Adventures in Pin Loom Weaving — 9-Patch Plaid

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I didn’t plan on writing this post, nevertheless, for my own use, I took photos of the process. Had I planned on posting we wouldn’t have the kitchen tablecloth in place of a backdrop.

Finished 9-Patch square.

Finished 9-Patch square.

I also didn’t plan on creating a nine-patch block. I was trying to see if I could get a solid blue square in the center of the block. I intended to invent a new method of weaving, but lapsed into the old way of weaving (with plans to try my more ambitious idea another time).

[If a weaver wants to create a more even nine patch block, they could follow these instructions and just alter the width of the stripes.] Read More →

Adventures in Pin Loom Weaving — Ever Learning

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We started a new Weekly Weave-Along on the Facebook Pin Loom Weaving Support Group. It’s been a busy week at home and on the board, but I finally finished all four squares for last week’s WWAL.

The original pattern, "Double Diagonal," from the Weave-It Magic Squares book.

The original pattern, “Double Diagonal,” from the Weave-It Magic Squares book–designated “Top Right Square.”

After weaving the first block, I decided I’d rather preserve the orientation of the corners for joining purposes, therefore, the pattern would have to be rewritten for four different directions.

A simulation of what many squares combined would look like.

A simulation of what many squares combined would look like.

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Adventures in Pin Loom Weaving — ‘Tis the Season?

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‘Tis the season for loom building, I guess. Several people on the Facebook Pin Loom Weaving Support Group have been posting pictures of their latest hand-built loom. In fact, I have posted one myself. My husband built it, a 2.5″ x 2.5″ loom with ultra-skinny pins–a replica of the 4″ x 4″ Weave-it in miniature. The same patterns suitable for the Weave-it can also be woven, with finer thread, on this loom. It has a tighter weave and produces (obviously) a smaller square.

The 2.5" x 2.5" loom nesting inside the 4" x 4" Weave-it. And a look at the two needles.

The 2.5″ x 2.5″ loom nesting inside the 4″ x 4″ Weave-it. And a look at their two needles.

I had to try out my signature stitch, “Horizontal Xs,” to break in the new loom. Quite a difference between the two!

"Horizontal Xs"

“Horizontal Xs”

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Adventures in Pin Loom Weaving — How to add colors and weave in ends as-you-go

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While some patterns might look best in only one color, far more of them look better with two or more. But what to do with all those pesky ends? If you’re not a knot fan, you’ll want to leave yarn tails, but wouldn’t it be better to work in as many as possible while you’re weaving instead of saving them all till the end?

Yarn tails everywhere!

Yarn tails everywhere!

In this post I’ll briefly discuss selecting colors that look good together (according to principles of art and my opinion). Then I’ll demonstrate how to use two colors and prepare the loom so you can work in some of the ends as you weave.

Hopefully everyone knows what complementary colors are (“A secondary color that, when combined with the primary color whose wavelength it does not contain, produces white light” Dictionary.com). One color completes the other, making a complement. So, complementary colors are a safe bet when choosing colors, right? Yes, sort of. You also have to take into account color temperature and value (the lightness or darkness of the hue). Read More →