Tag Archives: small loom weaving

May 1, 2017 · 6:04 pm

Wonderful new Latchet Lucet

I am just over the moon 🙂

I love working with Lucet cords, and sometimes, I work with miles of them.

So, I wanted to be able to make oodles of lucet cords more quickly.

After a LOT of tinkering around, and much experimenting and many different iterations, I was happy with the prototype for the Latchet Lucet.

I talked to Donna and Gary McFarland at Dewberry Ridge Looms to see if they were interested in making it.

Yes!

Yay!

Gary is a master craftsman and excellent designer.

He took my design and fine tuned and honed it and here is the result:

This glorious piece of work:

Here it is, attached to the table with the spiffy clamp that Gary found after a lot of research:

It is a very happy tool for co-creating with the Thumbelina, Mollie Whuppie, Vasilisa and Star looms.

(well…. any and all looms, really).

Here’s a video of it in action:

Here’s the link to order one:

Latchet Lucet

The projects made with Lucet cords in the following videos work perfectly with the cords made with the Latchet Lucet:

It’s just sooooooooooooooo much fun!

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, Lucet, video tutorial

Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, handwoven, how to, how to make lucet cords, Latchet Lucet, lucet cord, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, textiles, video tutorial, Yarn Crafts

April 4, 2017 · 5:29 pm

Tapestry on the 3 Sisters looms

I made a video that shows how to weave square, triangle and diagonal motifs on the Thumbelina, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms.

But… it was 2 hours long! Whoa! That’s just too long.

So, I thought: I wonder if I can figure out how to ‘fast forward’ it?

And, I did!

But, I think that I got a little enthusiastic with the fast forward function- LOL!

I turned a 2 hour video into a 2 MINUTE video!

Prepare for take off… buckle your seat belt…. here we go!

Um…. next time, I might not speed things up ~quite~ so much!

Happy weaving!

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms, tapestry, Three Sisters Looms, Thumbelina Loom, tutorial & how to, video tutorial, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as #tapestryweaving, Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, how to weave, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, tapestries, tapestry, tapestry weaving, Thumbelina Loom, video tutorial, weave, weaves, weaving, weaving techniques

March 24, 2017 · 3:30 pm

Tapestry Techniques- Part 2 woven on the Mollie Whuppie loom

I have posted a new video tutorial that is the second in a series of how to weave tapestry on the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms.

I designed the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms and Dewberry Ridge makes them. They’re wonderful!

This video shows how to
1- Start the weaving at the curved edge while weaving side to side.
2- How to fill the curved space that will form by using eccentric weaving (weaving that doesn’t go all the way from side to side).
3- How to weave dots of color.
4- How to use hatching to make a pattern- in this case, a circle shape in the middle of the weaving is made by alternating 2 colors of yarn.
5- How to finish the straight edge at the end of the weaving.

Here’s the video:

To see how to set up the Mollie Whuppie loom please go to my previous post, which will take you to the first video in this series: LINK

To buy the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms, please go to:
www.dewberryridge.com

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms, tapestry, Three Sisters Looms, tutorial & how to, video tutorial, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, handwoven, how to weave, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, tapestry, tapestry weaving, textiles, video tutorial, weave, weaves, weaving, weaving techniques, woven

March 21, 2017 · 11:40 am

Tapestry Techniques on the Vasilisa and Mollie Whuppie Looms- Part 1

Video tutorial by Noreen Crone-Findlay showing some tapestry weaving techniques for the Vasilisa loom.
The following techniques are covered in this ‘how to’ video tute:
1- How to warp the Vasilisa (and Mollie Whuppie) loom
2- How to secure the lower edge
3- How to prepare for weaving by making a cartoon, and the protective layers of cardboard and plastic for the cartoon, then weaving in the shed stick
4- How to weave vertical lines using the ‘pick and pick’ technique
5- How to change colors to turn the vertical lines into checkerboard pattern
6- How to weave a circle motif in contrasting colors, showing how to weave up to the circle motif to create the supporting structure for it.
7- How to weave the circle in pick and pick technique
8- How to complete weaving the background
9- How to finish the upper edge
10- How to stitch the gaps closed

The Vasilisa loom is used in this video, but the techniques shown work just as well on the Mollie Whuppie and Thumbelina looms.

The Vasilisa, Mollie Whuppie and Thumbelina looms were designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay and are built by and available from Dewberry Ridge Looms.
THREE SISTERS LI'L WEAVERS

This is the first in a series of videos showing techniques for weaving tapestry on the 3 Sisters (Thumbelina, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa) Looms.

Happy weaving!

And, here’s the video

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Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, how to weave, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, tapestry, tapestry weaving, video tutorial, weave, weaves, weaving techniques

February 20, 2017 · 9:32 pm

How to do a Bound Double Damascus Edge on Peg Loom Weaving

The Bound Double Damascus Edge works beautifully to finish Peg loom woven fabric:

It’s sturdy and secure.

Here’s a video about how to do the Double Damascus edge and then how to stitch over it for a Bound finish.

Peg Loom Weaving Techniques- Advancing the warp

People keep asking me for help with advancing the warp on long peg loom weavings.

So I have made a video showing the stages of how to move the weaving down the warp strands- on long, wide warps, it takes a lot of effort!

I wove my husband a mat for his morning pilates and he loves it.

So do the dogs, so the mat does NOT live on the floor!

It’s 2 feet wide by 6 feet long.

The loom is from Dewberry Ridge Looms and the yarn is from Briggs and Little.

It’s 100% wool and makes a scrumptiously cushioned rug.

Here’s the video that explains the process of advancing the weaving:

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Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, how to weave, how to weave a mat on the peg loom, how to weave a rug on the peg loom, Noreen Crone-Findlay, peg loom, pilates mat, rug weaving, small loom weaving, weave, weave a rug, weaves, weaving, weaving techniques

February 7, 2017 · 4:54 pm

Octopus to weave on the Mollie Whuppie, Vasilisa & Thumbelina looms

Octopi are amazingly clever and rather charming creatures.

I’ve had so much fun designing a woven Octopus family to weave on the Three Sisters Looms that I designed and Gary and Donna McFarland of Dewberry Ridge looms is building and selling LINK.

The largest Octopus was woven on the Vasilisa loom: LINK

It’s about 13 1/2 inches tall.

The medium size Octopus was woven on the Mollie Whuppie Loom: LINK

And, the littlest Octopus was woven on the Thumbelina loom: LINK

All three are great for babies- as long as you don’t use beads or buttons, but embroider the eyes instead.

I just read a report that babies love holding onto the tentacles of toy cephalopods, because they find it comforting. Apparently, the tentacles feel like the umbilical cord, and most babies play with the umbilicus before they are born.

Fascinating!

The smallest octopus lives quite happily on a lapel or collar or pinned to a hat, scarf or bag when you stitch a pin to it’s back.

The loop on top of their heads is great for hanging them up on push pins or curtain rods for room decor.

The loop also is perfect to hang the octopus from the baby’s crib, cot or stroller.

The pattern, with step by step instructions is available in my etsy shop: LINK

Happy Octopus weaving! Enjoy those cephalopods!

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms, Thumbelina Loom, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, hand weaving, hand woven, hand woven toys, handwoven, how to weave, Mollie Whuppie loom, Noreen Crone-Findlay, octopus, small loom weaving, Thumbelina Loom, Vasilisa loom, woven, woven octopus toys, woven toy

February 6, 2017 · 3:29 pm

Introducing the Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms

The enchanting little Thumbelina loom now has 2 big sisters!

I have designed 2 gorgeous new little looms and Dewberry Ridge looms are building and selling them.

I am just thrilled with them!

The Three Sisters are: LINK

3-sisters-sizes-8-c

Tiny Thumbelina: LINK

And her sister: Mollie Whuppie: LINK

3-sisters-sizes-3-c 3-sisters-sizes-5-c

And, the biggest sister: Vasilisa: LINK

3-sisters-sizes-2-c

3-sisters-sizes-4-c

What can you weave on Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa?

Well, everything that you can weave on Thumbelina, but on a larger scale.

I’ve written an instruction booklet that shows how to weave techinques so you can weave:

Tapestry pouches:

mollie-vasilisa-c-tapestry-pouch-1

Tapestry dolls:

mollie-vasilisa-c-doll-1

mollie-vasilisa-c-tapestry-matroushka-1

Freeform tapestry ‘Weavies’:

mollie-vasilisa-c-tapestry-freeform-1

Baskets:

mollie-vasilisa-c-basket-2

Statement necklaces:

mollie-vasilisa-c-tapestry-necklace-1

Prayer Flags:

Banners and bunting:

And, the Mollie Whuppie loom has a secret power!

She can mend socks!

You can’t make socks on the Mollie Whuppie loom, but the patches that you weave are totally perfect for fixing the worn out heels of precious hand knit socks.

mollie-vasilisa-c-sock-patch

Here’s a little video that explains the origins of Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa’s names and shows the projects:

I love Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa, and hope that you will, too!

I’ll be showing you more with them, in upcoming posts.

Happy Weaving!

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Filed under Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Mollie Whuppie and Vasilisa looms, tapestry, Three Sisters Looms, Thumbelina Loom, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, Dewberry Ridge Thumbelina loom, hand weaving, hand woven, handwoven, Mollie Whuppie loom, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, tapestry, tapestry weaving, Thumbelina Loom, Vasilisa loom, weave, weaves, woven

December 23, 2016 · 1:48 pm

Wooden and Woven Dolls for Christmas

Recently, I had a lovely conversation with my darlin’ grandson.

He said to me: ‘Nanma, I LOVE your dolls. Will you make me one for Christmas?’

I was thrilled that he is pleased with my work and that he wanted me to make him a doll for Christmas.

What an awesome 7 year old he is!

I asked him if he wanted a wooden one or a woven one, and I was convinced that he said, ‘Wooden’….

So, I stayed up very, very late one night, and got up early, to carve him a wooden doll:

I used a birch branch from our son’s neighbour’s tree. It’s been drying for a year and a half and is lovely to carve.

Tottie Tomato cheered me on as I carved.

She comforted the new doll, because she knows that the knives, chisels and sandpaper are very uncomfortable, and that paint brushes tickle….

After he was done, and I had knitted his sweater and jeans, Tottie Tomato and New Boy went to hang a few ornaments on the tree in the village.

Something was feeling not quite right….

I thought: I have to check and see if Grandson actually said that he wanted a wooden doll…..

So, I asked him which dolls he loved?

Wooden or the woven art dolls?

We were out at a concert of his Grampa’s music, so I sketched the shape of the 6th Sense art dolls in the air.

YES! he said, firmly!

THOSE are the ones I love!

Oh oh….

I asked him to draw in the air and show me what shape he had in mind.

Yup….. Woven Women 6th Sense art dolls, and NOT 6 inch tall wooden dolls….

oops.

He specified that he wanted it soft to cuddle and that it had to wear black shoes.

I asked him to draw exactly what he wanted…..

He held his hands up in the air and showed me the size.

So…………………………

I have been weaving up a storm……………. well, a doll, along with a few other things……

I used the tapestry weaving technique to weave the body front, and plain weave for the back.

I did a clasped warp technique for the arms and legs to make the color changes work for the arms and legs.

I hope that he approves of how I interpreted his design!

I hadn’t thought of making him a doll for Christmas, so I am incredibly grateful that he asked.

And, because I didn’t get the brief right first time around, our little sweetheart gets TWO dolls, not one!

For now, they are chilling out by the Village Christmas tree, enjoying themselves in knitted armchairs that I designed for Findlay and Flora Bear.

The pattern for the chairs is in my etsy shop:

LINK

I can’t bear to wrap them until the last moment, so I will have a chance to enjoy them, too!

Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Happy Solstice, Happy Yule, Happy EVERYTHING to you and yours!

Love and blessings all round.

May 2017 bring Peace, Wisdom and Compassion!

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Filed under doll & dolls & dollmaking & doll making, Findlay Bear and Flora Panda, gifts & easy to make gifts & presents, Hitty Dolls, knitting, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Story Door Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay, wooden dolls

Tagged as Christmas dolls, Christmas gifts, dollmaking, dolls, hand made dolls, handwoven, holiday gifts, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, spool knitting, tapestry weaving, weaves, weaving, weaving techniques, wooden dolls, woven

December 13, 2016 · 1:06 pm

6th Sense One of a Kind Art Doll- Tree Mother

Last month, when there was a spectacular Super Moon, we stepped outside to admire it.

The gigantic moon looked like it was suspended in the huge trees that line our street.

The image of the Great Tree Mother, rocking the Moon in her arms, rose up in my mind….

and I knew that I had to build one of my 6th Sense one of a kind art dolls.

Here she is:

Great Tree Mother Rocked The Moon in Her Arms:

While I was contemplating how to build the Great Tree Mother piece, my husband and our daughter took the dogs for a walk one morning.

Chloe came home with a wonderfully gnarly branch that had been pruned from someone’s tree and tossed into the alley.

She just knew I needed it…. even though, at that point, I hadn’t told her what I was mulling about 🙂

We have a very deep connection!

It is perfect.

So’s our daughter….

Anyhow…

The faces….

Years ago, my dear friend found a moose antler that had been shed and she asked me if I could use it.

I cut 3 faces from it, and carved them and painted them.

Two of them became part of this piece:

Tree Mother’s face.

She also has a ‘Hidden Face’ that is hidden inside the piece and will never be revealed.

Too bad I didn’t photograph it! Oops…

Here is Moon’s face:

I carved the hand from wood.

I wove the bands on 2 different looms and knitted the grey hand spun cloth of her robe.

All of the 6th Sense Woven Women have 6 pennies incorporated into them, as a metaphor for coming to our senses, and embracing intuition, intelligence and inspiration.