How to Weave Indian Blankets

Use a loom with a weaving frame to create the Indian blanket if one is available, but it isn't required. All that's really needed to weave a blanket is a large piece of stiff, flat wood that is slightly larger than the blanket you hope to create. Cut equidistant notches along the top and bottom of the wood to make a homemade loom. The notches should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart.

Unroll a spool of yarn and notch one end into the first slit on the loom, either on the top or bottom edge. Approximately 3 inches of yarn should remain to form a little tail at the corner of the loom.

String the yarn vertically across the loom by moving directly up or down from the first notch, then wedging the yarn into the opposite notch. Move to the notch directly next to this, wrap the yarn around it, and string the yarn to the notch on the opposite end of the loom. Once the loom is covered, the vertical threads are known as warp threads. Use just one color or string the loom with multiple colors of yarn, depending on the overall design of the blanket.

Cut the spool of yarn, leaving another 3-inch tail at the end of the loom once it's been strung.

Unfurl a second skein of yarn and thread one end through a tapestry needle.

Weave the needle and yarn through the loom, starting at the top. Weave the yarn horizontally through the warp using an over-and-under pattern, making a row across the top of the loom.

Cut this first string off at the end of the row, leaving a 6-inch tail.

Begin weaving the second row on the opposite of the loom. Like the first, weave this row of yarn through in a horizontal over-and-under pattern. This time, you will be weaving this row opposite of the way the first was woven (the "under" of the second row will correspond to the "over" of the row on top of it).

Keep the rows flush against each other. Use your fingers to move the row up if needed as you weave.

Continue weaving rows in this alternating pattern, doubling back at the end of each row so the yarn does not have to be cut again until you reach the end of the rug or you wish to change colors to create a pattern. When you do cut the yarn, leave a 6-inch tail as you did for the top row.

Weave the loose ends into the rug, then cut any remaining ends to neaten up the design.

Pull the rug gently away from the loom, dislodging the loops along the top and bottom edges.

Cut through each loop with scissors, and tie the threads together with double knots all the way across.