Joining a New Shuttle of Yarn

While I'd got my camera out last week I took a couple of images of how to join in a new shuttle of yarn, which is something I often get asked about.

When you come to the end of a shuttle of yarn, and here it doesn't matter whether it's a new stick shuttle of yarn or a boat shuttle, how do you start your new yarn?

If your yarn comes to an end in the middle of your weft pick, simply pull the end through the warp ends, ensuring you continue your original path, whether at a 45 degree angles, as I do, or in a wave, as others do.

Now wind your shuttle, or insert another pirn into your boat shuttle, and throw it from the same side as the pick that's just finished.  Following the same path, pull the end through the warp end so that the old pick and new pick overlap, as in the picture on the right.

Beat your pick as normal and you will see the ends overlap as in the picture on the left.

Continue to weave and don't think of cutting the ends until you have wet "finished" you work.  Once the weave is finished the yarn will full up and your overlap will disappear.  Then you can cut your ends close to the weave.