The Confident Weaver’s Guide to Pin Loom

Posted on by texasgabi

Congratulations, Barbara Ruuska,
you are the winner of our Weaver’s Guide Launch giveaway!
Please check your email for more information.

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 GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, but feel free to comment or ask anything at any time … thanks for joining the fun!

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.

Welcome Little Looms Fall 2026

Posted on by texasgabi

I’ve been looking forward to this issue because it combines two of my lifetime favorites: Music and crafting. Editor Christina Garton put together an amazingly broad spectrum of musical aspects, and I’m humbled that I am part of this collection with two pin-loom projects.

The Decatonic Scarf

In music theory, a 10-tone or decatonic scale is occasionally used in experimental and contemporary compositions.

Similar to such a music scale, I used a curated mini skein collection to make this scarf. Like a decatonic scale, this has been an invitation to explore unusual color combinations.

The loom used for this scarf is the Original TURTLE Loom™, F-fine sett for sock/fingering yarn.

The original yarn is slightly thicker than fingering weight yarn. It is very comfortable to weave and creates a smooth, solid fabric, perfect for a scarf.

I used Koigu’s Jasmine DK Pencil Box in Bala Cranberries. This mini skein collection has been discontinued by the company, but you can still find it online. Or use any 10 mini skeins to “compose” your own.

Optionally, add and play with removable tassels. Use them in a classical fringe way, as closures, or add your own 10-tone composition for decoration.

  • Folded in half around the neck and ends pulled through. No tassels.
  • Classical wear wrapped around the neck. Tassels along the short sides.
  • Uneven stole wear over the shoulders. Tassels along the front as extension of the woven color.
  • “Composed” wear with tassels used as random decoration.

The Rhapsody in Blue Rug

In his Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin expresses the many facets of the American Melting Pot in music.

The door mat depicts the first six notes of the opening of the Blues theme (midnight-colored hexagons), surrounded by the light blue sways of Blues, and some golden rhythmic accents of that time.

I used the Original TURTLE Loom™, R-regular sett for worsted weight yarn to weave this mat.

Dwella by Gist is my new favorite rug yarn. It is the smoothest rug yarn to work with, yet providing the strength that you need for crafting something that you will step on with your shoes.

The issue is packed with 17 projects that celebrate music, from playful to practical. I also enjoy the features, for example “How to Weave a No-Sew Pouch”, which is about weaving in the round on a frame loom.

To find out more information about this issue or to subscribe to the magazine visit the Little Looms website.

For your convenience, we offer the print edition for Little Looms Fall 2026 in our online store so that you can order it along with your loom(s).

Enjoy a musical autumn!

Where is Joe?!

Joe will make his debut soon.

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New Looms and Amelia …

Posted on by texasgabi

Maybe the world does not need more square and triangle looms, but I want:

  • Matching square and triangle looms that will allow me to comfortably weave larger projects without wearing out my wrists,
  • enjoy speedy progress, and
  • not give up on the modularity that pin looms offer to make interesting designs. And yes,
  • I want to be able to use the same pretty yarns that work so well on all of our other looms, so the looms need the same pin spacing.

Meet the Square 6″ (R) square pin loom and the matching RightTri 6″ (R) right triangle pin loom for worsted weight yarns!

And then Amelia entered the stage when I recently strolled through The Rogue Skein local yarn store and discovered Tensan, a new Noro yarn that pairs well with an established favorite, Silk Garden Solo.

Quilt inspiration struck again, and I decided to adapt the traditional Flying Geese quilt pattern for a first project with the new square and triangle looms.

Meet Amelia, a new garment pattern for (any) 6″ square and triangle looms! Amelia is a tasteful minimalist design that combines ease of making and versatility to wear, and it invites to use interesting yarns like the Tensan.

The generous sleeve openings and the smooth V-neck allow you to style the vest in many ways: Try it with jeans for a relaxed outdoor stroll or with a festive blouse for a special occasion!

A button closure allows you to wear the vest open or close.

Get the looms and the pattern in the Bluebonnet Crafters’ Etsy store:

Not ready to make a large project? You can use the looms for any project you like. Try your new looms on a project as small as a coaster: Weave a square or two triangles and finish up with a single row of crochet ([sc 2, skip one] repeat all around; sc1, ch1, sc1 into each corner). Celebrate your coaster with a hot cocoa or beverage of your choice!

If you are not sure and just want to try out one loom, I recommend that you start with the Square. You can still make triangles! Here is the link to the video that shows you how you can weave a triangle on a square loom. This method works well, but if you plan to make a larger number of triangles, having a dedicated loom makes the task definitely more comfortable.

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or contact us!

A Holiday Guide and Giveaway!

Posted on by texasgabi

This year, the TURTLEs decided to participate in Long Thread Media’s Holiday Guide. 17 companies are coming together in a showcase of inspiration with fiber related gifts for your loved ones … or yourself. Get inspired with giving ideas, and at the same time you can sign up to win.

One of these prizes is our bestselling Original TURTLE Loom™, R-regular sett for worsted weight yarns. That could be your opportunity to finally getting started, or if you already have one, it makes a perfect gift to introduce a fiber-loving friend to pin-loom weaving.

Hop over to the holiday guide, indulge exploring all the options, and sign up to win prizes! The giveaway ends on November 7th, which means if you don’t win you can still order your favorite picks in time for the holidays.

Good luck!

International Quilt Festival 2025

Posted on by texasgabi

Next week I’ll be doing something a little bit different … I’ll be presenting pin-loom weaving at the International Quilt Festival 2025 in Houston!

A few weeks ago, Quilt Festival’s Bob Ruggiero interviewed me, and you can read about it on the Friends@Festival website.

The interview resulted in two amazing opportunities for me to talk about pin-loom weaving and how I use this yarn craft to create quilt-inspired projects:

I will be showcasing my work at the Open Studio (Create section) on Thursday, October 9th, from 2 – 4 pm. This includes a one-and-only opportunity for you to see my Flower Garden Throw that was published in “Easy Weaving with Little Looms” Winter 2025 right next to the original Depression-aera Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt that inspired my work.

Saturday, October 11, 2025 is the official “I Love Yarn” day, and I cannot thing of a better way to celebrate than to invite you to weave a little something with yarn.

I will be hosting a Make-and-Take event at the brand-new Sit & Stitch Lounge. Come and sit down and I’ll teach you how to weave a hexagon (using the sample looms at the table), and you will take home a little bag charm. I have Make-and-Take kits prepared to make a little pumpkin charm as pictured (free of charge, while supplies last). I will also have a variety of yarns available for you to sample, or feel free to bring your own!

Over the next few days, I will blog about some of the projects that I’ve made to celebrate the Festival, including the table topper that was inspired by this year’s Festival logo.

I invite you to subscribe to this blog so that you don’t miss any of those stories!