How To Use Loop and Loom Weaving For Different Craft Projects

Remember back when you were little, making those cool potholders out of loops and that plastic weaving board thingy? Well, I recently bought them for my kids and they love them as much as I remember I did. So we set out to find new things to make with it. We found out how to finger loop chains and from there made our own little creations. Below are a bunch of different things we made and some ideas of other things to make with a loop and hook set.

To make a potholder

Take your loops and decide what color pattern you want to use. You don’t have to use a pattern at all if you don’t want to. Stretch loops from the left side to the right side of the Loom. Fill all the pegs. Then stretch one loop from the top left peg to the bottom left peg cross weaving under and over each loop that was placed from left to right.

From the next top left peg, stretch another loop over and under the left to right loops so it is opposite of the first one you did. Repeat alternate these two steps until the entire frame is full.

To seal the edges by beginning at the corner and inserting the loop next to it through the hole. Continue around the entire loom. The last loop is usable for hanging the finished potholder.

POTHOLDER USE IS LIMITED TO PLASTIC HANDLE COOKWARE AND AS A MAT FRO TRAYS, DISHES AND MUGS. DO NOT USE FINISHED POTHOLDER NEAR FLAME OR ALLOW CONTACT WITH HOT COOKWARE (INCLUDING METAL HANDLES).

For a finger looping braid you take your loops and decide what color pattern you want to use. You do not have to choose a pattern if you don’t want to. With your palm facing you, take a loop and form a zig-zag from one finger to another using three, four or five fingers.

With another loop, repeat the same zig-zag step.

From the palm side, lift the lower loop out and over the loop above. I always do the loop all the way over the finger and worry about tying the ends when I am completely done with the size of braid I want.

When you have the size of braid you want you just slide the ends off your fingers and tie them in a knot. If I am doing a headband I add another loop to both ends connecting the braid to make it a circle.

Finger loop headbands are super cute. My youngest daughter loves to wear headbands and since she keeps breaking them I think these will be a great addition to the ones she has left. You can use a pattern, all the same color, or just mix them all up for a real funky one. They are super easy to do too. To make a finger loop headband follow these steps:

1. Make a finger loop braid to about 3/4 the size of your head. I did a whole braid for one of my daughters and a 3/4 one for the other and I like the way the 3/4 one turned out best.
2. When you are done with the length of braid you need, use a single loop to tie the two ends of the braid together. This helps with the stretching it to put it on and take it off. It also makes the bottom of the headband not so thick so it doesn’t puff the hair out too bad.
3. To add a rose to the headband, just make a small braid and roll it into a flat circle. I used hot glue to secure the ends together and attach it to the headband.

This is a project for when you don’t want to weave! It features oodles of colorful cotton loops, knotted in the center and joined with jump rings (that are available in any jewelry department). This belt isn’t made to hold up pants, it’s mearly for show. To make follow these simple steps:

1. Take two loops and put them end to end with one overlapping the other just a bit.
2. Pull one loop through the other and back through itself (like the 2nd picture).
3. Pull tight
4. Make a chain of these loops that will fit almost all the way around your waist.
5. Set the chain aside and do 4 sets of two loops.
6. Attach those loops to the chain using the jump rings.
7. Cut the ends of the 4 sets you made and tie each one separately (or you can add more jump rings and some charms to the ends of the belt.

Some other crafts you can make with loops are:

• Scarves (which you can add flowers too just like the headbands)
• Purses (make two potholders and hold together with more loops then make a flip top and add a button to hold closed. Use a finger looped chain for the handle)
• Necklaces (with our without beads)
• Jump Rope (just a very long finger looped chain)
• Rug (use 24 basic woven squares and attach to make a rug, add fringe on the ends with more loops)