Round Loom Knitting

In the past half dozen years, I've become interested in weaving. How makers create on various looms fascinates me. 

During the pandemic I tried braiding which doesn't require any equipment except a crochet hook. I learned to make round and oval rugs, upcycling fabrics from old clothing and home dec leftovers. 

Then, peg loom weaving caught my attention. I ended up buying a 24-peg loom which is simply a long, skinny board with 24 removable pegs; it doesn't take up much space. That's the loom I've used to make three "rag rugs" with selvedges...

and four dining room chair pads using fabric strips.

Most recently, my friend Peggy was creating with a round loom, which I learned, is knitting and purling on pegs. She showed me some of the things she's made, like this blue single layer headband that can be used to hold back hair for face-washing, or to cover ears in cold weather.

Peggy sent me home with her 24-peg round loom and some yarn so I could make a scrubby. I'm using it for face-washing.

I was intrigued enough to buy, from Michael's, my own set of four round looms. I promptly followed a YouTube video to make a scrubby.

Mine is a little larger than the one Peggy taught me to make 

Then, I followed another YouTube video to make a knitted headband. It's definitely not the pattern Peggy followed to make hers. Mine is two thicknesses. Made with wool yarn, it's unlikely I'll ever need to wear it here in Florida. It's thick! And soft and squishy. I'll give this to someone who lives further north than me. But it was a satisfying make.

So, round loom weaving has become a new fascination. (You've heard the exclamation, "Squirrel!" right?)

As if that isn't enough, I've been watching Instagram as @hermader makes four-inch fabric squares from scraps, and hand-stitches circles. I watched her Going Round in Circles YouTube video to give it a try. I used some of my new Kitchen Window wovens (plaid) fabric.

I love stitching like this - in circles. I used Aurifil #12 wool thread, for the first time, sent to me by Jo Avery. I really like stitching with it! And that woven fabric is like needling through butter.

I'm just not fond of the methodology. I don't care for circling a button in the center (How can blocks ever be used, except for decorative purposes?). Nor do I like the exposed, ravelly raw edges of the fabric scraps. I will try this again, but will machine piece scraps, and use appli-pops to make tiny fabric circles that I'll hand-appliqué to the center. 

At the Bernina, I've been quilting Party Time, walking foot quilting in the quilt center.

So, small progress on several things. 

QuiltCon is coming soon! In the next week I need to pull supplies for the six-hour improv workshop I'll take from Libs Elliott - Chaos With a Twist.

I have a few things to keep me occupied. Linda