Tag: weaving

Woven Dolls

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image from www.flickr.com 

When I saw this posting and instructions on the eLoomanator's blog, I knew I had to try to make these two dolls using just one 4" woven square apiece. Barbara Giguere created these dolls using her 4" Weave-it loom. I made mine with the Wonder Weave, which also creates a 4" square.

I selected three colors of Dale of Norway/Falk 100% wool and threaded the loom with the neutral beige. I used the same color to weave six rows for the head. I then swapped to my second color, wove six more rows, and finally swapped to my third color, weaving six more rows. Once off the loom, it's pretty straightforward to finish the dolls. Simply sew up the back to make a tube, use the extra yarn to draw in the neck and stuff, then gather the top. Stuff the body, tighten the waist and sew the feet. I liked how Barbara stitched in some arms and on the boy doll, some legs, so I followed the same idea.

Doll hair is still difficult for me. I don't quite know how to stitch it so it covers the head and yet can't be pulled off by a child. These two dolls have hair, but it's pretty loose–one good tug and it'll come off. I'll need to research hair for future dolls.

These two dolls are just four inches high. Aren't they sweet?

Categories: Finished Object Vintage Weave-It Loom Weaving

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Hazel Rose 4″ Multi-Loom

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Hazelrosemultiloom

After a disastrous attempt at making a 4″ loom on my own using a tiny picture frame and a whole lot of glue and nails (maybe, just maybe, I’ll post a photo of someday if I’m brave enough), I decided to leave the construction to the pros and I purchased a Hazel Rose Multi-Loom. I bought the 4″ size so I could follow Weave-it patterns. An added bonus is that you are able to use three different weaving styles to create your square.

I wanted to get an original Weave-it, but found that everyone else seems to want them, too. When one pops up on ebay, it’s certain to sell for a decent sum so after watching a few sales, I set aside that idea. I don’t like bidding. I’d rather purchase something outright, even if it’s a few dollars more.

The truth is, I already have a 4″ loom–the Wonder Weave! I love using my vintage Wonder Weave. I can make a square in 15 minutes, but it’s an old loom, and 40+ year old plastic makes little creaky noises that make me nervous. One “snap” and it’s all over for the Wonder Weave. This led me to purchasing the Hazel Rose loom. They come in all shapes and sizes, BTW, and they’re quick to deliver! My order was placed on a Sunday, and I picked up my loom in the mail just seven days later.

So far, I’ve only woven four squares on my Hazel Rose loom, two the “normal” way where you wrap three sides and weave the fourth, like the Weave-it, and two using the diagonal continuous weave method. I like both ways because they give two distinct looks. This picture is of me weaving my first diagonal square, using sock yarn so I can follow what’s happening.

Future project ideas with 4″ squares: yarn bag, stuffed animals, scarf…

Categories: Weave-It Loom Weaving

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Wonder Weave Loom

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I found a great small loom at a thrift shop–the Wonder Weave! It came with instructions, two books of patterns (copyright 1964), a needle, and a finished square someone attempted, maybe 40 years ago. The Wonder Weave makes 4″ squares or 2″x4″ oblongs. I’ve had it two days, and I’m only three squares shy of making that hat I wrote about last time.

I was so happy with my $6 find that my husband helped me make a video tutorial:

 

Wonder Weave Loom

Categories: Tutorials Weaving

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Potholder Loom Scarf

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I haven’t been blogging–or knitting–very much lately, but just recently I’ve become interested in small, handheld looms, like the Weave-Its on the Eloomanation site. With them, you weave small squares, and if my eyes aren’t dececiving me, you can actually make a vast array of woven creations with them. (I’m hankering to make a hat, like the one in this PDF pattern book from 1936.)

Potholderscarf

Because it’s fairly hard to get a 4″x4″ loom (they were popular in the 1930s and ’40s) unless you’re willing to bid on ebay, I decided to start off cheaply by buying a potholder loom from Wal-mart. You remember these guys. We all probably tried to make potholders with those nylon loops when we were children. But, instead of using the loops that came with my $5 plastic loom, I followed the tutorial by Noreen Crone-Findlay that is posted on Youtube (part 1 and part 2).

Making one square takes about 15 minutes. I chose some Moda Dea yarn, wove about ten squares, and then sewed them together. I highly suggest reading up on sewing techniques because I didn’t, and my seams are a little clunky. Oh well, live and learn.

The result is a pretty nifty scarf, if I do say so myself.

Categories: Finished Object Weaving

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