Our turtle mascot Charlene has been capturing the hearts of stuffed animal lovers of all ages, everywhere, and now we are making the pattern available so that you can make your own!
This pattern includes three sizes … the instructions are the same, just different looms are used.
Explore possibilities … thick or thin yarn … one color or many … medium head on a large turtle … make your turtle(s) unique! Use the “tummy” to embroider a name or date to make it extra special for the recipient.
We’re kicking off a weaving challenge today … Weave a pin-loom garment by Thanksgiving this year for a chance to win a professional photoshoot by Gale Zucker!
This challenge is open to all pin looms, that’s why it will be moderated on the TexasGabi blog. Hop over and check out the Kickoff post for more information and cool tools like guides for Pattern Resources and a Project Planning.
The Handweavers Studio in London is now fully restocked … and there’s more! In support of the store’s tag line “A treasure trove for textile creatives” we decided to do a treasure hunt that is open to all TURTLE friends in the UK … and anywhere else.
Store owner Dawn and Alan and their team are now carrying the 1″, 2″, and 4″ Square looms, either to be used together with Elongons or on their own. They have also added the new, unique Jewel loom!
However, that’s not all … There is a new treasure hidden on the Handweavers Studio website, and if you find out what it is, you can enter to win that treasure! Entering for a chance to win is easy: Leave a comment on the blog when you find the treasure.
ETA: Denise CP was the first to find the treasure: It’s the Original TURTLE Loom XF – extra fine sett. I will tell the story of the loom in the next blog on Monday, but in a nutshell, this loom weaves finer sock yarns (knitting gauge 30sts/4″, weaving gauge about 12 epi) and will most likely be the finest sett loom that we will have in our product line.
YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THAT LOOM … just enter a comment below. Ask any questions that you may have about the new loom, write what you’d do with such a loom, or just say that you want to win it!
How it works:
Leave a comment on this blog.
One entry per person please, multiple comments from the same ID will count as one entry.
You can enter now until Sunday, November 20, 2022, 6 pm CT.
We will raffle off one (1) of “the hidden treasure”; the winner will be determined by random drawing.
The winner will be announced some time on Monday, on our blog.
No purchase necessary. No substitutes, no cash.
This giveaway is conducted by Bluebonnet Crafters, LLC. It is open to pin-loom lovers internationally unless there are any legal restrictions in your country that prevent us from shipping to you. (Note: In case you win, we will pay for USPS International First Class shipping or contribute to the postage in the equivalent amount of that. You will have to pay for any extra shipping cost and any custom and/or tax incurred by your country.)
We will use the contact information only to determine the winners. We do not share that information.
In case you win, we will ask for your permission to post your first name, state or country.
We’re busy packing a loom order for the Handweavers Studio in London … If you’re in the UK and have a TURTLE loom on your wish list, please call the shop asap to make sure that they will have one for you.
Check theloom catalog to see the TURTLEs we make, then contact the Handweavers Studioto ask if they will have or can still get what you’d like!
Did you see it? We’re tickled pink and humbled to see that the Cathedral Window blanket made the cover!
To share the happiness, Charlene suggested to give away three printed issues of “Little Looms Fall 2022”, one each day of this (long) weekend.
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you for your participation!
All you need to do is leave a comment below and name your favorite projects in this issue (and there is no wrong answer, if you ask us).
We will randomly draw a name, once a day, this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, at random times, out of all comments available at that time and post your name right here if you win.
How it works:
Leave a comment below. What are your favorite projects in this issue?
Leave only one comment. Multiple comments do not increase your chance to win.
You can enter now until Monday, July 4th, 2022 when at some point of our choosing we will draw the last winner.
The giveaway is for (3) Little Looms Fall 2022 magazine issues, one per day.
The winner will be determined randomly from comments left on this post.
The winners will be announced every day, here on the blog.
No substitutes, no cash.
This giveaway is open to fiber enthusiasts internationally, unless there are legal or other restrictions in your country that prevent us from shipping to you. (Note: In case you win we will pay for USPS International First Class shipping or contribute to the postage in the equivalent amount of that. You will have to pay for any extra shipping cost and any custom and/or tax incurred by your country.)
We will use the comments/contacts information only to determine the winner.
In case you win, you agree that we may post your name as stated in the comments here on this blog when we announce the winners.
Charlene wishes you good luck!
And the winners are: Day 1: Linda Canton Day 2: Tammy Day 3: Jessie (please check your email for details)
There is a rumor that one enthusiastic TURTLE loom lover (Hi, Melinda!) significantly influenced this: Welcome to our new TURTLE retailer, Tempe Yarn & Fiber in Tempe, Arizona!
In Germany, toadstools are a symbol of good luck, so I decided to design a toadstool mug rug (or stuffed toadstool!) for the occasion, to wish the team at Tempe Yarn all the best.
Let’s celebrate all together! Read on for the toadstool instructions!
Use any worsted weight yarn. Tempe Yarn offers a broad variety of high quality commercial yarns, but they also feature a line of unique to the store “Dyelicious” yarns. I used their Desert Oasis, a worsted weight wool that works perfectly with regular sett TURTLE looms, for the toadstool mug rugs.
I used the new Original Jewel R loom that you can now buy at Tempe Yarn, or online in our Etsy store if you’re not within driving distance to Tempe. The “dots” are optional, but if you wish to add them, I used the BabyTURTLE™ loom for those.
How to make a toadstool mug rug:
Weave 3 jewels in the “cap” color. Weave 1 jewel in the “stem” color. (Optional) Weave 3 – 5 Baby hexagons for the “dots”.
Layout the three cap jewels as shown and sew them together, using the tail ends.
Sew the “stem” jewel into place as shown.
Weave in all ends. Optionally, add the “dots” to the right side of the toadstool. The finished toadstool mug rug measures about 9.5″ tall and 8.5″ wide.
Serve with a beverage and cookie of your choice.
You can also make a stuffed toadstool …
Make two toadstools.
Right sides facing, sew them together, leaving a small opening. Turn. Stuff. Close the remaining opening.
It doesn’t have to be a toadstool! Use different yarn colors to make different mushrooms, for example an all natural “Steinpilz” (porcini mushroom) with a brown cap and beige stem, or choose your favorite colors to create your own mushroom, dotted or not!
Toadstool with 4 random dots, in Desert Oasis Sangria and Whisper.
Mug rug or stuffed toadstool!
All natural “Steinpilz” (porcini mushroom), in Desert Oasis Grounded and Whisper.
“Create your own mushroom”, in Desert Oasis Amethyst, stem in Ships Gray, dots in Dusty Rose.
“Create your own mushroom” in Desert Oasis Dusty Rose, Stem in Ships Grey.
Party of Four!
Be inspired …
If you live in or near Tempe, stop by the store. If you travel through Arizona, consider adding a visit at Tempe Yarn to your itinerary! Either way … Happy weaving to all!
Did you get the new Little Looms Summer 2022 magazine yet? If so, was it almost like it stops time and gets you in a slow, comfortable, relaxed, soothing, time-for-yourself kinda mood? It sure did for me.
The magazine includes 18 projects to make your vacation a better one, whether it’s staycation or going places.
Two of those projects are made using TURTLE hexagon pin looms …
There is the Summer Breeze shawl, a lightweight piece, woven on the Elongon 2″ F. It’s an easy weave that keeps interest with special fiber … or have you woven banana fiber before? The Uneek Cotton yarn and its non repetitive color development within a skein is used to “frame” the shawl.
Shopping resources:
Elongon™ 2″ Fhexagon pin loom for fingering/sock yarn.
A hexagon seahorsehad been on my mind for a long time, and finally all things came together in the Horsing Around Toddler Towel: The yarn, the project, and the seahorse.
Shopping resources:
TinyTURTLE™ R hexagon pin loom for worsted weight yarn
TT22 said his goodbyes in Arizona and is now in Pennsylvania to meet Angela … and a lot of snow!
TT22 made a lot of friends during his January stay in Arizona, and the month just seemed to have flown by.
Lots of loom hugs for Terry, who has been a fabulous first Travel Turtle host.
Ice and wind and snow don’t make it easy to get to the next destination, Pennsylvania, where TT22 will meet our new host, Angela.
Angela is a well-known fiber arts designer and instructor who has published many knit and pin loom designs in a broad variety of publications. In her free time, she loves to craft beautiful pottery.
TT22 feels honored to be able to spend some time with her.
About pin looms Angela writes “In 2010 I got my first pin loom and loved weaving with it immediately. It was a 4 inch pin loom. I seamed the squares together to make a doll blanket. And I continue to collect different sizes and shapes of pin looms.”
TT22 got very excited when he heard that Angela may want to make a coaster or a hot pad during his visit. His favorite from her previous work has always been this one, with the tiny little embroidery heart.
Oh, he can hardly wait to get started!
Charlene is very jealous that TT22 will meet Angela in person! But she knows that the next-best-thing-to-do is to follow Angela’s amazing social media posts. If you wish to follow Angela and TT22 during his February visit, look for Angela on Instagram and/or visit Angela’s Facebook page.
(Photo credits: 1-3, Terry Neal. 4-7, Angela Tong. All rights reserved.)
Are you enjoying the Travel Turtle reporton Terry’s Instagram account? Lot’s of looms, pretty yarns, unusual “freeform” project inspiration, nice people, good food, and stunning Arizona sightseeing make it a perfect vacation retreat! Terry is an amazing host, and I think we’ll probably have to rope Travel Turtle ’22 out of Arizona.
That said, TT22’s visit to Arizona will be coming to an end next week, so it’s time to look for a host for the month of February.
If you are interested in hosting the Travel Turtle 2022 during February, please leave a note in the comments section of this post.
Sign-up is open now and will close Sunday, January 23rd, 9 pm US CT. The winner will be announced after I had a chance to talk with the future host.
Do you have a question about this adventure? You can see what the Travel Turtle adventure is about in the January post. If you have further questions, please contact us.
While you’re waiting … here are some highlights from TT22’s travel report so far(All photos are courtesy of Terry Neal, all rights reserved. See full report on Instagram):
