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Playing with Pin Looms as a Beginner

The humble pin loom is a great place to begin, and here is one new weaver's take on picking up the loom for the first time.

Lauren Meyer Dec 14, 2015 - 4 min read

Playing with Pin Looms as a Beginner Primary Image

Once you’re a pro at weaving on the pin loom, you can join the squares to create fun projects like these cute animals from Deborah Bagley’s Zoo Crew eBook. Photo by George Boe

When I found out our intern Lauren had never woven before, I immediately began plotting ways to get her started. Lending her a floor or table loom wasn't feasible given her small dorm room, so what was an editor to do? That's when I remembered we had an extra Zoom Loom in the office. I grabbed the loom, some yarn from our office stash, and gave Lauren some homework: Weave something and write about it. Weave she did, and write she did. Here is Lauren's take on her first experience weaving. — Christina

All of my classes and experience in journalism could never prepare me for all of the crafting and creating at Interweave. It's everywhere: At lunch, at meetings, at work parties. Having never knit, woven, or spun yarn (I've dabbled in crochet), you could image how terrified I was to be thrown into such a large and established creative community.

When Christina arrived at my desk with a pin loom, I started to scream a little internally. I was scared that this little loom, for which children's craft books have been created, might be my downfall. But I've never been one to pass up a challenge. I made it my mission to navigate this unknown world of pin-loom weaving.

I was given a Zoom Loom, some yarn, basic instructions, and a copy of Pin Loom Weaving by Margaret Stump. To be honest, setting up the loom was easy, intuitive, and pretty therapeutic. I started plain weaving it, thinking I was the master of the universe. . . and then I realized that about four rows in, I had already made some sort of mistake. Time to work backwards. Thankfully, problem-solving is (usually) my forte. Patience, however, is not (I blame my mom's genes for that). However, in about fifteen minutes, I had something that actually looked like a woven square. I gave myself a little pat on the back before finishing.

The First Pin Loom Square

Lauren's first attempt at pin-loom weaving.

Wanting to kick it up a notch, I started following a pattern for a square with a heart design. Understandably, it took a bit longer to put this one together, but with minimal difficulty, I finished the beautiful little heart.

The Cute little Heart Square

By her second try with this cute heart pattern, Lauren was a pro with the pin loom.

With enough of my darling little squares, I am sure I could make some sort of item. Pin-loom weaving, at least for me, could easily become addictive. I could probably use some help though, but fortunately I work in a place where this sort of help is never far.

As far as I can tell, my mini foray into the weaving world was a success. Maybe I'll have to try a day trip sometime. Lauren Meyer Signature

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