I know many of you are waiting anxiously for Batch 2 of the Jewel loom … The looms in this box are ready to ship … Get your Original Jewel loom kit on Etsy.
A Box Full of Jewels!
Travel Turtle 2022 – Call for May Host
Did you see the awesome loom party that Debbie organized for TT22? Just wow!
Another WOW for the lovely Heart and Flowers Mat that Debbie and TT22 crafted this month.
Debbie in her own words: “Hearts and flowers are my theme”, and with that she makes the chart for her project available to all fellow pin loom weavers who would like to make this project.
Debbie used scrap yarns from her stash, but you can of course use any yarn and colors to your liking. Thank you, Debbie!
But now it’s time to determine where TT22 will spend the month of May … 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 Thursday, April 28th, 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.
Meanwhile …
Charlene seems to be a little bit pre-occupied (or should we say distracted) by Bonnie’s new Jewel gnome, but more about that later. For now she did do her duty and added Debbie’s adorable heart hexagon to the map.
Charlene thinks that the heart is from TT22 to her … JUST her …
(Photo credits: All Heart and Flowers Mat photos by Debbie Shelmidine. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
The Spirit of Summer 2022
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″ F hexagon pin loom for fingering/sock yarn.
- Urth Uneek Cotton and Bellatrista banana fiber (I found them both at the Woolery).
- Little Looms magazine Summer 2022. Get a print copy right here with your loom order and save separate shipping, or grab a digital copy or subscribe to the magazine at Long Thread Media.
A hexagon seahorse had 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
- Universal Yarn Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi
- Little Looms magazine Summer 2022. Get a print copy right here with your loom order and save shipping, or grab a digital copy or subscribe to the magazine at Long Thread Media.
Want more? … Sign up to this blog and be the first to hear about more great pin loom ideas.
Happy 5th Anniversary, and Welcome Jewel!
WE ARE SORRY! Most of the first batch sold out in half a day …
there will be more! Sign up to be notified (click on “Let me know when it’s back”).
If you have special requests, please contact us.
When we launched the first TURTLE loom on this day in 2017, our business advisor said that “small businesses that make it to five years, are going to make it”. Well, here we are, and we sure hope that many more years will follow.
We’re by far not done with hexagons, but there was that jewel shape that kept itching us, so we decided to add that to the mix. Are you ready?
Meet the Original Jewel R! (shop)
“Original”, because it matches the size of the Original TURTLE Loom. Those looms can be used together to make even more projects.
“Jewel”, because of it’s special, five pointed diamond shape.
“R” means that the first Jewel loom is designed to work with worsted weight yarn. (Yes, Bonnie, there will be a fine sett Jewel later this year!)
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and watch this introduction that tells you a little bit more about the loom, how to use it, and what you can do with it (trust me, the latter is just the beginning).
Yes, weaving a Jewel is totally easy. If you are already familiar with weaving TURTLE hexagons, you may find this Quick Start useful, which focuses just on the differences between weaving a hexagon and a jewel shape:
If you are a complete beginner, here are some row-by-row instructions:
Jewel looms are now available in our Etsy store, and don’t worry if they sell out … they are here to stay, just like our small business!
Meet Jewel!
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).
All rights are reserved.
Travel Turtle 2022 – Call for April Host
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.)
Travel Turtle 2022 – Call for March Host
We all know that February is a short month, but it seemed extra short to me! I hope you all enjoy following TT22’s stay with Angela on Instagram.
Charlene is excited to find out where TT22 will go next … It’s time to determine our next host, for the month of March. 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 Sunday, February 27th, 6 pm US CT. I will contact the new host and make the announcement shortly after I hear back from him/her.
Meanwhile … if you have noticed that the shop is low on stock on several looms … we are making looms as fast as we can, but right now the weather is not cooperative. We like the temperature in our workshop to be above 50F for lacquering … and there hasn’t been much of that recently. But the weather will get there soon … we’re confident!
TT22 Update: Good bye, Arizona — Hello, Pennsylvania!
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.)
Travel Turtle 2022 – Call for February Host
Are you enjoying the Travel Turtle report on 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):
Travel Turtle ’22 en Route to First Destination
Travel Turtle ’22 is all packed up and on its way to Gilbert, Arizona, a small farm town that grew into a city on the outskirts of Phoenix. There, it will meet our first host Terry, a dedicated fiber enthusiast.
January host Terry is an indie dyer by profession, and her hobbies include knitting, spinning, and art weaving. Terry has been pin loom weaving for long enough that she doesn’t remember when and how it started. And yes, she has woven on TURTLEs before and has several fine-sett hexagon looms in her collection, and Squares, too. When asked what she’s made with those looms so far she replies:
“Mostly I have been experimenting with all the different yarns, including some of my hand dyed yarns. It’s fascinating to see how the squares and hexagons work up different when you change yarns.
I am currently working on making enough elongated hexagons to do a scarf or cowl of some sort. The way I work my projects is to collect a lot of the pieces and let them tell me what they want to be.
The best part of using the Turtle looms is that I make one piece and something is completed, a finished piece. I get instant gratification by making one hexagon.”
Experimenting with different yarns. 
One of Terry’s shawl designs. 
WIP in progress! 
A piece of art: Tea cozy.
Asked about her plans for TT’s visit Terry contemplates that she is still thinking about it (but there are already rumors that she might engage her husband in some small sightseeing around Gilbert):
“I have some wonderful small skeins of worsted weight yarn that I have been stashing in great colors. Since this will be my first experience with a regular sett loom, I want to make as many hexagons as I can, and then let them become something more grown up over the next year.”
I think we are now ALL looking forward to following along! Terry will be reporting TT’22s travel adventures directly through her Instagram account, you can follow her here: Spinfiber on Instagram. Also, look for hashtag #travelturtleloom2022 on other social media.
Last not least, I certainly felt happy to have Charlene around to help with the travel preparations …
