Pin Loom Coasters
Imagine a group of extra-terrestrials gathered in a living room. They’re poking and prodding a stack of coasters; and once condensation is explained to them and the subsequent ring on the table’s surface is demonstrated, they all start bleeping and nodding their heads. Then they ask in their inter-galactic native tongue if it would be okay to take the coasters home with them… as proof of civilized life on Earth.
I doubt this set of Pin Loom Coasters will be leaving the galaxy anytime soon, but in the interim, I’m happy to have them around! They’re fresh and summery, cute and simple, and very civilizing.
To make these pretty little squares I picked up Schacht Spindle Co’s fabulous Zoom Loom. An updated version of a classic pin loom, the Zoom Loom is thoughtfully designed with smart details that make weaving a breeze. And now my head is swimming with ideas for all the things I’ll make with my new skill: cute pockets, sachet pillows, gingham placemats, even blankets!
Enjoy weaving in the palm of your hand… And make sure you whip up a few extras for any, ahem, visitors. -Whitney
Materials
- A Zoom Loom from Schacht Spindle Co
- For the Main Yarn: 1 skein of Cascade’s Cascade 220, 100% pure new wool. We used the color Natural.
- For the Contrast Yarns: 4 skeins of Koigu KPM Needlepoint Yarn, 100% merino. We used the colors #1150, #2100, #1263, and #1503.
This is enough yarn for a total of 16 coasters, 4 in each color. (You might even be able to eke out a fifth!)
Size
3 5/8 x 3 5/8 inches
Pattern
Begin
With the Main Yarn, warp the first three layers according to the Zoom Loom’s instructions. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.
Leaving a 6-inch tail, wrap the Contrast Yarn around the loom 5 times. Cut the yarn.
Remove the Contrast Yarn from the loom and thread it onto the weaving needle (included with the Zoom Loom). Weave according to the instructions, starting at corner 1…
…and ending at corner 4.
Weaving in the Ends
At corner 4 (with the yarn still on the weaving needle), bring the needle over the first two warp threads and then follow the same weave pattern as the last row you wove.
Thread the other Contrast Yarn tail onto the weaving needle (at Corner 2), and bring it under the first two warp threads. Follow along the pattern of the first row you wove.
Thread the Main Yarn tail at Corner 2 onto the weaving needle. Inserting the needle between the first and second pin of the bottom row, weave over the first thread and under the next three, then follow along the pattern of the adjacent warp thread to the end of the row.
Thread the other Main Yarn tail (at Corner 1) onto the weaving needle. Weave under the first three threads, then follow along the pattern of the adjacent warp thread to the end of the row.
Here’s how the coaster looks before you remove it from the loom:
Gently remove the coaster from the loom and trim the ends on the back side.
And now make some more!
I've never done any weaving before, but this looks like so much fun! Is this a good project for an absolute beginner and would I be able to teach myself?
this is an adorable project. i have one of these looms and i love it.
I had to post a comment, because this was such a funny, cute post! Adorable project, too. I might be brave and get my kids involved….
Oh I love your vision of an alien visit. That probably how it really would be…
And this loom ingenious! My daughter would love this! And I will have to find my childhood mini loom!
Thanks – great as usual!
Soooo cute! I am intrigued by your place mat idea… I have been on a long search for the right place mats… And I think this pattern would be PERFECT. But I'm not very experienced with weaving, how would you make them place mat sized? Is there a different size loom or is there a way to do it on this size?
Thank you for helping me on my journey to the perfect place mats! : )
So cute. Is this similar to the Weavette loom or is that too big for this? Thanks!
Hi Barbara,
Absolutely! The Zoom Loom comes with a great instruction booklet that is totally geared toward beginner weavers.
Thanks so much for asking!
Whitney
Hi Hannah,
Pin looms make just one size of a finished square (in this case, about a 3 1/2 to 4-inch square). So to make something beyond that, you sew the squares together in a patchwork fashion. The Zoom Loom instruction booklet shows you how!
I hope this clarifies things and that you're still inspired! Thanks for asking!
Whitney
Hi Kirsten,
Yes, the Weavette is also a pin loom. The one I used is a 4 x 4 inch size. Any pin loom around that size would work great!
Thank you for your question!
Whitney
very nice & interesting
I have a Zoom Loom and I really enjoy making squares. Your coasters are beautiful. It would be great if you could post some pictures of sewing a place mat together. I'm having trouble getting the seams to look nice. Any help would be appreciated!
Thank you.
I have such wonderful memories of working with simple cardboard looms when I was a kid. This would be the perfect project for a young crafter to try out a new, more grown-up tool like the pin loom. Thank you!
How absorbent are the coasters?
PIECEWORK magazine March/April 2010 has a wonderful article titled, "The Very Best Afghans in the World" by Robin Hansen. She tells about the afghans made by her grandmother with her Weave It loom, and also the history of the little wooden loom. Your coasters are so pretty. As soon as school's out for the summer, I plan to order your kit. Nothing is as much fun as learning a new needle craft.
it is just extraordinary how those super brights mute out when striped with the white. They look great.
Hi Sharyn,
They're quite absorbent! Definitely more than all those resin coasters out there!
Thanks for asking!
Whitney
I have two vintage pin looms and have made everything from coasters to baby sweaters with them. Love the colors of your coasters. Very sweet!
I bought a zoom loom on my visit to your beautiful store two weeks ago! Never seen anything like it in England.also bought one for my mum!hope to get to visit again!
Love my pin loom a great how to video is on you tube. Made a Maze blanket out of the squares for my grandson keeps him busy when he can't sleep
I ordered a coaster kit with loom the other day along with some other crewel yarns. I can't wait for it all to get here. The tracking said not until Thursday.
To show you are extremely civilized, I think it would be cute to sew them together like granny squares to make some sort of little girl's jumper. Aliens, even you don't have something as cute as a three year old decked out in a colorful patchwork jumper!
I purchased this wonderful loom a year ago to make prayer squares for our prayer shawl group to distribute. They are small , portable, and let our children in college or the military know we are thinking about them. Your two color version is much prettier than ours, and your instructions are much easier to follow than those that came with the loom.. Thank you for sharing.
THANK YOU. I have been looking for instructions to do a different yarn for the weft for 30 minutes now….I thought I'd have to improvise. The schact instructions of "use a slipknot to attach to a corner pin" are less than useful. You're a loom-saver!
I just got a zoom loom. Thank you for your great idea and instruction on using 2 different yarns. I'm quite addicted to the thing.
I just got a zoom loom. Thank you for your great idea and instruction on using 2 different yarns. I'm quite addicted to the thing.
Thank you! Thank you! I have purchased a Zoom Loom, read the instructions, watched the video and still couldn’t make sense of it. Your instructions are so clear I’ve now made three little practice coasters. (P.S. Love the new site!)
Great ideas! Just wondering what other yarns could be used?
Hi Barb,
You can use any yarn from worsted weight to laceweight. A thicker yarn will make a denser fabric and a thinner yarn will make something a bit more diaphanous. You can even mix weights for interesting effects, like we did for these coasters!
Thanks for asking and please let us know if you have any other questions!
Whitney
I was re-watching the movie _Four Weddings and a Funeral_ last night, and I’m not sure, but during the funeral it looks like the character Scarlet is wearing a hat made of pin loom squares.
I’ve been a fan of this site for a long time, but this is my first time writing in! I just had to comment on these easy-peasy pin loom coasters. I am a little coaster-obsessed and am always looking for unique ways to create coasters that add personality and ‘pop’ to the home. I am definitely going to try these!
Jelica
Hello Jelica!
Thanks so much for your kind words! So glad you like the coasters! -Alyson
Do you have any more patterns or ideas for pin loom projects?
Hi Leslie,
Great question! While we do not have any other patterns at present, Schacht (the company that makes the Zoom Loom), has a lot of project ideas on their website. They can be found here: http://schachtspindle.com/project-archives/
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I have a zoom loom and must tell you they are addictive. I keep it on the coffee table with a basket of yarns and can’t resist weaving. I have been averaging 3 or 4 pieces every evening. Everybody will be getting coasters for Christmas!
I love making these coasters – it is fun to experiment with the many different remnants of yarn. I find a small spot of fabric glue in the corners helps the cut ends stay in place.
Any ideas for how to package these as a gift? Would also welcome any ideas for any holders that these could be placed in for storage on a coffee or end table. Thanks for all your great ideas purl soho!
Hi Judy,
We are so glad that this project has inspired you! They are quite fun to make! I think that a stack would look beautiful simply tied up with a lovely ribbon! At home, I have a small pile of them on my coffee table not contained in an vessel. That said, a nice wooden box would work well or perhaps a small basket!
Best,
Cassy
If I’d like to make these out of linen or cotton or a combo, what 2 weights of yarn or string would you use?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! We used a worsted weight yarn for our main color and fingering weight for our contrast color. I think using Blue Sky Worsted Cotton for the main color and either Field Linen or Kalinka for the contrast color would turn out just lovely!
Best,
Julianna
I wonder if Purl Soho has thought about tri-loom weaving – or Swedish Weaving (done on Monk’s cloth with worsted yarn) or Huck Embroidery (same as SW, but done with floss/perle cotton) on Aida?
Hi Marny,
Thank you so much for writing in with these lovely suggestions! Although we don’t have any projects in the works that use these techniques, I’ll be sure to pass these ideas on to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
What can be substitution for the Cascade’s Cascade 220, 100% pure new wool yarn?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for reaching out! Cascade 220 is a worsted weight yarn, so in its place, I would suggest using our lovely Worsted Twist in its place!
I hope this helps, happy crafting!
Gianna
Ten years on and I just discovered this fun little project, the instructions are so clear. Thank you for keeping it on your website!