What type of yarn and fibres can be used for weaving a handwoven scarf?
- Emma Baker
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you are new to weaving, you might assume that weaving a scarf means working with one simple material: yarn. But you can weave with far more than just yarn. Combining different textures such as ribbon, chunky yarn, fine wool, and speciality fibres is one of the easiest ways to create a truly unique woven scarf.
In this blog I discuss a project weaving with hand spun yarn and ribbons to create a beautiful textured scarf. In addition, I give examples of where other fibres have been used in my weaving.
Can you weave with different types of weaving yarns to create a handwoven scarf?
Yes, you absolutely can weave with materials other than traditional weaving yarns when weaving a handwoven scarf. Weaving is essentially the process of interlacing threads (warp and weft). As long as the material can pass through the warp threads, it can be used in the weave. That means you can experiment with many different fibres including:
Silk or velvet ribbon
Thick chunky wool yarn
Fine merino yarn
Textured bouclé yarn
Fabric strips
Reflective thread
Handspun fibres
Using these materials together creates depth, texture, and visual interest, making the fabric created completely unique.
Weaving a scarf with the introduction of ribbon and different thickness of yarn
In this project I decided to weave a scarf with some beautiful hand spun yarn. Many people question whether it is possible to weave with hand spun yarn and it is definitely something that can be done to create the most beautiful of fabrics. You can read about my 6 tips for weaving with handspun yarn here.
In this project I warped my TabbyandTweed rigid heddle loom with two skeins of handspun yarn. One was a pale blue and the other a vibrant bold pink and blue yarn.
I mixed the yarns across the warp so that there were two threads of each consecutively across the loom.
When I came to weave, I chose a mixed yarn which was predominantly blue with accents of pink and tiny amounts of green. As I was weaving I decided to introduce short lengths of the warp fibres and ribbons in complementary colours to add areas of interest and texture.
One of the joys of weaving with mixed fibres is that the texture does the designing for you. The ribbon and textured yarn sat differently in the weave compared to the hand spun wool warp yarn. They reflected the light differently and created subtle horizontal highlights across the scarf.
Why Handmade Woven Scarves Feel So Luxurious
When a scarf is woven by hand using multiple fibres, ribbons, and varied yarn thickness, it becomes more than just an accessory. It becomes:
A slow fashion piece
A wearable artwork
A unique textile you won't find on the high street
Each handmade scarf carries the marks of the weaving process, small variations that give it personality and authenticity. This is why I hope to encourage people to turn away from mass-produced fashion and choose one of my handwoven scarves woven with care and creativity.
What other fibres can you weave with?
Rose petals create a beautifully fragrant fabric
I am always looking for different things to weave with, to experiment with and to create with. With roses in full bloom in my garden I have in the past collected the rose petals and woven with them to create the most fragrant of fabrics which was perfect for creating lavender bags.
Weaving with reflective yarn
I have been commissioned in the past to create scarves where highly reflective yarn has been introduced. These scarves during daylight have an additional grey thread which is often indistinguishable depending on the design of the scarf but during night-time the yarn reflects light. These scarves are perfect for cyclists, or those who walk in the dark and want to be seen.
Weaving with recycled fabric
Weaving is a fantastic way to work with colours and textures while giving new life to old fabric. As weavers we have a genuine interest in all fabric and yarn crafts so it might come as no surprise that I also like to sew. As anyone who sews will know sewing creates lots of pieces of fabric scraps and waste. The weave shown below used fabric scraps as the weft.
After weaving the fabric was used to create some handwove coasters with a bias binding sewn around the edges.
Weaving is a wonderfully creative process and in this blog I have highlighted just a few ways that I have used other fibres for weaving. There are of course many more!
My handwoven scarves and snoods are for sale in my website shop for delivery within the UK, Canada and USA.
If you are interested in knowing what is on the loom, off the loom and workshop dates then do sign up to receive my weaving news emails by clicking here.
