Gabi’s Pin Loom Project Picks – August 2026

Posted on by texasgabi

Sponsoring the new Confident Weaver’s Guide for Pin Loom gives me an opportunity to highlight five of the over 170 pin loom projects in the Little Looms library every month.

For the first month I chose the theme: Let’s celebrate and reach for the stars! Having a place dedicated to competent pin-loom weaving information is a reason to celebrate.

Take a look at this month’s projects in the Little Looms Library (or click on the images below to get directly to that project) and enjoy a little story about each of them:

Find Unique Inspiration

Perfect for summertime, weave diamond shapes on-the-go. Crafting this shawl will add a special touch to many occasions in years to come.

This shawl is a great example of the vast geometry possibilities of hexagons. Did you for example know that three 60-degree-angled diamond shapes make a hexagon? Designer Greta Holmstrom brilliantly uses diamonds to make the stars, then fills the background with speedy-to-weave hexagons. 

Expert Knowledge at Your Fingertips

Make one star as a toy or many to decorate a wreath. Play with different yarn colors to mimic stars in the sky, star fish on the beach, or make ornaments for the holidays.

Deborah Carpenter is one of Little Loom’s longest and most regular design contributors, and you will see a lot of her intricate, fun, and practical designs mentioned in Gabi’s Picks.

And here’s another anecdote about this pattern: It’s the one pattern that gets complaints in the pin-loom weaving community about “incomplete instructions”. Of course there’s an easy answer: Turn the page!

In the printed issue, the last part of the instructions is on a new page and somehow the text looks like it is done when it is not. So, when you make your star and don’t know where the last square goes: Turn the page.

Little Looms has a team of brilliant and dedicated experts in multiple disciplines and a rigorous process to publish the best patterns that you can wish for. This is not just great for crafters, but as a designer I appreciate the excellent support, down to professional charts and graphs, that the Little Looms publishers provide to make patterns crisp, clear, and easy to understand.

Too Busy to Craft? Try Pin-Loom Weaving

Sprinkle patches of stardust delightfully throughout your home, matching the colors to your décor.

Pin-loom weaving has barely any preparation time and goes so fast that you can easily make something awesome with instant success in little time. This project is a good showcase for that.

For these doilies, you will just need a few fabric pieces that are quickly woven and assembled. Choose your colors based on what you have on hand or match a recipient’s favorites for extra appreciation. Combine the same pieces in different ways for different looks.

These are perfect prerequisites to sprinkle happiness!

Start Your Dream

Sometimes it’s the story that makes our projects. Don’t be afraid to take on a larger project and let it write its story.

A traditional Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt was what inspired me to invent the TURTLE hexagon pin loom, and this project is the culmination of that dream to reach for the stars.

You can listen to my story – and other great fiber stories – on the Long Thread Podcast … while you start weaving your own dream.

Encouragement to Contribute

This adorable trinket box is a contribution from a new designer, Elise Mann, from the UK. Every good celebration needs music, and this trinket box features beautifully woven pick-up pattern notes.

But I also chose this project to encourage you to contribute!

You don’t need a long list of credentials to become part of a future Little Looms issue, and it doesn’t matter where in the world you are.

Becoming a Little Looms star might be closer than you think … check out the Submission Page to find out what it takes to become a contributor. The Little Looms team is very supportive and amazing to work with.

Let me know in the comments section below what you think about
Gabi’s Picks … and if you have suggestions for future themes!

The Confident Weaver’s Guide to Pin Loom

Posted on by texasgabi

Have you heard? The Little Looms magazine now provides a free Confident Weaver’s Guide to Pin Loom on their website, and the TURTLEs and I are proud to sponsor the launch.

I think there is no doubt that Long Thread Media has gathered an impressive amount of high quality information since they started 10 years ago, created by a team of passionate fiber and publishing experts and curated tastefully by their incredible editor Christina Garton. It is even more precious (and humbling) for a small community like pin-loom weavers to receive such attention.

However, with this treasure trove of information comes the question – particularly for a beginning pin-loom weaver – where to start. This is where the Weaver’s Guide steps in. View it as a well organized introductory gateway to pin-loom weaving for beginners, and for advanced weavers it will serve as an easy-to-use platform to quickly find information and inspiration.

The guide is organized in sections that round it all up: Getting Started and Basics, Yarn and Tools, Finding a Project, Joining Pieces, Finishing Ideas, Tips and Troubleshooting, and Going Beyond, or Watch and Learn pin-loom video courses.

Meet a Special Feature

Sponsoring means that we help to make it possible to put all of this together. However, the Little Looms team and I decided to do more. You will see “Gabi’s Picks”, where every month I will highlight a few of the over 170 pin-loom weaving patterns and add a little story. Take a look at the August picks and read their story!

What About the Banners?

The TURTLEs and I firmly believe in providing wholesome solutions.

I’m a Maker. I make pin looms. It started with the patented hexagon and jewel-shaped looms, and we made them suitable for a large variety of yarns. And then arose the desire to add shapes that will work together with these looms for even more design options. You can see all the looms that we currently make in our Loom Catalog or visit the Bluebonnet Crafters store on Etsy to make a purchase.

I’m a Designer. The first hexagon loom was born out of the dilemma that I could not find the loom that I needed (you can hear the story in this Long Thread Podcast episode). As a lifelong crafter I often have ideas on what I want to make and then find a way to make it. When successful, I delight in sharing those ideas with others. This is why you can find over 30 of my contributions in the Little Looms library, and more than 200 more project ideas here on the blog, on Ravelry (you have to login to see the list), and on other sources like the Schacht website (Entrelac-Style Cowl and Autumn Cross-Body Pouch) .

I’m an Author. For looms like hexagons and jewel shapes there is much less information and instruction available then for the more traditional square looms like the Weave-It. I enjoy providing what I have discovered in educational articles through Little Looms. The frosting on the cake for me is when I get to write about a good book (for example “Make 30 Cute Critters with One Pin Loom” in the Spring 2026 issue) or an organization that is dear to my heart, like Handspun Hope.

I’m an Instructor. Sharing knowledge has become a big part of my daily routine. Each of our looms comes with written instructions, and our Bluebonnet Crafters YouTube channel features dozens of videos with instructions and project ideas for TURTLE and other looms. Contact me any time if you have a specific question. I’m also a member of these pin-loom communities on Facebook or Ravelry that I can highly recommend … maybe I’ll see you there!

Comment for a Chance to Win

Still reading? Yay! I hope that the Weaver’s Guide will amplify your love and appreciation for pin looms.

I’m very interested to hear any comments or questions that you may have about this new resource, please comment below! What do you like about the Weaver’s Guide? What do you not like? Should there be more/less of …? Would you like to see added …?

The TURTLEs told me that I need to add a raffle for your effort, so on the last day of August 2026 I will ask Mr. Random to select a name out of those who left a comment, and this person will win a TURTLE loom of their choice. The giveaway is open to all and the winner will be announced here on the blog early September.

Joe, the Lonely Goat

Posted on by texasgabi

There’s almost nothing that you can’t make with pin looms. Meet Joe the lonely goat marionette, which was inspired by the lonely goatherd story in the “Sound of Music”.

Three looms help to shape the head and the body, and flexible legs and neck:

TURTLE Loom Square, 4”, R- regular sett for worsted weight yarns

TURTLE Loom Elongon™, 3”, R-regular sett for worsted weight yarns

TURTLE Original Jewel Loom, R-regular sett for worsted weight yarns

Worsted weight yarn for body and head ensures a solid fabric that holds the stuffing, fingering weight yarn for the legs and the neck, woven on a regular sett loom, provide just enough fabric to connect the pieces but are bendable enough to enable the marionette to move. I used Signature Blend by The Rogue Skein for a most natural look, but you can substitute and use your favorite yarn or some precious handspun.

Joe is easy to weave and craft, even for a beginner who just wants to set out to explore marionette making. The 20-page pattern provides photo-guided step-by-step instructions for:

  • How to make the goat
  • How to make a simple cross bar for handling a four-legged creature, and
  • How to string up and test the marionette.

Use the basic marionette construction of this pattern to make other creatures, too, for example a horse, unicorn, cat, dog, giraffe, and many others.

Get the pattern now at our Etsy store!

The pattern will be on sale until July 15th. No coupon necessary.

4th of July Shadow Box

Posted on by texasgabi

It is not too late to craft something special for this year’s 4th of July. Here is a no-sew, last-minute, pin-loom way to make a decorative shadow box!

The idea was sparked by fellow pin-loom weaver and artist Sam Hammer, who has been sharing weaving inspiration all throughout the month of June with pin-loom weavers on Facebook.

I wanted to make “something” for the 250th birthday of the United States, and when Sam posted one of his art pieces in a shadow box, the lights went on: I could make a shadow box and put some hexagons in it! And fairy lights …

Before I share more details of my project below I’d like to encourage ALL of you to consider making your own shadow box. It’s easy and so much fun! And most likely you already have what you need or can make/get it quickly.

You will need:

  • A shadow box (the one I used measures 8″ x 10″). Make sure that your shadow box has a cushioned backboard so that you can easily pin items to it.
  • Pins, to pin the pieces into place.
  • ANY weavies! Go through your stash of woven pin-loom pieces and look for something red/white/blue. If you can’t find enough, just grab some yarn and your favorite loom(s) and weave a few pieces.
  • (Optional) Fairy lights.
  • (Optional) A 2026 charm. You could also embroider the numbers or use fabric paint.

Assembly:

  • Layout the weavies on the backboard until you like what you see and pin the pieces down.
  • Add anything else you’d like.
  • Close your shadow box and enjoy!

Here are a few details about the shadow box that I made:

I found a great 8″ x 10″ shadow box at Hobby Lobby, also the fairy lights and a variety of red/white/blue yarns.

Note: The links were valid at the time of writing but may change over time. These products are suggestions and can be easily substituted with items of your choice.

A few weeks ago I ordered some Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes online, because I was curious how the color development would look like when woven. The short answer is: Awesome!

I have not used this yarn a lot, but it weaves well on all TURTLE R-regular sett looms., shown here on the Original TURTLE hexagon and jewel looms.

Red Heart super saver is often referred to as America’s most popular yarn, so using it for the 250th birthday celebration seemed very appropriate.

Weaving the heart on the Square 4″ R loom was a pleasant opportunity to use the new instructions for pick-up pattern weaving on continuous-strand squares.

I also enjoyed weaving the log cabin pattern on the same loom, particularly after fellow pin-loom weaver Leigh Root on Facebook shared a source for speedy warping instructions.

Link to Leigh’s post (you need to be a member of the Pin Loom Weaving Support Group to read Leigh’s message).

Using these pieces of recent discoveries make my shadow box even more memorable. Maybe you have some weavies in your stash that have a special meaning.

The 2026 charm is optional.

I plan to reuse the display in years to come, and it will be special to remember that I made this project in 2026 for the 250th birthday of the United States.

To enhance the 3D effect inside the shadow box I decided to add “beaded curtain”-style strings made of PennyTURTLE hexagons.

Keeping it simple, I wove in the end tails while the hexagons were still on the loom.

I used the starting tails (after securing the threads) to tie the hexagons together.

The hexagon strings are taped with a small strip of Duck tape to the inside top frame of the shadow box.

The fairy lights are optional, and if you don’t feel comfortable with the idea of having lights inside the frame, the display will look great without it as well.

I laid out the fairy lights randomly and pinned them into place.

Be careful to not pierce the wire and leave a little space along the edges so that the wire will not be harmed when reassembling the shadow box.

The wire is thin enough (and the backboard of my box is flexible enough) to transfer it to the outside to the battery unit.

After putting the box together, the project is ready to enjoy. Almost not necessary to mention, but this project idea is great to make shadow boxes for all kinds of occasions, right?

Pin-loom weaving is even more enjoyable when done in company. There are two great communities online where you can ask questions, get advice and trouble shooting ideas, and brag about what you have accomplished. Check out the Pin Loom Weaving Support group on Facebook and/or the Looms to Go group on Ravelry. Hope to see you there!

Happy birthday, US America!

Podcast Highlight: Handspun Hope

Posted on by texasgabi

I first discovered Handspun Hope eight years ago (see Yarn from Rwanda?) and always have a project with their yarns on my needles and looms.

It is a privilege to co-sponsor the new Long Thread Podcast episode featuring an interview with Handspun Hope’s Diana Wiley.

I can certainly say without hesitation that all of Handspun Hope’s yarns weave very well.

A project example for the Madagascan silk yarn is the Rhinebeck Headscarf.

For my current pin-loom weaving project I am modifying the Ditta Vest pattern to weave a jungle scene. The story behind it? I recently saw a knitted vest with a pocket to hold a small matching stuffed animal.

Handspun Hope has the most adorable felted ornaments.

I decided that a vest with pockets would be a great way to enjoy those ornaments beyond displaying them on my Christmas tree.

Stuffed animal Hector snug into the picture to guard the loom.

I chose several different colors of Handspun Hope’s Organic Merino in worsted weight for the design to make a tree for the gorillas, and a meadow for the giraffe.

All will be woven on the Original TURTLE Loom™, R-regular sett for worsted weight yarn.

Allow me a quick note … if you look closely at the following picture, you will see that the purple yarn is slightly thicker than the others. This showcases another benefit of pin-loom weaving handspun yarns (more in the recent Spin Off podcast post):

The loom determines the shape and size of your weaving.

Even if you weave with yarns that vary in thickness, the pieces will all work together in your project just fine!

I will post photos of the finished vest here on the blog … I hope you’ll come back to see it!

While I don’t have a woven showcase for the Ethiopian cotton (I will have to fix that!) I do have some beautiful Umutuku on my knitting needles to make the Butte Meadow Top, the winner of the recent Farm & Fiber Knits Summer Bracket Challenge.

I am also using Handspun Hope’s Organic Merino DK for the Ripple Vest from the cover of the Farm & Fiber Summer 2026 issue.

You can’t just craft one project, right?

No matter which fiber craft you prefer, I hope that you will check out Handspun Hope while listening to the Handspun Hope podcast episode to get inspired by their yarns and products.