Helena Hernmarck created this incredibly photorealistic woven tapestry, called Talking Trudeau-Nixon, back in 1969 and it's currently on display in The Museum of Art and Design's new exhibition: Crafting Modernism.
Here is a video of Hernmarck making one of her more recent tapestries on a massive loom.
Helena Hernmarck created this incredibly photorealistic woven tapestry, called Talking Trudeau-Nixon, back in 1969 and it's currently on display in The Museum of Art and Design's new exhibition: Crafting Modernism.
Here is a video of Hernmarck making one of her more recent tapestries on a massive loom.
I stumbled on Peggy Dembicer's amazing beaded portrait of the Johnny Depp Mad Hatter character over on Flickr this weekend. I love that she also included a video with details on the making of the piece.
It took about 35 hours of construction time, which includes the designing and will include the finishing, which means knotting all the threads. There are 12, 880 beads in this. Each row has 115 beads and there are 112 rows.
It's fascinating to watch the piece slowing coming together, row by meticulous row, on the loom.
I dug a little deeper in her Flickr stream, and found heaps of beautiful projects, and then realized she's none other than the mastermind behind the beaded Candy Land game board that made me swoon years ago. I'm so glad I stumbled on her work again, and will look forward to following her.
By Kristin Roach
Weaving is one of my favorite crafts because it's meditative and challenging, practical and artistic. It combines plain-woven cloth's simple elegance with the astounding complexity of a kilim split-stitch tapestry.
I love the way woven straps look, but the idea of warping my floor loom just to make something as narrow as a strap for my bike messenger bag seemed like overkill. Then I came across a wonderful and traditional solution - the inkle loom! This loom is relatively easy to build, costs under $30 to purchase all of the supplies (even less if you have the right screws around), and takes only an hour to warp and start weaving.
The slot-and-peg tensioning rod allows you to move the continuous warp through the loom and weave the entire length. That's eight feet of warp that you can weave all in one go without stopping. You can make it a simple plain weave or tapestry style.
Select hardwoods like red cedar or oak:
1" X 2" X 12" (3/4" X 1 1/2" X 24" actual size)
1" X 3" X 24" (3/4" X 2 1/2" X 24" actual size)
1" X 4" X 48" (3/4" X 3 1/2" X 48" actual size)
1" X 6" X 24" (3/4" X 6 1/2" X 24" actual size)
2 lengths of 3/4" dowel rod, 36" long
Sandpaper
Wood glue
4 wood screws, 5/8" (#8)
12 wood screws, 1 1/2" (#8)
Scrap block of wood, to help press pegs into holes
1/4" hanger bolt
1/4" disc washer
1/4" wing nut
Polyurethane sealant
Hand saw, see "Optional" below for a list of appropriate power tools to speed up this project
Compound angle
Measuring tape
Pencil
Drill, a drill press is really handy if you have one
3/8" flat wood bit
Coping saw
3/4" flat wood bit
Clamps
1/8" drill bit, for pilot holes
Workbench
3/16" drill bit, for hanger bolt placement
Phillips-head screwdriver, to fit wood screws
Optional:
A powered rotary hand saw, table saw, or miter saw would be ideal for making quick work of cutting your hardwood. It can be done with the hand saw, but because we are using hardwood, it will take persistence and patience. Just don't feel like you have to buy a new saw to build your inkle loom.
Step 1: Cut down all your wood to the following sizes:
(1) 1" X 4" X 30" (Piece A)
(2) 1" X 3" X 12" (Pieces B)
(1) 1" X 2" X 5" (Piece C)
(1) 1" X 6" X 16" (Piece D)
(7) 3/4" dowel rod, 5 1/4" lengths (Pieces E)
Step 2: Make your laps: corner lap and plain lap cuts.
This will rock your woodworking world. It's so simple to do once you know how. It looks really nice and adds extra stability to your loom. Grab your compound angle, pencil, measuring tape, and pieces A and B, and measure where your lap cuts will go. Use the illustration to see the exact placement of each lap.
a. Use the compound angle to mark straight lines. Measure the placement as well as the depth. You'll use the lines to guide your cuts.
Note: For the plain lap in piece A, drill a hole with the 3/8" flat bit at the corner of the lap so you can turn the saw when you get to the 90 degree turn.
b. Use your coping saw to cut out the lap. Cut the short depth first - it makes it easier to keep the cut even.
c. Sand everything so it's nice and smooth.
Step 3: Cut the tension rod's slot.
a. Mark out a rectangle 3/8" X 5" in pencil 2" from the end of piece A - the opposite side of the laps - centered vertically.
b. Use the 3/8" drill bit to drill a pilot hole at both ends of the rectangle. This will give the end of the slot a nice rounded corner.
c. Remove the blade from your coping saw and slide it through the 3/8" hole. Fit the blade back into the saw and cut along the lines of the rectangle.
d. Sand to remove any burrs and slightly round the edges of the cut.
Step 4: Attach pieces B to A.
a. Apply a generous amount of wood glue to one of the lapped cuts in piece A and clamp one of B in place.
b. Use the 1/8" bit to drill two pilot screw holes.
c. Use the 5/8" wood screws to secure in place.
Repeat for the second piece B.
Step 5: Measure and cut recessed peg holes.
a. Measure out the center points for each recessed peg hole as shown.
b. Clamp your loom to your workbench. Using your 3/4" flat wood bit, cut peg holes 1/4" deep.
c. Use the 1/8" bit to drill out the center point all the way to the other side - this is your guide so you know where to place your screws from the backside.
Step 6: Attach pegs.
a. Put a generous amount of glue in a hole, using a scrap block of wood to fit the peg all the way into the hole.
b. From the backside of the loom, use the 1 1/2" wood screws to screw through pieces B and A and into pieces E (the pegs). Because of the pilot holes we predrilled, this should be a snap.
Step 7: Attach the base.
a. Clamp the loom down on its side. Put a bead of wood glue along the edge of piece D and line it up to the right edge of the loom.
b. Drill 5 pilot holes, equally spaced, and use the 1 1/2" screws to secure it.
Step 8: Make the tension rod.
a. Mark the center point in the raw cut end of piece C. Hold it in a bench clamp or clamp it to your workbench and use the 3/16" drill bit to pre-drill the hole.
b. Use the pliers to grab one end of the hanger bolt and screw it into the pre-drilled hole you just created.
c. Screw into place by fitting the hanger bolt into the slot with the washer and wing nut on the other side.
And that's it. You are now a proud owner of your very own inkle loom! Now all you need to do is warp it and weave some amazing things.
Here's a list of inkle loom resources I find useful:
One of my favorite YouTube tutorials is How to Warp and Weave on the Schact Inkle Loom by Jane Patrick.
Inkle Weaving by Helene Bress is a great book to get you going.
Inkle Weaving
Earth Guild's Free Inkle Weaving Instructions
Beginning Inkle Weaving by Heather Heroldt has a nice list of other resources - scroll to the bottom of the page for her guide.
Sara Lamb's post, Inkle 101, on her blog Woven Thoughts. It's a really nice run-through of warping and weaving a basic strap.
About the Author:
Kristin M. Roach, creator of the popular website Craft Leftovers, is the author of Mend It Better
By Emilee Gettle
I love collecting unusual craft patterns and looms, especially vintage ones. Earlier in the year I went to a vintage fashion expo. After meandering through a menagerie of oddly dressed individuals and great-grandmothers' closet rejects, I found a small booth filled to the brim with old patterns, buttons, and lace. A leaflet from the 1930s with instructions on how to make lace with a spider loom caught my eye, and I instinctively snatched it up.
Spider looms were originally made in the 30s and 40s from light wood and even plastic, and sometimes they were sold in kits with a needle and pattern book. I found a few looms listed on eBay, but the bidding fervor made my pocketbook shrink in horror. So I decided to design my own loom using the pictures in the old leaflet.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to make your own spider loom. With this loom you can make round and square pieces of delicate lace. I've also included the original instructions from my amazing find to ease you into the process of learning to use the loom!
Pattern, provided below as PDF
Scissors
Scotch tape
Scrap of foam board
X-Acto knife
Tapestry or upholstery needle
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Download the Pattern PDF Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs. |
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Download the Pattern PDF Right click to save the PDF to your desktop. Directions on downloading PDFs. |
Step 1: Print the PDF pattern provided and cut it out along the solid line.
Step 2: Tape the pattern onto the piece of foam board and carefully cut the foam board with the X-Acto knife.
Step 3: Make sure the pattern is still taped onto the now-round foam board. Then use the needle to punch out each dot on the pattern. Make sure the hole goes through to the back. You will also need to punch a hole in the center of the pattern, where the large dark circle is.
Step 4: Remove the paper pattern, and you have your very own loom!
About the Author:
Emilee Gettle loves reinventing vintage craft patterns and finds particular joy in constantly reorganizing her craft room and rediscovering orphaned projects. She writes about her latest finds, recipes, and mishaps at Heirloom Girl.
Over the weekend I came across a question about using needlepoint thread for other crafts.
Trying other needlecrafts is a great way to use up your stash, especially to use for practice when you are learning. So today we’ll talk about that, forst with some general considerations then with some additional stuff for specific crafts.
First off, use your uncut skeins for this. For most other needlecrafts, you need long pieces of thread. Our cut lengths of 18 inches to a yard won’t work.
Second, when learning almost any needlecraft, single strand threads work better than stranded threads because the thread is easier to pick up cleanly. Save your stranded stuff for something else.
Third, try to match the thread thickness you use with the thickness of other threads used for this craft. You wouldn’t tat with tapestry wool, nor would you learn crochet with #12 perle. Look on the Internet or go to a local shop to find the weight of thread used.
Fourth, pick middle to light values. Dark threads are harder to see when it’s completed and you need it as a reference.
Fifth, you probably won’t have enough thread for a project, so go out and buy the recommended thread here.
Now on to the specifics:
Weaving: I have a baby blanket my mom wove out of #5 perle cotton. Weaving uses LOTS of yarn, so you probably don’t have enough. The warp (vertical) threads are under great tension so you need something such as perle or linen for the warp. You almost certainly will need to buy this thread. Anything can go for the weft (horizontal) threads.
Embroidery of all kinds: Of course you can use needlepoint threads, even cut ones for this.
Punchneedle: Here is where you will want to use your stranded threads (1-3 strands of floss is common here) and crewel wool.
Rug Hooking: If you are doing rug hooking with yarn rather than strips of cloth, pick thicker threads, such as tapestry wool.
Tatting & lacemaking: These need very fine threads, so look at you thinnest, single strand threads, such as #8 or #12 perle in cotton or silk.
Temari: Perle #5 and metallics are both wonderful for temari and are among the most common threads used for the decorative part. I have also successfully used crewel wool instead of sewing thread for the top of the wrapped ball. It’s a more rustic look but very cool.
Knitting & Crochet: Just about anything that follows the general rules will work here. In fact, many of the threads we love for needlepoint also live under other names as yarns for knitting & crochet. Silk & Ivory is a knitting yarn, for example. Other threads, such as tapestry wool are the same weight as knitting yarns (it’s about a worsted weight yarn).
So go ahead, use your stash and branch out into other crafts.
Related posts:
Too many tech accessories to keep track of? Kate Pruitt at Design Sponge shows us how to turn a book into an organizer for your favorite devices. I'd love to make this before my next vacation.
If you have some bored kids around your house, try this little project: pull a cereal box from your recycle bin, dig up some yarn scraps, and weave some pretty sun ornaments. Michele Pacey shares her how-to over at Michele Made Me.
I could see these being cool holiday decorations or even gift tags. Maybe you can get your kids to help you plan ahead?
I was very excited to pick up my very own CraftSanity coaster loom this weekend at Maker Faire Detroit. Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood was on hand not only selling her looms, ranging in sizes from placemats to pot holders, but showing attendees how to use a loom and start weaving. Check out the CraftSanity Etsy shop for looms of all sizes and don't worry - I got a handy instruction sheet with mine!
I'm always a sucker for a good duct tape craft, and I love the idea of reviving an old lawn chair with woven strips of the stuff. Instructables member Kapaow used several layers of tape in each strip to give the chair plenty of strength and keep the tape from stretching. I'm loving the idea of doing some duct tape cut-outs as embellishments!
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