Monthly Archives: November 2011

November 29, 2011 · 7:42 pm

More photos of projects from the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom book

A lady on Ravelry just asked for more of a preview of what is in the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom book (link to page on my website)

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

The first two sections of the book teach a ton of useful and neat techniques for working with the Lily Speed-O-Weave looms- there are several different ways of wrapping the looms, how to tie the intersections, how to weave more than just hexagons on the hexagon loom ( half hexagon motifs and triangle motifs), how to make easy linings for projects, how to spool knit edgings over a core, how to make butterflies and hearts on little triangle looms (don’t have a small triangle loom? I’ve made a couple of video tutorials on how to weave triangles on the potholder loom. See Potholder loom page ), plus the special hexagonal grid paper that I drew to be able to design with the hexagons. (Hexagons are tricky critters until you unlock the code on them! 😀 ) As well, there are instructions on how to work with the square and rectangular Lily Speed-O-Weave loom. And a whole lot more….

Then, there are 19 different projects:

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

How to make hexagonal AND square baskets from upcycled fabric strips from torn up clothing- of course, you can use yarn, roving, string or cord to make the baskets, but I really enjoy using fabric strips, so I did the baskets with them.

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

I already wrote about this freeform stole: Link

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-monster-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

and Monster Dear and Little Bunny: Link

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-Snuggle-Bunny-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

And then, there’s the coat that is so awesome that someone bought it the first time I wore it!

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

And this elegant and cozy capelet

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

I love stoles and shawls, so I design, make, and wear a lot of them:

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

And, I love vests:

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

The Lily Speed-O-Weave loom is great for potholders and placemats:

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

And, bags! Lots of bags! (and I also included a pattern for making your own wooden handles)

Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

I could keep going : ‘But wait! there’s more! ‘…. but I think that you get the picture- the book is full of wonderfulness!

Order link: Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom book by Noreen Crone-Findlay

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Filed under eco crafts & green projects, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as hand woven, Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, Lily Speed-O-Weave loom book, small loom weaving, woven bags, woven basket, woven placemat, woven shawls, woven stole, woven toys

November 28, 2011 · 3:50 pm

Free pattern for Courier Bag woven on the Martha Stewart loom

My new design for a Courier Bag woven on the Martha Stewart loom has gone live on the Lion Brand website 😀

Courier bag woven on the Lion Brand Martha Stewart loom designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

Here is the free pattern for the Courier Bag woven on the Martha Stewart loom:

[ Lion Brand ‘Yarn Play’ about Noreen Crone-Findlay’s new design for the Martha Stewart loom ]

I am in love with these looms!

Last weekend, I made a video tutorial, showing how to weave a triangle of any size on the Martha Stewart Loom:

You don’t need it for this bag, but it’s VERY handy for other designs! 🙂

And, happily, I have more designs for these great little looms in the works!

🙂
Happy Weaving!
🙂 Noreen

7 Comments

Filed under Loom & looms & small loom weaving, tutorial & how to, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as bag, Courier bag pattern, free pattern, hand woven, Lion Brand, Martha Stewart Looms, small loom weaving, weaving pattern, woven Courier Bag

November 25, 2011 · 9:39 pm

Woven Gnomes and their house

I am doing a major happy dance. For the last year, I have been working on a whole lot of things, and it’s been frustrating to not get them out into the world.

Well… I am finishing them up and getting them up on my website. Happy happy dancing!!!!

So, taddah! Here are the latest of my new designs to be launched: Mr and Mrs Gnome and their Gnome House to weave on the potholder loom.

Potholder-loom-Gnomes-and- Gnome-house-by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

There are so many neat things about the Gnomes and their Gnome home:

The roof of the house opens, so you can store treasures inside it, or reach inside to place little pieces of furniture for the Gnomes.

The house is woven with cotton loops on the potholder loom.

Potholder-loom-Gnomes-and- Gnome-house-by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

There are windows for Mr & Mrs Gnome to peek out of. The door opens & closes.

Instructions for how to weave the door & windows & chimney are included.

The Gnome house is trimmed with spool knitted cord.

Potholder-loom-Gnomes-and- Gnome-house-by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

The Gnomes are woven with yarn on the potholder loom. Because they are flat, you can stitch a pin to them to wear on your lapel, hat or bag. Or, they can live in your favorite book to mark your place. They also love to slip into envelopes and fly off to visit friends! They also enjoy hanging out on the branches of Christmas trees.

Potholder-loom-Gnomes-and- Gnome-house-by Noreen Crone-Findlay (c)

There are a lot of unique and innovative new techniques in this pattern- it’s really fun!

This is a truly magical project to inspire your imagination and ignite your creativity!

Here’s a link to my website: Gnomes

I was so excited about the Gnomes that I made a little video about them:

Happy Gnomies and happy weaving! 😀

4 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, potholder loom

Tagged as gnome doll, gnome house, potholder loom, potholder loom weaving, woven dolls, woven gnomes

November 24, 2011 · 9:45 am

Video tutorial for weaving with loops on the potholder loom

I have been working on new designs for projects that are woven with loops on the potholder loom.

I used to dismiss them totally, but now that I have worked with high quality cotton loops, (these ones are from Harrisville Designs: Link)

I have changed my mind.

Loops have some really positive things going for them: They make a VERY sturdy fabric, which is just perfect for some projects, and they are just great for color work.

But, I really don’t recommend them as the way to teach a child or beginning weaver. I feel that starting people off with yarn is much easier. There are some challenges inherent in working with loops, and that’s why I’ve made this video.

Happy Weaving! 😀

6 Comments

Filed under Loom & looms & small loom weaving, potholder loom, tutorial & how to, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as cotton loops, potholder loom, potholder loops, video tutorial, weaving on the potholder loom, weaving with loopers, weaving with loops

November 23, 2011 · 11:04 am

The love of Kokeshi Dolls

I have been in love with wooden dolls since I was a little girl.

For many years, I collected Matroushka dolls, but a few years ago, in one of my favorite thrift shops, I found the Kokeshki doll that’s on the far right of this photo:

Kokeshi-doll-collection-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(C)

That was it… I was smitten!

Here’s a close up with some of her wooden kinfolk:

Kokeshi-doll-collection-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(C)

I was awestruck by the mastery of the wood turner who was able to create the head of the little girl in the middle on his or her lathe!

Isn’t she enchanting?

The little fellow on the right looked like he had been a lamp at one point in his life, as he had the remains of an old lamp fixture in his wee wooden noggin.

Kokeshi-doll-collection-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(C)

I am not spending a lot of money on these little lovelies… the Kokeshi in the center was 25c at a garage sale,

and the little girl in the brown kimono was 50c on a ‘get rid of this stuff’ table in front of a thrift shop last summer.

Kokeshi-doll-collection-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(C)

I just love the quirky pair of Kokeshi that are on the top shelf in the pic above.

Someone wrote ‘1963’ in pencil on the bottom of them. There’s a lot of Japanese characters, too.

I love that the wood turner who made them left part of the rough branches as part of their bodies.

It’s almost like they are nature spirits.

The trio below them must have been meant to be napkin holders, as they have big round holes in their little bodies.

Kokeshi-doll-collection-by-Noreen-Crone-Findlay-(C)

I have to admit that this beautiful Kokeshi is my most favorite.

She’s so elegant and spare. Some of them are a touch heavy on the ‘cute’ end, but not this beauty. Pure and simple.

I never intended to collect them, but, one Kokeshi lead to another, and they had captured my attention.

Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with them, and my ‘Kokeshi radar’ went up.

And so, they have their own little place in my studio, and in my heart. 😀

2 Comments

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making

Tagged as doll collecting, doll collection, Kokeshi dolls, wood doll, wood toys, wooden doll, wooden dolls

November 22, 2011 · 9:58 am

Monster dear and snuggly bunny on the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom

I am a dyed in the wool doll maker. No matter what loom or fiber arts tool I am working with, it doesn’t take long for me to wonder how I could use it to make a doll.

So, it’s no surprise, that as I was designing projects for my new book on the vintage Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, (that’s a link to my website to see more) I had to come up with some fun dolls and stuffies.

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-monster-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

Monster Dear was inspired by a book that my daughter loved when she was a very little girl.

It was about a monster who was afraid of the dark. She loved him, so of course, I had to make her one.

This is a new version of ‘Monster Dear’. I think he’ll chase away bad dreams!

And, a ball of squishy soft yarn inspired me to make the snuggly Bunny dolly:

Lily-Speed-O-Weave-Snuggle-Bunny-designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay (coppyright)

I’ve always loved rabbits and bunnies, so I’ve designed and made countless versions of them over the years.

These two fuzzy friends delight me. Ah, the joys of yarn- it’s endless!!!!

1 Comment

Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, hexagon loom, Loom & looms & small loom weaving

Tagged as dollmaking, dolls, Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, soft toys, stuffies, toy making, toys

November 21, 2011 · 7:40 pm

Fanciful freeform stole with Lily Speed-O-Weave motifs, crochet, spool knitting & inkle bands

I am just so happy, as I have been working really hard for the last 9 months on a book that has taken years to create. AND, today, I released it!

It’s: The Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom Book: Fab New How To’s, Designs & Projects For a Vintage Classic Loom (click on the title for the link to my etsy shop)

It’s full of how to techniques, including nifty things that I figured out, like how to weave half hexagons and triangles on the hexagon loom, so you can make awesome stuff. (like baskets and coats and vests and bags and and and)

Lily Speed-o-weave freeform stole by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

One of my fave inspiration pieces in the book is a Freeform stole that I made using hexagons from the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, as well as crocheted motifs (lots of fairies, flowers, hearts and butterflies), spool knitting, inkle band weaving, potholder loom motifs, and tatting, all connected by crocheted chain stitches.

I wanted to inspire people to think outside the box when they are playing with small loom weaving, and to feel brave about combining it with crochet, tatting, spool knitting and, of course, their Lily Speed-O-Weave loom motifs.