as well as a full Weaving Basics course in my Etsy shop! Lots to choose from and explore. Wishing you a lovely week :)

[@kjellkanin]

This is my go to video on hem stitching. I don't do this very often so I tend to forget each time how I do it, so I always come back to this one that explains it so beautifully.

[@APrettyFix]

Aww, thank you so much Agathe! That means so much to me. I try my very best to make things as clear as I can. I'm so glad you found this tutorial helpful :)

[@damzal]

This was soooo helpful and clearly explained. Thank you!

[@APrettyFix]

You're welcome! Happy to help :)

[@09lesliejay]

I’m new to weaving and in poking around, I found you and your wonderful tutorials. I’m most definitely a visual learner and written instructions are just no use to me. I really appreciate how you do a stitch several times and don’t rush it. You’re a wonderful teacher! Thank you.

[@APrettyFix]

Thank you for your feedback and the lovely comments! It's gratifying to know that this tutorial was instructive and helpful. I'm also a visual learner, so I can relate :) Thanks again and take care!

[@lucybrz1]

Thank you. This is how I'm planning to finish the fringe on my wool poncho. I hope it will look ok.

[@APrettyFix]

I hope you were able to finish off your wool poncho!

[@lucybrz1]

@@APrettyFix I did. 👍Your tutorial was very helpful. Thanks!

[@GlossyHop]

Thank you for this video! As a visual learner this was so much help!!!

[@APrettyFix]

I'm so glad it was helpful. As a visual learner myself, I totally understand :)

[@noopur1241]

Thanks for the tutorial! It was very helpful. I was stucked and my yarns just keep getting loose but now I got the solution.

[@APrettyFix]

So glad I could help!

[@barbarabalkin1904]

This is the nicest looking 'finish' I've seen yet. I'm trying it on my latest weaving as I post this. Thank you so much! It looks great!!!

[@APrettyFix]

It's a simple and elegant way to finish off a weaving and I use it often. I'm happy to know that you enjoyed the post Barbara! Happy weaving :)

[@sherrymeurer]

Thank you! Trying this for the first time!

[@APrettyFix]

Terrific! Once you do a few stitches, you'll get into the swing of things in no time :)

[@betweencoats6120]

This tutorial is fantastic! Really helpful, thank you for sharing!

[@APrettyFix]

I'm so glad you found it helpful, Jane!

[@dileksanlav3972]

Very helpful tutorial. Thanks.

[@APrettyFix]

You're welcome!

[@meghanmacqueen5157]

Thank you SO much; I've been looming for awhile now, and always struggled with securing the top stitches. This is FANTASTIC XOXO

[@APrettyFix]

I'm so glad you found the tutorial helpful. I've often gone down the 'rabbit hole' to look for tips on this or that, so I know the struggle! Take care :)

[@meghanmacqueen5157]

@@APrettyFix xoxo

[@APrettyFix]

@@meghanmacqueen5157 aww, right back at you!

[@sabrinafernandez489]

Great explanation! Thanks for sharing it :)

[@APrettyFix]

So glad you found the tutorial useful :)

[@MissFlux]

Thankyou!!! I just did my first ever weave & there really wasn't instructions of how to "tie off" the top or bottom. It just said for the bottom tie knots on EACH warp thread, which I kinda did.. winged it. Luckily there is fringing at the bottom so you don't see it! But I'm not impressed at the top, it kinda looks unfinished. I've seen some work where the dowel is EXACTLY fitting the last warps threads & that looks neat, but as a beginner in weaving its great to know this hem stitch👏 It's all off the mini loom now & on a dowel .. but I'm going to use some roving to lightly & "artistically" finish the top gap, & I think it actually will balance the shape out Nicely.. Thankyou 3am pee as I walk by my work & had an ah ha moment! Hahaha. So Thankyou!! Liked & sub'd .. and I really like your work🙌👌😊 Thanks!!

[@APrettyFix]

I'm so glad the tutorial helped you finish off the look of your first weave (congratulations, by the way!). I know how good it felt to finish my first wall weaving and I've been loving everything that I've learned (and continue to learn) ever since. So glad to have you join our little community of weavers and crafters!

[@nildapennington3483]

Very nice very very nice thank you for sharing beautiful

[@APrettyFix]

Thanks for your feedback, Nilda! So glad you found the tutorial useful :)

[@kathleenmcrobbie6810]

Just what I was looking for and you explain it so clearly. Thank you, would love it you could do more tutorials.😃

[@APrettyFix]

So glad you found this tutorial useful! I do hope to stock the media library with more and will keep your request in mind. Take care :)

[@kathleenmcrobbie6810]

Oh no pressure but you have such a good way of explaining it all that I think it would be such a shame not to continue doing tutorials. I do realise how time consuming it is though. No pressure 😉 Are you on Instagram? I only subscribe to that and KZbin, so would be good if you were, not a Facebooker an afraid, been there, not going back LOL

[@APrettyFix]

I'll be on Instagram soon, so keep an eye out for me :)

[@christygoerzen8935]

Very informative! This will help with my weavings, thanks!

[@APrettyFix]

So glad the tutorial was helpful, Christy!

[@KLazer-gi2kw]

Use shorter yarn and control it by pulling tail end to double.....estimated correct length would help

[@leotabaca5476]

Love your videos. I was wondering how you clean this type of hanging. I have just ordered this loom. I will be getting this in about a week. I can’t wait to get this. It is twelve AM hear in Colorado and I can sleep because I am watching your videos. This is going to be a long week.🌝 You are so good at explaining everything. Thanks for the videos, I am so glad I found you. Lee

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Lee! I'm so excited about your loom purchase. It's such a great time to be learning about weaving. Just a few years ago, there wasn't much out there that showcased modern weaving, but now there are a lot more resources and more and more people weaving :) So glad you found the tutorial helpful. Hope you got some sleep ;) Take care!

[@APrettyFix]

Re: cleaning - I haven't yet had a reason to clean the weaving. It's been up for about a year now. However, a lint roller is a great tool for cleaning up the flat portions of any wall weaving and then just picking through the shaggier bits with your fingers to remove any pieces :)

[@leotabaca5476]

Thank you for that information.

[@nagaritahenderson7119]

Thanks for your reply. I understand.

[@fanniszilagyi6651]

I saw this piece om pinterest. Its so amazing and inspiring.

[@APrettyFix]

Thank you so much!

[@amandakuykendallSHW]

If you lengthen (pull through needle eye) you excess thread, you won't have to pull so long when stitching/weaving.

[@APrettyFix]

Thanks for the tip!

[@chloen.5974]

Hi, great video! Do you have one that shows what you do when you get to the end of the row? How do you finish the last grouping of the edge? Thanks!

[@APrettyFix]

Unfortunately, when I made this video, I seem to have cut it short, but you may have some luck if you look up other weavers who demo the same stitch. Kelly Casanova comes to mind (here on KZbin). Hope that helps!

[@tylerharris7469]

do you use the same white yarn for the weft?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Tyler, It's not necessary to use the same yarn for the weft as the warp. In this case, it looks the same only because I chose the same colour, off-white and 100% cotton. (For specifics: The yarn I used for the weft is this one: amzn.to/31i9Kum. The yarn I used for the warp is this one: amzn.to/2Wyyn7f). Take care!

[@sherrymeurer]

So by doing this it keeps your weave from loosing shape? Makes sense. Thx

[@APrettyFix]

Yes, it'll help keep the edges firmly in place, especially along the top edge where the dowel has a tendency to pull warp strings in opposing directions (and thereby loosening the weft/horizontal rows woven into it).

[@APrettyFix]

Yes, it'll prevent the top edge from loosening/pulling apart once you remove your piece from the loom :)

[@saeedseraji3399]

♥️♥️♥️

[@girlattack08]

If I use the hem stitch, can I then cut off the loops and stitch 2 seperate squares together? I want to make a rug out of multiple woven squares.

[@1viridis]

I'm wondering how to do this as well. I'd like to know how to connect 3-4 frame weaves to make an elongated scarf. Hem stitching still leaves you with fringe at the connecting seams. Maybe finish these edges with a Half Damascus stitch instead of hem stitching, then blind stitch to connect them together? (Love the video here, btw!)

[@jodyhynek3415]

So how would you hem the bottom of the wall hanging

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Jody - I hemmed the bottom of this particular wall hanging in the exact same way. I then cut the warp strings off the loom, but left them long to create a fringe effect.

[@juneupton9146]

Hi! Love this tutorial.. just curious how do you get the bottom of your tapestry to have long threads hanging at the end? Do you also start with a hem stitch?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi June, The threads at the bottom are the warp strings. I simply started the weaving (horizontal rows) about 1/3 of the way up the warp. When I finished the piece, I added a hemstitch along the bottom edge, then cut the warp strings along the bottom of the loom, leaving the warp strings hanging :)

[@makennahaagard5786]

Hello! After doing the hem stitch, could you have the option of snipping of the top loops? Would it hold everything together still?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Makennah, Although it probably would hold, I would still take extra measures to secure the edges. I would recommend weaving the loops into the back end of the weaving before snipping them off (for a look at how to do this, here's a post on my blog: aprettyfix.com/how-to-attach-a-driftwood-hanger-to-a-weaving/ - Just look under the "Optional" heading and you'll see how I weave in the loops into the back end of the weaving). If you are using the hemstitch for something other than a wall weaving (like a table runner, place mat, coasters or even a scarf), you can just leave fringe along the top and bottom edges and not worry about weaving in the ends. Hope this helps!

[@Varifyr]

I am super glad you got a response because I had the same question.

[@LadyGrey260]

Will this work on a rigid heddle loom?

[@APrettyFix]

Yes, absolutely it will. Weavers like Kelly Casanova and UrbanGypZ use a rigid heddle loom and have also demonstrated the hemstitch on their channels :)

[@LadyGrey260]

A Pretty Fix Thank you so much!

[@APrettyFix]

@@LadyGrey260 you're welcome :)

[@Tracy1985_]

Do you use this stitch for the bottom of your weaving as well? Just as a way of securing the other end?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Tracy - Yes, I used the hemstitch finish on both the top and the bottom of this particular weaving. It's one easy way of securing both edges.

[@insomniac1016]

What kind of needle do you use for threading it through?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Rebel, I'm using the Clover Jumbo Bent Needle for this project. If you have trouble finding it, then feel free to go to My Weaving Supplies List, where it's listed at the very top here: aprettyfix.com/weaving-tools-supplies/

[@tammyuren6591]

Thanks for sharing where to get supplies. Sometimes it’s one of the hardest parts of this art. I’ve learned to adapt many things into what I need.

[@APrettyFix]

@@tammyuren6591 - you're so welcome! I know exactly what you mean. I'm hoping to share even more about supplies and sources very soon. Stay tuned :)

[@nagaritahenderson7119]

You did not show how to end it.

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Nagarita! Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to provide a follow-up for anyone else who may be wondering the same thing. Essentially, you finish the same way you started: feed the needle under 2 warp threads, bring the needle back around, and feed it up 2 weft threads, tie a knot around the last warp thread, then flip the weaving over and weave the tail into the back end. (Note: if you end up with 3 warp threads at the end, then treat them as you would 2 warp threads by bundling all 3 together). I hope this helps. A follow up video is in the works, Nagarita :)

[@anna-rosecarpenter7472]

Hi! Can you do this technique once it has come off the loom?

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Anna-Rose, I wouldn't recommend it. Once the weaving is off the loom, it would be very challenging because of the tension that's lost in the warp (vertical strands). A piece can easily unravel along the edges if it isn't secured prior to removing it. (Been there!). (That being said, if you have removed a weaving before finishing it off completely and for some reason are stuck and can't get it back on, then - and only then - I would recommend weighing down the warp strands with a brick or something long and heavy and ever so gently work your way across to finish it off with the hemstitch). Good luck!

[@tammyuren6591]

You can also try to use some tape to hold down the warp threads to give you tension or maybe use the tape and a clipboard at the other end and tape at the end you are working on to give you the tension you need. I used this to finish a piece I had removed right before I found this great tutorial. It worked out great. I’m using this finishing on most of my pieces now and love it!! It gives my work such a professional look I hadn’t gotten before. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful stitch.

[@dorothystockstill6404]

still did not see how to take it off the loom

[@APrettyFix]

Hi Dorothy, I focused on showing the technique itself in this video. If you are interested in seeing how to start and finish a weave, feel free to pop by my blog and check out my weaving tutorials. One that might be useful is a two part series called "An Introduction to Weaving" --> start here: aprettyfix.com/introduction-to-weaving-part-1-of-2/ I show the nuts and bolts, from beginning to end. Take care!