I have an efficient way to handle weft color changes. It’s very simple. This is for those instances when I need to end one weft thread and start a new one. As a rule, I take care of weft tails as I go. I don’t want to come back to them later if I don’t have to. If I tuck in each weft tail at the beginning of the row, thickness from the extra wefts builds up at the selvedge, especially if I’m weaving horizontal stripes. The method I describe reduces the extra wefts, and eliminates having to tuck any tails in.
![Weaving tutorial about weft color changes.](https://warpedforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_9050-scaled.jpeg)
![How to change weft colors - simple!](https://warpedforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_9086-scaled.jpeg)
How to Start a New Weft Color
- Weave the last pick of one color.
- Change to the shed needed for the next color. Take the shuttle with the first color into the shed for about about 3 cm (1 1/8”), and bring the shuttle up and out through the top of the warp.
- Lightly beat (tap) in the 3 cm (1 1/8”) of thread. Carefully snip off the thread close to the warp.
- Weave a pick of the next color, with the end of the new thread overlapping the 3 cm (1 1/8”) of the previous color thread. Position the new thread such that the end is outside the selvedge just a hair.
- Beat in the new weft and continue weaving until the next color change.
![Tutorial about efficient way to change weft colors.](https://warpedforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_9580-scaled.jpeg)
![Stripes in towels. How to!](https://warpedforgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_9592-scaled.jpeg)
Watch this short video to see me demonstrate this method of changing the weft colors.
May your choice of weft colors give a glimpse of your best qualities.
Simply Weaving,
Karen