A box or piece of cardboard can be used to make a simple loom which can be used to make tassels, squares for a lap blanket, doll’s blanket, potholder, trivet for hot dishes …
Make the loom:
Using a ruler mark the slits for the loom. If you’re going to be using thick yarn mark each 1/4 inch down the length of the cardboard. For thinner yarns mark every 1/8 inch. Now use the ruler to mark a line across the width of the cardboard 1-inch from the top edge and 1-inch from the bottom edge. With a craft knife and using the marks you’ve made cut a 1-inch long slit at the top and bottom edge at each of the markings.
Use a sturdy cotton or linen yarn or string for the warp threads. Secure your warp thread by tying a knot on the end of the yarn or taping in place. Slide the yarn into the first slot and pull until the yarn is secure. Pull the yarn tightly but gently down to the corresponding slot on the bottom and slide the string into this slot. Pull the yarn up the back and slide into the second top slot, and then down to the second bottom slot. Repeat until all slots are full. Tie off the yarn or tape end and trim away any excess.
You are now ready to weave.
Weaving:
A header is woven at the beginning of a project. Any type of scrap yarn can be used as the header is removed once the project is finished. Use a similar weight of yarn as what you’ll be using for the rest of the project. Use a knitting needle or a small stick to pick up every other warp thread. Leave the needle/stick in place while you weave the header yarn over the first warp thread and under the next leaving 3 inches hanging off the loom on each end, continuing until you reach the last warp thread. Remove the needle/stick. Use the tines of a fork or comb to gently press the header into place evenly across the edge of the loom.
You’re now ready to start weaving. Use the needle/stick to pick up every other warp thread, starting by picking up the thread that you left down for the header and working your way across the loom so that each warp thread that was left down for the header is now up. Leave needle/stick in place while you weave the first thread of your project leaving 1 to 2 inches hanging off the end of the loom. Weave this end piece of yarn back into the project to secure. End each row by wrapping the yarn around the last warp thread so that it won’t show when the project is done.
After each row use the tines of the fork/comb to gently press the row into place evenly across the loom.
For the next row, pick up the alternate warp threads with the needle/stick and weave the yarn across. As you are weaving, if you wish to change colors tie the new color to the end of the old color making sure the knot is pushed into the back of the weaving so it won’t show.
End by weaving the end of the yarn back into the project for an inch or so. You might have to go back and weave a few lines across the very bottom of the project to make a nice solid edge.
Remove the header.
Slide the project off the loom.
Variations:
It takes a bit more planning but if you plan out a design you can achieve it by weaving a piece of yarn partway across then using another color and so on to fit your pattern. Carefully knot each piece of yarn at the back of the project if the back won’t show. If you need a cleaner back for your project leave an inch or two free and weave back into the project at the back.