Noreen Crone-Findlay - The Woven Bag: 30+ Projects from Small Looms

the

woven bag

30+ projects from small looms

Noreen Crone-Findlay

The Woven Bag: 30+ Projects from Small Looms.
Copyright 2010 by Noreen Crone-Findlay. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. The patterns and drawings in this book are for the personal use of the reader. By permission of the author and publisher, they may be either hand-traced or photocopied to make single copies, but under no circumstances may they be resold or republished. It is permissible for the purchaser to create the designs contained herein and sell them at fairs, bazaars and craft shows. No other part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by Krause Publications, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Crone-Findlay, Noreen.

The woven bag : 30+ projects from small looms / Noreen Crone-Findlay.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-89689-846-2 (alk. paper)

1. Hand weaving--Patterns. 2. Handlooms. 3. Handbags. 4. Tote bags. I. Title.

TT848.C685 2010
646.48--dc22

2009038492

Metric Conversion Chart

dedication

With love to my darling Jim, and also to my Chloe, Clancy, Angus and Alli, and to my grandbaby, who, as I write this dedication, is still a bouncy bumplove you, Baby! Also, to my best friend and fellow weaving aficionado, Terri Bibby.

And, last but not least, to the wonderful community of small-loom weaversI hope you will enjoy this book!

acknowledgments

Many thanks to the generous makers and suppliers of the looms used in this book: Harrisville Designs; Schacht Spindle Company, Inc.; Good Wood Looms; Butterfly Loom; Weaving a Life; and Dick Blick Art Materials. Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn; Coats & Clark; Caron International; and Wrights for the spool knitters and Bloom Loom. Thank you, too, to Lion BrandYarn; Caron International; Bernat; dudleyspinner; and Qualin International for the yarns and rovings in this book. Thank you also to the wonderful people at Lee Valley for the woodworking tools used in the projects in The Woven Bag.

I especially want to thank Candy Wiza, who first said, Hmmmm, I think youve got something here; my editor, Jennifer Claydon, for her insight and expertise; Christine Polomsky and Ric Deliantoni, who photographed the projects so beautifully; Rachael Smith, who designed the book; and all the other lovely folks at F+W Media who worked so hard to help bring this book to fruition!

about the author

Noreen Crone-Findlay is passionate about fiber arts. As well as loving small looms and bag making, she loves to design all manner of crafts. Shes a doll-maker, workshop facilitator, small-loom weaver, crocheter, spool knitter, tatter, jewelry maker, woodcarver, knitter and maker of yarncentric tools.

Krause Publications has published the following books by Noreen: Soul Mate Dolls: Dollmaking as a Healing Art, Storytelling with Dolls and Creative Crocheted Dolls.

Noreen blogs daily about a life in yarn at www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn and you can also find her at her Web site, www.crone-findlay.com. Noreen takes great joy in inspiring the creativity and igniting the imaginations of her readers and workshop participants.

Noreen and her wonderful husband, jazz/classical/fla-menco guitarist and composer, Jim Findlay, have been married forever (well, for more than thirty years and hoping for at least another thirty) and have a daughter and son. Both daughter and son are married, and all four are loved to pieces. Noreen and Jim are just embarking on grandparenthood and have been celebrating with lots of toy making, baby knitting, weaving, crocheting, woodworking, book buying and general jubilation.

Contents

Techniques

ID Badge Holder

Woven Roving Posy Bag

introduction

This book focuses on two of my great loves: small-loom weaving and bag making.

First, I am a dyed-in-the-wool bag maker. I havent bought a bag since I was in high school. Why would I? Its so much fun to use my imagination to make one-of-a-kind bags. Second, because I am passionate about small-loom weaving, I want to inspire other people to enjoy it, too. Small looms intrigue me, and I am constantly inspired to design fun new projects for them. So, what could be better than using small looms to weave those bags I love?

Why do I love small looms so much? There are a lot of reasons: Besides being affordable, they are very portable. They are also easy to store when they are not in use, which is great. Because many of them are small enough to slip into a bag, pocket or tote, you can weave everywhere you go. Small looms allow you to do a little weaving here and there, which soon adds up to something marvelous. Another really important aspect of weaving on small looms is that they are one of the most efficient ways of crafting with yarn. There is virtually no waste with a small loom, so you can be sure that your precious yarns are being used to their maximum potential. And just because the loom is small doesnt mean that you can only make small things with it. The shapes that are woven on small looms can be combined to make fantastic bags, pouches, purses and totes.