Mug Mats

Hello there....it has been a while. I've had quite a few changes in my life the last few months and teaching myself to weave is one of them. I've got such a stash of yarn.....in fact I have so much yarn I could probably open my own shop *grins*..... I decided to learn to do something new with it...enter weaving. I've done lots of surfing looking for the "right" thing for me. I've learned quite a bit from weaving on cardboard looms to weaving on a rigid heddle loom. I'm starting small and using my cardboard to begin with.

I took a piece of cardboard and cut it to the size I wanted. Then I measured down 1/2 inch and over 1/2 inch and made marks every 1/4 inch on each end and cut each mark.

The yarn going north and south is called with "warp". I then warpped the loom with Cream n' Sugar cotton yarn by wrapping the yarn around the cardboard like this:

One completed, I turned to the back of the cardboard and tied the two loose strings to keep everything in place.

One the loom is warped, you can then begin weaving. The yarn going east to west is called the weft. You weave by threading the yarn on a needle and sending the needle under and then over each string:

You switch going from left to right by going the opposite of what you did the previous line, going under the over, etc.

You continue back and forth until you reach the length for your project. Then, one by one, you cut the strands on the back and tie the ends to keep everything in place.

These are just a few of the mug mats I've completed.

I'm hoping to work my way up to weaving on the rigid heddle loom soon. If you have questions about my process or just any interest in weaving, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you. I love learning new things and this has been a delight so far.