They can stretch and stretch and stretch. Not so good.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

So, I use a couple of techniques to get around that problem.

Spool knitting with 2 interlocking colors works well.

Another way  to make a spool knitted handle that doesn’t stretch

is to spool knit over a stabilizing core of non stretchy yarn or cord.

I have been working on a bag that I have woven on the Lily Speed-O-Weave Loom.

I decided that I wanted to spool knit the handle and have the handle become the sides and bottom of the bag, too.

To make handles like this, you need to make a loop that is the desired length of the handle plus the measurement of the sides and lower part of the bag. Having a continuous loop for the handles and outside of the bag gives a really nice finish to a bag.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I used 2 strands of Lily Sugar’n Cream in black and one of my larger 6 peg spool knitted cords.

I spool knitted 86 inches.   Then, I cut 2 strands of parachute style cord that are each 180 inches long.

I folded them in half and put a large safety pin through the fold. Before I took the spool knitting off the spool knitter, I slid the safety pin into the spool knitting, drawing the parachute cords through the spool knitting:

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I folded the ends of the parachute cord through the loops, and then used duct tape to secure the ends:

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

When the ends were secured, forming a big loop, I slipped the ends of the spool knitted cord together. I stitched the ends to each other.

And, now, it was a spool knitted loop that would not stretch.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And then, I pinned the loop around the  back panel of the bag.  I stitched the loop to the back of the bag:

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And then pinned and stitched the front of the bag to the spool knitted cord:

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

The Butterfly fairy on the front of the bag ended up with a few changes.  I included 2 tatted fairies in the butterfly wings, too.

Here is the bag that I made using the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom, spool knitting, vintage flower looms, crochet, tatting and hand sewing.

Lots and lots of techniques in a fun new bag:

photo and project by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Why do cats always need to sit on freshly warped looms?

I worked with 2 looms set to their smallest dimension. (And was supervised well and truly by Ms Kitty)

You choose the size that you want the Lily Speed-O-Weave loom to be by matching up the holes on the sides and bolting them together.

I used Lily Sugar’n Cream in Black and White to make the front and back of the bag, and to spool knit the cords that form the edgings for the bag front and back.

The front of the bag is embellished with spool knitting, crocheted and vintage flower loom flowers. See: Flower Fairy

project and photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Today, I made a video, showing how I stitch the spool knitted edging to the perimeter of each piece.

This is done before the piece is removed from the loom.

Take off the rubber bands that are holding the loops on the pegs.  Untie the yarn ends from the loom and tie them to each other.

Weave in the yarn ends.

Spool knit a cord that goes all around the outside edge of the loom, and tie the ends together.

Thread up a needle and click on the video.

Stitching the lining to the woven piece is done by hand. If there are any little ‘oopses’, you can clean them up while you are stitching on the lining.

Note… I wanted to jump ahead to show how the lining is attached, so I popped the weaving off the loom before I finished stitching the edging to it.  DON’T do that! erk.

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

She brought back this lovely bag:

The butterfly outline was satin stitched with the weaving behind the cotton. Then the black cotton was carefully cut away to reveal the weaving.

This is a variation on Mola or San Blas appliqué technique.

Terry made a lovely T shirt using this technique….. here’s the link: Terri’s dragonfly shirt

and a neat shirt that has a woven appliqué image of the map of Salt Spring Island: Map shirt

I think that this is a great way to use treasured bits of weaving or embroidery or other fabric fragments.

Image Source: Noreen Crone-Findlay

Post from: Hankering for Yarn