Short Weft, New Weft!

Thinking about changing your weft, can seem overwhelming, not knowing where to start. If you follow these steps, it can be very effortless and save more work, during the 'finishing process'.

Make a square knot, with the short weft thread you are changing, on the outside warp, where it exited the last row of looming.

In other posts, I will include how to make the outside warps sturdy, for not only holding your 'weft change knots', but also to offer sturdier edges to hold the fringe or edging you plan
to add, later on.

Once the knot is tied, you will need to think about how you are planning the edge or fringe.

If you are edging with a Brick Stitch finish, which I will go over later -


Pass your needle, after the knot is tied, through the same row you just exited. This will 'clog' the last bead, any future access will be 'denied'. This is perfect, for this type of edging, because the knot is 'gone' and you won't be running the needle inside any more.

If you are edging with a 'picot' or 'fringe' edging -

You will need access to every bead in every loomed row. Therefore, after the knot is tied, run your needle through the row 'before' the last row, allowing the knot to settle 'in between' the two rows of looming. This will keep every bead open, for future access, and the knot won't be seen once the other options of finishing is discussed. I will go over these another time.

I then threaded a new piece of thread, new weft string, into the needle and followed my last needle run, into the 'second to the last row of looming'.
No matter what the edging, you will always start your new thread like this.


Pull the new thread completely across the row of beading, leaving a small tail, next to the 'knot edge'. Tie another square knot on to the opposite warp edge. If you need to pull the knot taught, you can use the short tail you left, as the other side of pulling this knot.

The picture above shows the last three steps.
After tying the knot on to the right warp edge, run your needle back through the 'last row' of beading. Again, pull this taught, holding the little tail you originally left.

Now you can cut the tail, you originally left, being careful to only cut the tail, and not the new weft string.

You will be left with the new length of weft, running from the last row of looming and ready to begin loading your needle with beads and continue your looming.

As you can see, looming will require a bit of 'planning', i.e., knowing how you want to edge your bead work, so the steps taken during your process of looming, will eliminate steps during the finishing process!