Someone asked me to make  a video on using beads in a heart shape for the pin loom. As much “fun” as it is to make a video, I’d rather hold off to see if it’s totally necessary. For instance, the heart pattern I made up is so similar to the Single Outline Diamond that, in a video, a lot of the information would be repetitious. Furthermore, printed instructions, a pattern, and photos would be just as, if not more, helpful–in my opinion (which bears a lot of sway with me)–than a video. And another thing–I need some outside opinions on the finished product before I make a final decision.

Let’s start with the design.

For lack of a better title, I'll it "Single Outline Heart"

For lack of a better title, I’ll call it “Single Outline Heart”

I’m getting faster at figuring these graphs out, but it’s still considerable effort. Though I have access to a computer weaving-draft whatcamajiggy, I still prefer to draw the design out by hand, erase, redesign and redraw on another section of the piece of graph paper. The photo above is the third version of the heart I designed.

Why didn’t I make the sides (Rows 8-12) a straight line? Because you can’t. The warp strands won’t be woven in if you go U-3 in the same spot in four rows. Trying to figure out in my head (and on paper) if I could manipulate the Layer 2 strands (I think they’re called picks) yielded dissatisfying results–though I may still try it just to see how the heart looks.

18 MAY 2017 UPDATE: You can make it appear as though there is a straight line on R8-12 by plain weaving on rows 8 and 10. This will yield a thinner-looking line and the absence of any pattern stitches will not be noticeable. Leaving the bead off those rows will be more noticeable, but I still think it will look better.

MATERIALS

yarn

30 beads with holes large enough to accommodate yarn (I used 6/0 Rocaille, or seed, beads)

I’m pleased to announce that Lion’s Heartland line of yarn will thread as easily through the beads as Caron Simply Soft; therefore we can infer that Bernat Satin will as well. Heartland is a yarn I’m excessively fond of; I love its slightly dappled effect.

Design worked on Lion Heartland “Biscayne”

INSTRUCTIONS (pattern is at the bottom of this post)

Thread the 30 beads on the yarn and push them way down the length of yarn toward the skein. They will be used during Layer 3 (L3). Warp the loom as usual until you get to L3, then distribute the beads as follows on the warp threads:

1) 0 beads

2) 3 beads

3) 4 beads

4) 2 beads

5) 1 bead

6-10) 2 beads each

11) 1 bead

12) 2 beads

13) 4 beads

14) 3 beads

15) 0 beads

Plain weave (P) Row 1 (R1), starting Under (U), and leaving the beads scattered randomly for now.

Plain weaving the first row before you arrange the beads helps keep the warped yarn a little more firmly in place on the loom.

Plain weaving the first row before you arrange the beads helps keep the warped yarn a little more firmly in place on the loom.

After R1, arrange the beads in the shape of the heart, roughly according to their designated rows. Remember, the beads will shift as you weave, so don’t get too nit-picky about arranging them; focus most on the placement of the beads in the first several rows.

Arranging the beads semi-correctly can be really helpful during the weaving, but don't depend on their placement. Check the chart!

Arranging the beads semi-correctly can be really helpful during the weaving, but don’t depend on their placement. Check the chart!

The pattern for the first 8 rows is identical to “Single Outline Diamond,” so this should feel familiar. Pause midway through the weaving to rearrange your beads.

BEFORE: My beads were quite a bit off by R6, so I adjusted them.

BEFORE: My beads were quite a bit off by R6, so I adjusted them.

AFTER: keeping the beads in correct order also helped me keep my weaving in order.

AFTER: Keeping the beads in correct order also helped me keep my weaving in order.

Take the time from R12 on to make sure you have the correct number of beads per horizontal row correctly placed. This is where the pattern changes the most dramatically, so pay attention to the number of P stitches and U stitches. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO GET THE CORRECT BEAD IN PLACE AT THE CONJUNCTION OF THE TWO HALVES OF THE HEART (see R12 instructions).

The finished heart on the loom

The finished heart on the loom

The finished heart off the loom--front. I admit I'm not crazy about those edges. You can get away with them when there are no beads present, but the beads really make them stand out.

The finished heart off the loom–front. I admit I’m not crazy about those edges. You can get away with them when there are no beads present, but the beads really make them stand out.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

The finished heart off the loom–back

I’d like to know your opinion. Do you think the addition of more beads improves the heart or not?

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

The finished heart off the loom with proposed bead placement. What do you think–better or not?

“SINGLE OUTLINE HEART” PATTERN

Every time you go U-3, there should be a bead there.

R1: P

R2: P-14, U-3, P-14

R3: P-12, U-3, O-1, U-3, P-12

R4: P-10, U-3, P-5, U-3, P-10

R5: P-8, U-3, P-9, U-3, P-8

R6: P-6, U-3, P-13, U-3, P-6

R7: P-4, U-3, P-17, U-3, P-4

R8: P-2, U-3, P-21, U-3, P-2 (Optional: P)

R9: Rpt R7 (R7: P-4, U-3, P-17, U-3, P-4)

R10: Rpt R8 (R8: P-2, U-3, P-21, U-3, P-2) (Optional: P)

R11: Rpt R7 (R7: P-4, U-3, P-17, U-3, P-4)

R12: P-2; (U-3, P-9) x 2; U-3, P-2 [Has 3 beads across row]

R13: P-4, U-3, P-5; U-3, O-1, U-3; P-5, U-3, P-4 [Has 4 beads across row]

R14: P-6; U-3, O-1, U-3; P-5; U-3, O-1, U-3; P-6 [Has 4 beads across row]

R15: P

R16: P

Single Outline Heart

Single Outline Heart

One Thought on “Adventures in Pin Loom Weaving—Your Beading Heart

  1. Nancy Meffe on 13 April 2016 at 6:20 PM said:

    I definitely like it better with the beads! Looking forward to trying your pattern.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Navigation