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Eyeing off the pins …

Eyeing off the pins …

Ever since I spotted this piece in Threads on making a bag by weaving it on a pin loom I have been itching to try this! Although this technique is often associate with childrens crafts I think there is loads of possibilities. I hope readers can see the possibilities too. 

A similar ‘no loom’ technique is weaving on a cardboard loom

Over on her blog Tenar has written tutorials on constructing and using a pin loom and a second tutorial on using a needlelace-style cardboard loom on pin weaving in different colours on freestyle weaving using chain stitches, how to use this technique to weave Soumak style

Julie Yonge has written a piece on pin weaving for CQ Mag online

Diana Kirkpatrick’s beautiful woven work hints at one of the directions this technique could take and Diane has provided a clear tutorial on how to incorporate beads in the fabric 

Ann Haritatos of Weaving and Intersections has explored the possibility of weaving organic shapes using pin weaving 

Also Bead wrangler has some off loom weaving examples with a very organic feel. These are published along side some tips and technique advice 

Now my imaginings go to mixing this technique with beads and textured threads to make free form organic shapes that can be joined together. 

Why am I not experimenting with this yet?

Well … I am writing the GIMP course, have some threads to skein which I hate to admit but I dyed them in February. Ning will announce their new plans next week and I need the decks clear so if I have respond to changes I can.

In the garden I am dealing with the worst cooch invasion in years. We had a bit of rain after a drought of nearly 10 years and the aggressively invasive stuff has gone mad. I have to get I up before winter otherwise I will regret it in Spring. Apart from agapanthus it is the only thing to have survived the fires in Canberra. 

I wonder if cooch could be the design source? Toddles off pondering such a possibility…   Enjoy the links I hope you can see what I can see. 

5 Comments

  1. This has my creative juices flowing, although I DO NOT need another project right now. I was wondering if T pins would work as well as the glass bead pins. I don’t remember what I bought them for (or where), but I have a bunch (or did before I moved… I’d better check). They seem too heavy for cotton fabric.

  2. Hi Diane I had thought that foam core would be a good way to go or even a small cork notice board so thanks for the confirmation that I was thinking along the right lines. I always buy glass headed pins mainly because when I drop them I can then see them!

    Valerie thanks for leaving a message and wishing me luck with the garden but somehow I think the cooch will win…

    Sharon B
  3. If you find yourself with time on your hands and begin a pin weaving, try looking for a deeper piece of foam to work on so that you can push the pins until just their heads are holding the warps in place. You’ll have fewer problems with thread hang ups.

    Use glass headed pins so they don’t melt when you press the piece at the end.

    Creating your own fabric can be addictive and you have so many yarns and threads to choose from!

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