Meet Jewel!

Posted on by texasgabi

New loom time! At first, it looks like a hexagon with an extra triangle on the top … It makes a special pentagon shape that in the quilting world is often referred to as “jewel”.

Meet the Original Jewel, R, our first jewel shape pin loom!

Take a look at some examples of how quilters have been using jewel shapes: Ideas for Jewel Shape Pin Loom Projects (Pinterest)

Being able to weave jewel shapes, however, goes far beyond that. Let’s take a look at this list:

  • Two jewels make a heart shape, and because of their geometry you can combine those hearts in all kinds of ways into all kinds of items…
  • Six jewels make a full circle, or wheel. Now just think about how using colors will make those wheels look different: All in a different color, two iterating colors, three … hearts! Add to that some interesting effects that variegated yarns will add …
  • Weave a jewel in two colors …
  • Now go 3D … make a little basket … ta-da!!!! Surprised?
  • Combine jewels with other shapes like hexagons and diamonds … for example, you can use the new Original Jewel together with the original TURTLE Loom!

How to weave it? It is true that just because you can build a shaped loom doesn’t mean that you can weave it. However, in case of the jewel, it actually turns out to be very easy (once you know how to do it):

You begin by weaving a hexagon, continuous strand in the round, until you have the hexagon shape with the triangle at the top and bottom and the warps in between.

Now you switch to the continuous strand method that is used on triangle looms, weaving in “U” swings.

The last row “locks” the weaving, and you can take the finished jewel off the loom without doing anything else.

The first, Original Jewel loom for worsted weight yarn (R-regular) will start selling in April (on our anniversary, April 19th). Don’t miss the announcement, right here on the blog.

In the meantime, enjoy some of the sample projects below …

  • Hearts — 3D stuffed heart, scrubbie cloth, and little wash cloth (yarns: Yarnspirations O’Go Big Donut in Spiced Ginger, Rico Design Creative Bubble in color 006, Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton in Rose Bud).
  • Going 3D — Wavy little basket (yarn: O’Go Caron Big Donut in Spiced Ginger).
  • Combining shapes — A sunflower to remember the Ukraine … hexagon center with jewel petals and blue hearts border (yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn).
  • Full circle, or wheel — Each jewel is woven in a different color (yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Ombre in Happy).

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Travel Turtle ’22 – Announcing the April Host

Posted on by texasgabi

Congratulations!
Debbie Shelmidine from Norfolk, New York,
will be our host for the month of April!

Charlene had been reading all the comments, and was dreaming of shopping at 5th Ave in NYC, and having birthday cake in Oregon, and she LOVES making infant items … it was good to have Mr. Random at hand to make a neutral choice.

Now Charlene wants turtle pancakes with maple syrup, since she learned that the state tree of New York is the Sugar Maple!

Thank you to all who signed up for a chance to be the next Travel Turtle host … for those who didn’t get a turn yet, please try again next month!

Coming up next … It looks like our April host Debbie has a lot of pin loom history to share, so stay tuned for her story …

Travel Turtle 2022 – Call for April Host

Posted on by texasgabi

Charlene and I are amazed how different the first three months of Travel Turtle have turned out to be, each month with a completely unique, interesting approach!

Now it’s time to determine where TT22 will spend the month of April … If you are interested and available to “entertain” TT22 for a month, please leave a comment in the comments section.

Signup is open now, and will end Tuesday, March 29th, 6 pm US CDT. I will contact the new host and make the announcement shortly after I hear back from him/her.

If you would like to know more about how this challenge works, please see the plan.

In the meantime …
Charlene has completely taken ownership of the travel map.
She adored the beautiful soft, red hexie that Angela sent from Pennsylvania.

And at first she was puzzled when she receive this “hexie” from Carol, which shows the state flag for Colorado … how did Carol do that?

Of course, TT22 had the answer. Carol wove the hexagon in pieces! TT22 says it tickled quite a bit, particularly when Carol wove the triangles, but the results are certainly worth it.

But now … READY, SET, LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW IF YOU’D LIKE TO APPLY TO BE TT22’S HOST FOR APRIL!

(Photo credits: Last photo by Carol Dowell. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)

Carol Made A Sheep Pillow!

Posted on by texasgabi

TT22, as usual, is having a blast. He now would like to be called “TURTLE in residence”, because he spent quite some time in Carol’s studio in Colorado. He made friends with Nico, a poodle/west highland terrier mix that in Carol’s mind ended up with the hyper from both. TT22 doesn’t mind at all (and Charlene is jealous again)!

Carol and TT22 were busy and created a super cute sheep pillow!

Carol used some leftover stash acrylics, and embroidered random sheep onto the hexagons. She also wove half hexagons and triangles, for straight pillow edges, then crocheted everything together. The finished pillow measures about 10″ x 10″.

Carol suggests that you let your imagination run free when you make the sheep. While she provides some of the sheep patterns for embroidery, she also encourages you to just go with the flow and make some on your own.

Why a pillow, I asked? The brilliant answer: You don’t have to weave in ends or worry about ugly backs because they are hidden. 

Thank you, Carol, for this cute March madness fun-spiration!
And y’all … stay tuned for the April sign-up early next week …


(Photo credits: All photos by Carol Dowell. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)

TT22 in March

Posted on by texasgabi

Hi, Charlene here … there are quite some developments with Travel Turtle going on right now …

Terry (TT22 January host) is working on a gorgeous shawl, made of differently sized and shaped hexagons, joined together with crochet … and all of that in those beautiful colors.

Angela (TT22 February host) sent TT22 on his way to his next destination, and she is keeping us on the edge to see what her hexagons will be turning into … did you see that beautiful red color?!?!?

Carol (TT22 March host) informed us that TT22 arrived safely in Colorado!

He probably needs a little rest, which will be just enough time to introduce his new host, Carol Dowel.

Here is her story:

“My name is Carol Dowell.  I live on the plains of Colorado.  My husband and I are retired and recently moved from the country to town.   

I learned to knit and crochet before I started school.  Watching a lady spin yarn from an angora rabbit’s fur while it sat on her lap at the Stock Show made me want to learn to spin. A gift of a small floor loom gave me the tools to learn weaving.

My current passion is weaving on “pin” looms. I started on the Zoom loom and now have many different sizes and shapes. The stained glass table runner was to see if I could make all of the shapes using only my Zoom loom  The sheep vest is my latest project and was made using my Turtle loom.

I have a studio called “Two Barns”, behind our home, where I spin, weave, knit, crochet, tat, quilt, paint, do beadwork and anything else fiber related. It has been a fun place for our grandchildren and great grandchildren to learn and play.” 

Gabi here … Charlene is off pouting, because the “Two Barns” sounds like a perfect, huge fiber playground for TT22 to spend the month … we are all looking forward to hear more about it, soon!

(Photo credits: 1, Terry Neal. 2, Angela Tong. 3-6 Carol Dowell. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)