Tag Archives: small looms

September 29, 2015 · 7:17 pm

Introducing Star loom and Dragonfly loom

I am hopping up and down with delight!

For the last couple of years, I have been working on the designs for 2 new small looms: A Star and a Dragonfly.

I’ve done dozens and dozens of variations and iterations, and now, they are the Bee’s Knees. Poifeck.

I took my designs to Donna and Gary McFarland of Dewberry Ridge looms and asked if they were interested in making them as part of their ‘Lil Weavers’ series, and they said, ‘Yes, indeed’.

Gary is working magic with his CNC machine and I love how he is building them.

We’ve decided to not show the front, working part of the loom, because, to be perfectly honest, we’ve worked so incredibly hard on them that we don’t want to be ‘scooped’ on them. It’s happened in the past with other designs, so we’ve chosen to be more circumspect about these ones.

Instead, I’ll show you the back of the looms and the dragonflies and stars that you can weave with them.

You can use yarn OR wire to make the niftiest dragonflies and stars:

The stars and dragonflies are somewhat challenging to weave, so I have made really detailed step by step instructions with full photographs.

To order the looms, please send Donna an email: donna@dewberryridge.com

The looms aren’t quite up on Donna and Gary’s website, but when their internet issues are up to speed, the looms will be on:

http://www.dewberryridge.com/collections/lil-weaver-looms

I am thrilled… I hope that you’ll love them, too!

Every year for Christmas, I make our family and friends a new Christmas ornament.

This year, I’ll be weaving stars and dragonflies for them! 🙂

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as dragonflies, dragonfly, Dragonfly Lil Weaver Loom by Dewberry Ridge looms, Dragonfly loom designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay, hand weaving, hand woven, how to weave, looms, Noreen Crone-Findlay, small loom weaving, small looms, Star loom designed by Noreen Crone-Findlay, Star loom Lil Weaver by Dewberry Ridge Looms, textiles, weaving techniques, woven, woven dragonfly, woven star motif, Yarn Crafts

April 24, 2013 · 3:13 pm

Introducing 2 new Peg Looms from Dewberry Ridge Looms

A couple of months ago, I published my new eBook on weaving jewelry with stick looms: See LINK

My friend, Donna McFarland of Dewberry Ridge Looms was looking at the photos when her husband, Gary, walked by the computer.

Donna told me that he said:’ Those have to be Noreen’s designs, right?’ and she agreed.

He then mused that he would like to make stick looms.

Well… I was delighted, and immediately asked if they would consider building peg looms.

I have a couple of peg looms, but felt that they could use a re-design with improvements that I knew Gary could build.

After lots of conversations, Gary and Donna have created the most wonderful peg looms!

Here’s the link to order them LINK

They are truly the Rolls Royce of the Peg Loom world!

Here’s what I asked for, and they have designed and created:

1: Taller pegs so I could see more of the weaving emerging before having to advance the warp. This is especially important in weaving tapestries on the peg loom.

2: Fine wooden pegs that are slimmer and closer together to give a firmer, tighter weave. A close sett avoids too loose, loopy fabric.

Another important note about the pegs: I asked for close grain wood for the pegs, as smooth pegs that don’t catch the weft are essential. Gary has found the perfect wood for the pegs that is smooth as silk. He also carefully shapes the top of the pegs to make them guide the yarn beautifully. His attention to detail is exquisite!

3: A really nice threading tool – I came up with a rather crude one, and Gary totally surpassed my concept.

4: Legs that would stabilize the looms- Gary’s design for the legs is so elegant that it knocked my socks off!

Donna and Gary came up with some neat ideas, too.

They suggested tilting the looms backward slightly. This is brilliant, as it improves the ergonomics of the loom enormously and makes the loom more comfortable to work with.

They also decided to offer a loom with 3 sizes of pegs, for people who want to work with larger pegs.

Personally, I am so smitten with the thinnest pegs that I probably will just be working with them and not the larger pegs, but Gary and Donna wanted to appeal to the widest possible group of weavers.

Gary also decided to make the base of the loom removable in case a peg gets stuck. What a great idea!

Peg looms are eco friendly, as they are great for using t shirt yarn, or tarn, or fabric strips torn from discarded clothing.

And, I am working on a new book for peg loom weaving, so do stay tuned for that 🙂

I have made a little video that introduces the Dewberry Ridge Peg Loom:

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Filed under Dewberry Ridge looms, eco crafts & green projects, Loom & looms & small loom weaving, Peg and Stick Loom weaving, peg looms and weaving sticks, weaving & handwoven

Tagged as Dewberry Ridge Looms, Dewberry Ridge Looms Peg Loom, eco crafts, hand weaving, handwoven, Noreen Crone-Findlay, peg looms, recycling, small looms, upcycling

August 24, 2012 · 10:25 am

Furoshiki wrap technique to carry a small loom

I rarely leave home without a small loom.

If I am the passenger in a car, I weave.

If I have to wait for an appointment, I weave.

When in an airport or flying…. I weave.

If I am sitting, listening to my husband’s Jazz trio/quartette/quintette, I weave.

I like to be able to to port along my small looms in tote bags, backpacks or baskets.

But…. the warp strands and bobbins and needles can get seriously disarranged by being jostled in transit.

I have been mulling over the best way of protecting them while they are being trundled about…. and then it struck me….

By using the Japanese technique of creating perfect wraps and carriers from a scarf or cloth! :

FUROSHIKI (link to a ton of ways of doing furoshiki wraps)

3 Mirrix looms wrapped with Furoshiki techniques
copyright Noreen Crone-Findlay

I always carry headscarves in my purse or bag, to use as instant tote bags.

The other day, it struck me that the perfect way to protect my beloved small looms when I am slipping them into bags or baskets for their travels, is to ‘Furoshiki’ them.

It works BRILLIANTLY!

I usually use square headscarves- and any size will work… smaller scarves are great for small looms or bundles of books and tools; larger scarves for larger bundles of looms and stuff.

But, you don’t have to use scarves: This is a great upcycling opportunity!

You can use squares of fabric cut from old shirts or skirts or dresses 🙂

You can also use cloth squares to gift wrap presies. Do check that link at the top of the page. Impressive 🙂

Here’s a video, showing how to use Furoshiki wrapping techniques to make an instant, customized carrier for your small loom:

The models in the video are my 3 smallest Mirrix looms. I call them the Three Sisters.

I love, love LOVE my Three Little Sisters! I have renamed them: The Mini is ‘Molly Whuppie’ (you can read her story in my book, Soul Mate Dolls), ‘Vasilisa’ (heroine of a wonderful Russian fairytale) is the name of the 8 inch loom, and the 12 inch is now known as ‘Jane’, after my beloved Jane Austen.

I do believe they quite like their travel wraps! 🙂

Here’s the video that I made to show how I wrap my looms :

More little looms from recycled stuff part 2

If you are teaching a child to weave, or just want an impromptu, no cost small loom for sampling yarns and colorways, this little loom is very handy.

The project on the foam food tray loom is a bookmark, but you can weave amulet bags, rug mugs, small dolls and toys, doll house rugs or squares that you stitch together to make larger projects.

It’s great for traveling, as it’s light, and if you use a plastic darning needle for weaving, it’s fine to take through airport security.

Yesterday, I posted part one of the recycled and upcycled looms: Here’s the link: PART ONE

I think that one of the most accessible looms for beginning weavers is the weaving stick loom.

I am doing a lot of designing for it – here’s my post about the mermaid to weave on the stick weaving loom: LINK

Happy Weaving!!!!

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

Tagged as children weaving, easy weaving, free patterns, how to make a loom from recycled materials, how to teach a child to weave, how to teach weaving, kids crafts, kids weaving, no cost weaving, recycling, small looms, teaching kids to weave, weaving with children