The problem with saving up new patterns and posting them two or three months later is that confusion often sets in—can’t tell what this one is even though it says it’s this, but it doesn’t match the diagram. Spent the day figuring out these patterns only to reject the two in question (saved you the trouble).
FRAMED DIAMOND 1
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FRAMED DIAMOND 2
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FRAMED DIAMOND 3
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FRAMED DIAMOND 4
This is lovely. I think you could make a pretty woven sweater from these. They remind me of the cables in an arran. Just do the edgings in knitting or crochet.
Thank you! It’s nice to hear what inspires others. A sweater would be pretty.
Well I don’t knit, so I’m always trying to find a way to make similar patterns in crochet or the weaving. I’ve been crocheting mostly, sore hands again. I’ve got one crochet project or two to finish, then it’s back to weaving.
I’ve got two new small looms coming in soon. I also want to build some different sizes of weave it style looms. I’d like to build an 8 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch, and one large enough for tea towels. I thought it would be really great, though a lot of work to actually be able to weave a tea towel on one.
I’m preparing to down size, and am selling my rigid heddles. I’ve not had a place to set them up for years, it’s a waste to have them in boxes. So I’m going for the smaller looms. Your patterns and the others I have will give me a chance to keep weaving an making useful items.
That’s sad about your rigid heddle looms being in boxes. I’m starting to explore rigid heddle weaving, particularly with patterns (sort of crossing over from the pin loom to the RH loom). I’m hoping to purchase a sample-it loom to keep always warped up so I can practice patterns on it. (It’s hard having my larger loom tied up with a practice warp and it’s a waste of practice warp if I hurry to finish it in order to free up the loom.)
There’s a loom called a Loomette King which is placemat sized. It’s difficult to find on eBay, but no reason you can’t make one yourself if you’re up to it.
There’s a template for a 12″ square loom in the templates post (http://adventuresinpinloomweaving.com/pin-loom-templates/). You can make any size template from those here on the blog by printing, cutting and taping together to size up or down. I do it often; in fact, I’m embarking on making 2″ x 8″ and 3″ x 8″ looms for a particular project.)
I find that even the 6″ square can be a bit hard on my wrists and fingers. Please try out the larger sizes gradually before going to the work of building all the looms!
I wish you success in your loom making and large pin loom weaving endeavors.
I have two bekas. I went all out for them when I found out what they were. Spent way too much, then lost all the room I had to use them in. By the time I’d gotten around to them, I’d had a back injury and couldn’t use them anymore. So once I get time they are going on eBay. One is a 24 inch with stand and 6 different heddles, the other is a 32 inch with 9 different different heddles. I was going to learn to use multiple heddles. If I were younger I still might try, but I have way to many things going on and don’t want them sitting in the boxes for another 10 years.
I hear you about being younger. Time is going too quickly all of a sudden. If I had the energy, the time, the interest… (Still have the room.) So much I’ve wanted to learn through the years; bought all the supplies. I’d still like to learn, but that’s not realistic anymore. I hope you’re able to get a good price on your investment when you sell them.
I hadn’t really noticed my age so much until this year. I’ve always been able to do things, like wrestle a bags of concrete, now I have to open the bag and get a bit at a time. It was quite a shock! Same with my crochet, my weaving little squares, like you say, it’s hard on the hands. I have to do it though, otherwise I think, I’d fade away with nothing but staring at a tv (and I really dislike television) to look forward to. Making things gives me a purpose.
I had a similar recent shock/surprise. It had been a few months since I did any embroidery. (I make teddy bears for children in foster care and it involves stitching hearts, noses, eyes, etc. which I do by hand.) Just did it a few weeks ago and I was so amazed at how my eyesight had changed (not for the better!) over those months. Sheesh.
I absolutely agree with making things to give life interest and purpose. I usually listen to audiobooks while I work, but sometimes I “watch” TV (Amazon Prime has some good free shows) too. I’ve avoided giving in to sitting in front of the screen during the daytime for a long time, but yeah, what else is there to do? Sometimes it feels that way–stamina and energy levels being what they are now.
Time is definitely speeding by for me. I used to do so much. I’ve gotten a lot weaker in the last two years. Certainly I’ve lost strength. I used to be able to wrestle 90 lb bags of concrete, now it’s leave the bag and carry the bucket and get a bit at a time. We mowed yesterday, we used to do it all in an afternoon, then feel like doing something else, now we crash and sleep for 4 hours. It would be funny if we didn’t have such a difficult time. What with the weather, it’s always rainy, or mechanical failure of the mowers. One or the other every time. Last year, I remember running behind the mower with one eye on the clouds, trying to finish that last bit before the rain. Now we just have to wait. I really resent not being as able as I once was.
As for the looms they’ll go, maybe not for what I paid, but close. I haven’t had time to take pics or anything yet. I dithered for a bit but I think it’s best. I only decided to let them go, after trying to use one and finding it too tiring. I’ve got almost a full set of weavettes, some weave it’s, loomettes, a couple of small travel looms and some others. I won’t lack for weaving. I’ve been thinking about making a small circular loom too. My mind never stops.
Same experiences going on here! You’re definitely not alone in the Difficulties of Aging game.
About the RH looms–I find the wider looms more tiring to work with than the narrower ones. It has to do with continually spreading my arms out wide while weaving. You can still weave narrower pieces on the wide looms. If you haven’t considered that, you might still want to give your RH looms a try.
Wounds like you have a great collection of pin looms. I’ve also contemplated a circle loom. In fact, I made one once–very small, about the size of a nickel or quarter. I haven’t worked with that one for a couple of years, I think. It was hard to get consistent results.
My mind also keeps going. Body doesn’t so much. 🙂
Couldn’t get back to comment til tonight late. Had a wisdom tooth removed and am under the weather just a bit. Digging through my small rigid heddles, I’m keeping those of course, I found a small five inch 25 dent rigid heddle made of penalic. I bought it years ago with a few oddball heddles on ebay, now I think I’ll put it to use. I finally have a need to make several yards of fine fabric to use with my crochet. Narrow fabric, so I can piece rectangles into a project. I’d use the little looms but it would be easier with this small heddle.
That sounds really cool. I wonder if it’s our conversation that’s inspired me to get out my knitting and crocheting again. I’m finishing up a scarf that I started knitting maybe a couple of years ago? And I’m thinking of starting a crochet project … if I can find my J crochet hook.
Well, I never stop crocheting. I guess it’s always my first love. I’m giving you the link to the only thing I’ve ever published. I’m really happy with this, it also the most complicated thing I’ve tried. I even like wearing it.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Tiny-Crochet-Motif-Scarf/
That’s gorgeous! And amazingly intricate. Crochet was also my first love. I like knitting a lot, but I’m incredibly slow at it and hampered by the fact that I can’t use circular needles (because of the weird way I hold the left needle). I started a crochet project last night–found my J crochet hooks (had two!), but decided to buy a new ergonomic one after all. I’m thinking I’d prefer it with thinner yarn, so I have to do some math. It’s always rough getting started, but this is just a two-row repeat, very simple pattern. I think I’ll enjoy working on it once I settle on the yarn.
I thought I’d never finish that scarf.
I like the dk weight yarn for almost everything. Except afghans, I don’t make many, but I prefer worsted for them. The scarf is made from 20/2 weaving cotton with embroidery thread. I’m thinking of using embroidery thread for the warp on the small rigid heddle. One of my weaving magazines mentions that. I tested the heddle last night, it will handle 20/2 or 30/2 or maybe finer. I am more excited at the potential than I have been in a while. I can weave fine but narrow cloth. It has a lot of possibilities for light weight summer things. The worst thing about making your own things is that it all turns out too heavy for spring and summer. Construction will be interesting.
I’ve been trying out various stitches and yarns in knit and crochet. Yes, they’ll be too heavy for summer, but it will take me a long time to finish them–hopefully in time for winter.