Tri-loom Weaving

As I wrote in my last entry, last weekend I took a half-day workshop in weaving on the tri-loom or triangle loom. The teacher, John, brought 12" practice looms he'd made and let us take them home for a couple of weeks.
So, here's the wicked little thing that's occupied my time and energy since then:
What is so great about the tri-loom is that you create both the warp and weft at the same time! As someone who loves weaving but loathes warping....well, that's a huge plus. I scurried home after the workshop and went a little nuts, trying out various yarns:

I fell in love with the triangles woven with my favorite color of Noro Iro (#61) :

I am going to attempt to put these together in a vest, one panel of which you see at the bottom. There are all sorts of ways to finish the edges of the triangles and put them together. For this project I am edging them all around in single crochet (in a green Cascade 220 Heather) and stitching them together with a single strand of yarn through both loops. If there's any filling-in to do I will do it in the green in knitted seed stitch, which I think goes well with the woven modules.

I like the practice loom, but will have to give it back in a week or so. I've got my own loom on order from Hazel Rose Looms though! I ordered the 14". As you can see, there are also square looms offered and I believe that you can also weave the same way on those, creating the warp as you work. As I've wandered around the internet looking for tri-loom information, I've also seen a very large rectangular loom offered.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of triangle looms! I think the most popular ones are probably the really big ones - 3 feet to 7 feet! A whole shawl can be woven in 8-10 hours.
(Spriggs 7-ft Adjustable Tri-Loom at The Woolery )

My personal interest is in the smaller, more portable looms. My generally short attention span and need for frequent color and activity changes is well-served by them. I can weave a triangle on the 12" loom in about 15 minutes, then I get to crochet for a little while, then I can sew a couple of triangles together.

I joined a Triloom YahooGroup. There's some good photo sets there, but you do have to be a member to see them.

Most of the women who took the Tri-loom workshop also want to have another workshop in rigid heddle loom weaving, so I'm looking forward to that. I have a Kromski Harp Loom still in the box after two years. What a purty loom - it will be great finally to assemble it and learn to use it!

And, um...well, then there's my LeClerc 4-harness Dorothy loom:This has been waiting patiently for my attention for even longer. I got my Dorothy from a friend whose mother was into weaving back in the 60s- 70s. I'm thinking that maybe my Warp-phobia might be conquered by gradually working my way to the LeClerc!


Of late, I've found myself having sustained periods of peace and calm. I suppose I am coming into an acceptance of Patrick's death, though it feels horrible in a way to write those words. I remember I wrote at the very beginning that our task was to bear the unbearable and accept the unacceptable.
I am so grateful though, for the calm, because in that calm and peace is where I also feel a pure, deep, absolute love and in that love Patrick is close as breath...
Namaste,
'zann