interweave cotton cuff bracelet 4358

  This design is a variation of the tapestry weave using a set of core cords and thinner cotton material to create a matrix of color. The basic move is a loop over and under the core cords to build an offset weave.

The second color is looped over and under on the opposite side filling the gaps.

 In this design a mix of colors is used to create interest. A single ball button and loops are the toggle closure.

The tapered edge is a half hitch or larks head knot.

Find this one here.

Find a collection of these interweave cuffs here.

ecru and red string weave cuff bracelet 4131

 All cotton core with an alternating one-two single string weave creates this unique cuff. The alternating weave eliminates the ribbed texture in favor of a more finely textured weave.

7" (178 mm) circumference

Red cotton floss accent defines the width transition.

 The warp cords were reversed at the loop end to increase the width (to the right of the red accent.)

How this is made is a secret.

A single poly clay button secures the double loops.



See similar designs in the ETSY shop.


design and photographs copyright 2017 

red grey and walnut hand dyed cotton cuff bracelet 4129

 Two distressed clay buttons secure this wide cuff made from an array of black polyester cord.  They wider design is a variant of the basic tapestry weave technique explained here.

The buttons are polymer clay textured with a walnut shell and over baked to achieve the brown color and texture.

 A mix of hand dyed #24 cotton string and lightweight cotton floss incorporated into a landscape of color and texture.

Size 7 1/2" (191 mm) circumference
2 1/4" (58 mm) wide






design and photographs copyright 2017

walnut one button tapestry weave handmade cuff bracelet 4125

I really like the color of this walnut brown dye batch so naturally I'm using it in these tapestry weave cuff projects. There are two innovations here:

1. The loops have one leg near the center of the weave which makes for a more secure grip on the button.

2. The warp cord ends are returned into the warp forming loops instead of cut off ends. This creates a less ragged end under the loops.

 In this photo you can see some of the detail in the  clay button. There are a pair of larger holes for the 3 mm warp cord. The surface texture is created with a walnut shell before the baking process hardens the clay. This button is made from the stock white Sculpy clay which has a bit of sparkle  to it (invisible in the picture of course…)

Made on a 7" mold the finished cuff is about 6 1/2" (165 mm) inside circumference. This is a 6 strand warp, the center two strands are combined.

The long winded tutorial starts here showing how these are made.

You may want to visit the online shop to see what is available in this collection.





design and photographs copyright 2017

blue and purple tapestry cuff 4128

 Using a 10 strand warp this design has a center of dark blue cotton with alternating triangles of blue inset along the edge. A pair of buttons and loops secure the ends.

The weave is a simple over-under plain weave throughout. Made on a loom.

the tutorial where all secrets are revealed

 Detail shows the patterning. All the weft cords are single strands.

7" (178 mm) inside circumference
2 1/4" (59 mm) wide

This required some extra time to complete…

other designs you might like:
blue ocean string weave tapestry cuff bracelet

experiments with string weaving overview

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff 




design and photographs copyright 2017

Grey blue multi weave tapestry cuff bracelet 4124

This cuff uses three different colors and two different weave patterns to achieve the contrasting textures.

The center is an open double strand weave where the weft is not compressed leaving the warp cords exposed in the checkerboard pattern.

The darker blue and grey segments use a double strand weft in a double over-under weave.  Each pass is compressed against the weave to eliminate gaps. The gray segment uses a single loop at the edge of the double over-under weave.

 The non compressed weft creates openings exposing the warp. The cotton warp cords exert enough friction on the weft to prevent bunch ups and distortions. (If you use a synthetic warp there is less friction so this technique works best with cotton.)

The tutorial is here.

Here's another wide cuff with a free form design
wide multi color tapestry cuff bracelet

red grey walnut tapestry weave cuff bracelet 

A pair of custom buttons and loops secures the ends. oh and there are the two 'rat tails' left as well (ends whipped to prevent fraying)






design and photographs copyright 2017

multi color rainbow string weave cuff 4121

This cuff really is made with string - the variegated color of the weft comes from the use of dyed cordage that has been unwound exposing the color gradient within each of the yarns.

These pieces of partially dyed cotton yarn then are used in a tapestry weave on an eight strand warp.

(Now I know where the term "warp core" originated …beam me up Scotty!)

So here you can see the variegated color effects of the weft strands within the color fields. The button is a poly clay boulder button, readers of this blog had seen these on other bracelets. These are custom made with two oversize holes. The rounded shape passes smoothly thought the loops but stays put when engaged.

Size 7 to 7 1/2" (178 mm - 191 mm) internal circumference

Some other designs that you might like:

blue ocean string weave tapestry cuff bracelet

more string weaving bracelets

experiments with string weaving overview

If you want to see how these are made check this multi part tutorial it has pictures…


design and photographs copyright 2017

rose and walnut cotton double tapestry weave cuff 4117

What makes this design different is the thicker ribs formed by the warp cords.

The colors are a combination of red and black walnut dyed cotton string. The warp is black polyester cord. Button is a custom made poly clay two hole disc with a textured surface.

Multi page tutorial with all the secrets.

Diagram showing a cross section of the weave.

In this bracelet there are a pair of warp cords in each pass instead of just one. This makes each rib a double width and gives the design a different proportion.

Full layout view. Bracelet measures 7 1/2" (191 mm) circumference. Some other designs you might like:

heather and blue grey one button string weave cuff

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff 

a collection of early work

design and photographs copyright 2017

red grey walnut tapestry weave cuff bracelet 4127

 The range of colors in this cuff runs from a dark walnut brown to a bright red. The warp cords are black polyester which emphasizes the color.

Eight strand warp creates a generous width a pair of "tails" extending from the loop side.

The buttons are custom made with a walnut shell texture pressed into the concave side. The polymer clay was over baked to make the dark brown color and fuse the polymers.

 The over under wrapping technique makes the cuff reversible as the pattern and colors are exposed on both sides. This is the same weaving technique as these "fishtail" bracelets:

chunky fishtail braid bracelet with button

fishtail braid rope bracelets with button loop

chunky fishtail braid rope bracelet with wood bead 

The flat-earth view showing the color pattern and accents (made with store-bought cotton floss)





This and other similar designs can be found in the ETSY shop.


design and photographs copyright 2017

blue ocean string weave tapestry cuff bracelet 4126

 Using a wider 10 strand warp array allows for bigger areas of color and more pattern variations. Each warp cord is expressed by the wrapping creating a subtle ribbed or stacked effect.

This cuff is made with two custom poly clay buttons that have been overcooked to develop the earthy brown color. Pressing the texture also creates slight cracks in the edges giving this piece a weathered/worn texture.

 Here you can see the abstract composition made with three colors of hand dyed string and two colors of manufactured cotton floss.
7 1/2" (19 1mm) circumference
2 3/8" (61 mm) wide
Here's a tutorial showing how these are made

some other designs you might like:

soft string bangle

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff

This and other similar designs can be found in the ETSY shop.








design and photographs copyright 2017

wide multi color tapestry cuff bracelet 4123

This project started out with no fewer than 12 warp cords making it the current width champ. The idea was to experiment with color patterning. The offset weaving stuck to the single plain weave pattern where each warp cord was individually wrapped (no pairing).

Various materials are used including the dyed string and commercially available cotton floss.
The string has a more substantial thickness so the areas populated with string weaving have a characteristic thickness. The floss is very thin and even though it was double-doubled (four strands) it doesn't cover nearly as much as the thicker cotton string.

 Here's a look at the flattened out view showing the variety of colors and textures. A grey cotton warp cord array was used to minimize the show through effects where gaps in the weft reveal the warp cords.

The buttons are a poly clay that was formed and printed with a walnut shell to achieve the texture (sorry you can't see it here) then overcooked to get the natural dark brown color. This extended cooking also assures that the plastic is fully fused together.

Here are a few more designs similar to this you might like:

heather and blue grey one button strigweave cuff

heather grey one button cuff 

more string weave bracelets

More of these are available for you to purchase in the ETSY shop in the tapestry cuffs section 

heather and blue grey one button string weave cuff 4122

 This is an example of the bracelet design that is covered by this tutorial: Part 1 click here

The core is grey cotton with a round "boulder button" made of polymer clay. The string is a lightweight twisted cotton tapestry woven onto the core strands.

All materials are hand dyed in a water based system, more about this process here and also here.

 Soft and flexible this is sized for an adult wrist measuring 8" (203 mm) circumference and about 1" wide.

The rounded button slips easily through  the loops but stays put when engaged.

Polymer clay is a great material for simple elements like buttons. It's easy to handle and quick to make up new buttons if you run out unexpectedly.

Here's the flat-out view as you would see the project on the loom but without the loom of course.

A few other projects you might like:
one button string weave leather lacing cuff white
heather grey one button cuff (similar colors)
collection of string weave bracelets 

More of these are available for you to purchase in the ETSY shop in the tapestry cuffs section

design and photographs copyright 2017

one button string weave leather lacing cuff white 4104

 This low profile cuff is made with 2 mm leather lacing wrapped with a white waxed thread.

The button is a custom "boulder" shape made from polymer clay. The lacing is looped through the button then doubled around the mold forming the loops.

The weft is a heavy waxed thread doubled then plain woven through the leather warp. The warp ends are simply trimmed off.

 7 1/2" (191 mm) circumferencnce
5/8" (16 mm) wide

more like this:

1 button black leather bracelet 2934

leather braided bracelet black 3612

wrapped leather cord button bracelet 2781

Want to see how these are made?
View the step-by-step tutorial click here.

More of these are available for you to purchase in the ETSY shop in the tapestry cuffs section

design and photographs copyright 2017

soft string bangle 4093

 Made without buttons this little bracelet started out as a wrapping of the warp cords on a bottle mold followed by a widely spaced wrapping process.

Additional warp cords were laid in parallel and woven in, you can see the colors showing through.

Here the additional warp cords are visible thought the weave. No need for fussy packing of the weft this is an exploration of texture and color.

And of course the shape got messed when the tension on the warp gets out of alignment but the overall effect is pleasing.

some other designs that might interest you:

experimental string weave overview

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff 4091

grey one button cuff 4095

All cotton string from the up-cycle box plus a very light cotton twine that was paired then threaded in the weft.

More of these are available for you to purchase in the ETSY shop in the tapestry cuffs section




design and photos copyright 2017 

heather grey one button cuff 4095

A narrower four strand wrapped design made with two grey colors and an oversize button.

The edges are single cord wrapped with two cored paired in the center which creates the wider rib.

The needle-weaving is simple over-under plain weave using the interstitial space as the crossover. The wrapping string is paired. The ends of the core cords are looped back under the center rib.

 Here the four cords are visible as a pair of loops on the button.
Sized on a mold this design is 7" (178 mm) circumference.

Want to see how these are made?
View the step-by-step tutorial click here.


here are some other designs you might like:

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff 4091

more string weaving bracelets 4096 4097 4099

experiments with string weaving overview

Warmer grey color with a cooler grey accent.


More of these are available for you to purchase in the ETSY shop in the tapestry cuffs section






design and photos copyright 2017

wide blue tapestry woven rope cuff 4091

 A wider two-button design cuff with a blend of blue cotton double strand weft wrappings.

The warp cords are 3 mm cotton and form a strong linear geometry around which the thinner weft string is woven. The weft assumes a series of figure-8 shapes as it crosses over in the spaces between the warp cords creating the ribs.

The whole thing is made on a small loom after setting the size using a circular mold.

Want to see how these are made?
View the step-by-step tutorial click here.

The termination of the weave involves following the looped warp cords around the looped ends as you can see in this image. The cords are reversed in pairs.

Buttons are secured with waxed nylon thread.

Here's an overview of design variations.

The simple color patterns are various lengths of weft cord juxtaposed.

Check the tapestry cuffs section  of WhatKnotShop on ETSY for this and a variety of similar designs.




design and photographs copyright 2017

experiments with string weaving overview

 With plenty of indoor time and an increasing collection of materials comes some experimentation with a simple style of weaving. These examples are highly textured made rapidly on simple circular molds. Cores are braided or twisted cotton with cotton wrappings.

These were done fast without concern for detail or finish. The gaps exposing the cores offer a patterning (checkerboard) effect. The loose ends are left to create additional interest.

 These take on a more regular form when the process is refined and more care is taken placing the wrappings on the cores. The tight stacking creates a more disciplined finish. This lacks the exuberant raggedness of the first group but has more subtle color possibilities.

Warp cords are 3 mm cotton
Weft is a combination of ordinary dyed corn string and unwound strands of thin cotton rope

Want to see how these are made?
View the step-by-step tutorial click here.

Lightweight #18 cotton in grey, navy, and marsala red where the cord takes a very light influence from the dye bath. The pastel blending of the dye and cotton creates a pleasant color range that shares the semi-transparent effect.







design and photographs copyright 2017