If you’ve completed one of our beginner kits, you may have some extra yarn hanging around. Of course we hope you’ll use this yarn to keep practicing your new skills, but sometimes you’re left with an "in-between" amount of yarn on a spool or cone- not quite enough to start a new project with, but far too much to consider throwing away! That’s where rock weaving comes in.

Rock weaving is a lovely, meditative practice, and a great way to use up scrap yarn! It’s also a sweet activity for children and adults to work on together, and can be made easier or more challenging with just a few adjustments. 

Supplies Needed:

• Scrap yarn
• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Blunt tipped tapestry needle
• Medium/large rock

Step 1: Select your rock. 

The best rocks for weaving on are medium/large in size (at least 5” x 5” or so), relatively flat, and oval or rectangular in shape. Smaller rocks can work, but they require more dexterity and are less child friendly. If you’re anything like me, you may already have a pile of rocks in your home to choose from (what can I say, rocks make great souvenirs). If you don’t already have a rock stash, your first step is to get out in nature and go rock scouting! 

Step 2: Choose your yarn.

Ideally you’ll want two colors of yarn, with enough of each color to wrap around your rock between 5-10 times. In this demo I’m using leftover yarn from our Beginner Friendship Bracelet Kit. If you’d like to leave your rock in nature as an offering, be sure you use a natural fiber yarn that can biodegrade over time. Here at Zollie, we only use high-quality, 100% natural fiber yarn, so you’re safe to use leftover yarn from any Zollie kit for this project. 

Tip: The thicker the yarn, the easier and quicker it is to weave. Beam Organic Cotton and Friendship Bracelet Yarn will be more manageable for children to use than Array Wool. 

Step 3: Wrap your warp.

Select the color you’ll be using to wrap your rock vertically. This is called your "warp" yarn. Leaving a long tail, tape one end of your yarn to the back side of your rock and begin wrapping, holding good tension so the yarn stays in place. Once you’ve wrapped your rock your desired number of times, end on the back side of your rock. Tie the end of your yarn with the long tail you left at the beginning (removing the tape first). Tie a tight knot- you’ll want your warp to be taught and secure!

Tip: A lower number of warp wraps spread farther apart will be easier to weave than a high number of warp wraps set closely together. 

Step 4: Prepare your weft.

Select the color you’ll be using to weave horizontally in and out of your warp thread. This is called your “weft” yarn. Leaving a long tail, tape one end of your yarn to the back side of your rock (horizontally this time, perpendicular to your warp threads). Thread a blunt tip tapestry needle with the non-taped end of your weft yarn.

Step 5: Start weaving!

Begin weaving in and out of the warp threads, following “under, over, under, over” and repeating until you’ve worked your way through the entire row. Then wrap your weft yarn around the back of your rock, bringing it to the front. Begin weaving one row above your previous one, this time moving in and out of the warp threads in the opposite pattern of “over, under, over, under.” Continue repeating this process, alternating under/over or over/under with each row.

Tip: If you’d like a more tightly packed weaving, you can use your tapestry needle to scooch each weft row closer to the previous one. 

Step 6: Finish your weaving.

Once you’re satisfied with the number of weft rows you have, end on the back of your rock. Remove the tape from your original weft thread and tie the two ends together in a tight, secure knot. Trim the ends. 

Step 7: Admire your creation!

Congratulations, you now have a beautiful, natural rock weaving! You can put your rock on display in your home, give it to a friend, or leave it as an offering for someone (or something) to find in nature. Have fun!