Uses for a Woven Band

The Inkled Pink blog written by Jennifer Williams is always an inspiration. She is super creative in what she does with her inkle bands. Several links to tutorials are below in the list, but you can check out the "Project Tutorials" listings here on her blog.
Try doing a Google Image Search on any of these terms: strap, carrying strap, shoulder strap, woven strap. So many clever uses for a strap!!!!

* Headband/headwrap
Headwrap woven by a student
* Hatband/Stampede strap
* Hair ribbon
* Barrette
* Necklace/choker
* Necktie
* Scarf
* Suspenders (braces)
* Belt
* Waist Sash
* Bandolier Sash (see photo)
* Amauti Sash (click here for story/photos)
* Garters
* Clothing trim
* Shoelaces (great tutorial here for putting tips on them)
* Sandal strap
* Boot decoration
* Key fob
* Wrist strap for small purse
* Wrist strap for walking cane
* Wrist strap for small camera
* Bracelet
* Watch band
* Pants leg tie-up for bicyclists
* Zipper pull
* Counting string (See photo of Jim's Camino String)
Jim's counting string when he walked the Camino de Santiago
* Long or short lanyard for flash drive












*Clerical stole
Bamboo scarf
* Handfasting cord (See examples here on NiamhTrua.com)
* Glasses strap
* Small purse/coin purse
* Wallet
* Purse strap
* Watch fob
* Inkle loom carrying strap (see photo here on Hearts on Fibre blog)
* Backstrap (for weaving backstrap style)
* Portable spinning wheel bag strap
* Briefcase strap
* Medicine bag
* ID badge holder/lanyard
* Whistle string (lanyard)
* Backpack straps
* Luggage strap ( for carrying or closure)
 * Luggage "flag" for easy recognition at baggage claim
* Camera strap
* Camera bag strap
* Tripod carrying strap
Powder horn strap
* Binocular strap
* Rifle strap
* Powder horn strap
* Baldric (sword belt worn across body)
* Firewood carrying cradle
* Banjo strap
* Accordion strap
* Harp strap
* Saxophone strap
* Drum strap
* Ukulele strap
* Guitar strap
* Shoulder straps for "Gig bag"
* Cell phone case
* Knife sheath
* Calculator case


* Pencil case
* Glasses case
* Scissors case
Renaissance Faire Costume - Bandolier Sash
* Harmonica case
* Pennywhistle case
* Bow case (violin)
* Business card case
* Cosmetic bag
* Lipstick case
* Water bottle carrier
* Canteen strap
* Yoga/stretching strap
* Yoga/ Pilates mat carrying strap
* Utility strap for camping (bedrolls, etc.)
* Surfboard carrying strap
* Canoe cartop tiedown (See This!)
* Dog/cat collar
* Dog/cat leash
* Horse tack
* Toddler leash or harness
* Clippy strap for baby binky (pacifier)





Guitar Strap
* Lap belt and/or leg straps for wheelchair
* Picture frame
* Coaster
* Placemat
Boot bracelets 
* Hot pad
* Table runner
* Napkin ring
* Curtain tie
* Pillow trim
* Sachet
* Bookmark
* Wall hanging
* Woven webbing for Seat/stool
* Upholstery trim
* Blanket binding
* Pincushion
* Straps for weaving a basket (Project here on Inkled Pink)
* Basket handles
* Soft sculpture, snakes, lizards or a carrot (Tutorial here)
* Ornament
* Bell pull
* Garland
* Gift wrap ribbon
* Plant hanger
* Book cover
* Book carry strap
* Book/Diary closure strap
* Doll clothes
* Dollhouse rug
* Award/prize ribbon
* Inkle origami (See Inkled Pink Blog Here)

This list from Shirley Berlin is worth browsing, too. She does several types of braiding and has a bit of a different take on it.
Berlin Braids, "That's nice dear, but what can you do with it?"

Many examples found around the web can be seen here in my Inkle Weaving board on Pinterest.

Feel free to add your ideas by posting a comment. I often say that "there are 101 uses for an inkle band", but I think this list contains more than that now and it's still growing.

Check out this post for some nice customer photos!  
Celtic knot sash (Medieval costume) 
Chevron sash (Fur Trade costume) 






Choker 

Ukulele strap

Silk hatband
Shoelaces
Custom neckwear for a fashion design student
Bracelets
Purse strap woven to match purse from Chimayo, New Mexico
Fur Trade costume with sash, bag strap, powder horn strap
Badge holder

Custom tunic trim

37 comments:

  1. Stretching straps - useful in Pilates and Yoga. I can send pics if you want.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Patricia-
      Great suggestion! Thanks! I'll add it to the list. I'd love to see your photos!
      Could you e-mail to iWeaveSashes@gmail.com?

      Delete
  2. A case/sleeve for a flash drive; case for a pocket knife or penknife; a sleeve/case for a fountain pen or other fine pen. How about those?

    Oh, another one -- assembled as a harness for a cat or small dog. A figure-8 harness would work well made from inkles, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for this list... now when my hubby asks, "What are you going to do with all those bands"... I have an answer !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to help! My husband was a fan of my woven products before he even got to know me. By the time we married, he already had a nice collection!

      Delete
  5. How do you join your bands?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do this rarely, but when I do I use the method described by Helene Bress in her book, Inkle Weaving. It involves using a blunt-tipped tapestry needle. First you butt the two pieces up against each other, lining up the rows. Pull your threaded needle through 3-4 warps on one side across to the other band and through 3-4 warps on it. Then down to the next row and do the same. In this way the join should not show. I have heard other folks sometimes talk about using a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine. Good luck!

      Delete
  6. Hey Annie! Didn't we laugh together over my use of inkles as canoe to car tie-down straps years ago? I'd use more colorful ones now, but they're stout and sturdy.
    I have another new-to-me one - sew together and stuff as juggling cubes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Do you happen to have any instructions for putting these things together? Or maybe a site or book that would show/teach me how to make things from my bands? I don't have any sewing or construction experience, but I really want to make things with my bands. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Amanda. I do not have any project tutorials, other than the one for guitar straps which I did a video about. You can see that here on YouTube:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWI912I3edg
      Jennifer Williams has some nice tutorials on her blog, Inkled Pink.

      Delete
  8. A woven band can become a case for a penny whistle or recorder, even a case for a fiddle bow , to pad it from knocking into the fiddle itself. I wove a band for a cow's horn that I use to call my husband from his studio for dinner. I'm working on one to be used as sides & straps for a dulcimer case that I will combine with some handwoven fabric.... I've got some ideas for a sewing case made of bands but it hasn't gotten to the top of my list yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lausanne!You are a clever and creative weaver and I appreciate your additions!

      Delete
  9. A Pilates mat carry handle! I've successfully used one of my bands for this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Alison! Is a mat for pilates different from a yoga mat? I guess I need to spend more time exercising!

      Delete
  10. Replacement straps for a luggage rack - the ones that have an X-cross to fold up and usually have 3 or 4 straps across the top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment. I'll have to figure out a concise way to word that. It is sort of like the "woven webbing for seat or stool", yet a bit different.
      Happy Inkling! Annie

      Delete
  11. I don't know what you would call it, but I use inkle straps to tie around the legs of my spinning wheel to keep them from splaying. I also use them to tie up and secure my floor loom parts and pieces when going to and from weaving classes. My weaving guild uses them to secure a weighted warp loom to the wall. I've also used ugly or worn ones in the garden to hang bird feeders, tie up and secure fruit trees, and I'm making some for straps for an apron.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Small woven baskets are those baskets which are made up of wood splints or cane. These baskets were used by our ancestors and are famous till now be of their wreathed style. These baskets can be woven by a metal wire or horse hair as well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. So manu uses for inkle weave Thank you! ... but what is a counting string?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome! See the photo captioned "Jim's counting string" above. My friend asked me to weave him a silk ribbon in the colors of the Camino de Santiago and he used it to keep track of the days as he walked on the pilgrimage trail. He tied one knot in it for each day.

      Delete
    2. Thanks, I looked and looked at the photo, tried googling (something about Pyhton programming fills the search results). I saw knots on a band and wondered about the use. Thank you for explaining.

      Delete
  17. Case for knitting needles or crochet hooks. A short piece to put sewing needles on. Top trim on a bed dust ruffle. Throw rug for a dollhouse. Throw pillows for 1/6 scale dolls. Cover for an ice pack or heat pack.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice suggestions! Have you made any of these yourself?

      Delete
  18. I am pondering how to make an Apple watch band with my loom. I can find the pieces to attach it to the watch, but I am still working through the best way to clasp it and adjust it to size. I would love to have a bunch of these and switch them out according to my mood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds awesome! I have a few watches, cheap ones, on handwoven watchbands. I can wear whichever one matches my outfit on any given day.

      Delete
  19. Fold into little boxes. I did them as little Christmas ornaments one year. The idea and folding instructions are from an article by Shirley Kaiser in the November/December 1995 Handwoven magazine.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love the idea of that scarf can you please tell me what size it is. I am hoping to get an inkle with 7/8" pegs as I'd like to weave about 6" bands by doubling/tripling some of your patterns in you plain weave book

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question! All of my older posts about the scarves I wove have lost their photos. I made mine about 3" wide. Using yarns that drape well, a soft beat and tug, the resulting pieces are not firm and stiff like most warp-faced bands tend to be. They are more flexible and scarflike!

      Delete