Crafting - Peg loom weaving

This is what I am working on this week.  A wool peg loom rug.  It will be a storytelling rug.
I have bags and bags of raw wool that I need to use up before spring sheep shearing time so I must crack on with wool related crafts!

Peg loom weaving is so easy and something children can easily be involved with.  My boys love peg loom weaving and all manner of materials can be used to weave with.

I have edited original post to include more details about peg loom weaving below.
Peg loom weaving is a good introduction to weaving.

The loom itself can be made at home or purchased relatively inexpensively.  I have a small loom for the children and also a big loom with two sets of pegs similar to this one - scroll down to bottom of page - which I find very handy.  Materials that can be used are washed sheep fleece, any yarn, fabric including old clothes and towels and even plastic bags but not biodegradable!  All sorts of projects can be achieved like wall hangings, rugs, mats, place mats, scarves, bags, rugs, bed throws..

The peg loom consists of a timber base with a row of holes drilled into it.  Wooden pegs fit into each hole and each peg has a hole through the bottom through which a warp of string is threaded.  The warp is the vertical thread around which your weaving material – fleece, fabric – is woven around. In and out around the pegs.  When the pegs are full of fabric, the weaver pulls out the row of pegs and pushes the fabric down the string, plugs them back in and continues until one has a lovely long woven piece. 

Very straightforward and very satisfying and very cost effective and green!

They range from small little looms on which I have seen scarves woven up on, to nice big looms like the one I have pictured above which I use to make rugs.  I have made two large, long rugs for our stone floored passages and they are wonderfully warm and cosy to walk along and also keep those passage areas warm.  I have made a couple of others too.

How to weave using a peg loom 

1.   First have your materials at hand – cloth, clean, washed wool, yarn…

2.   Tie warp threads through the hole in each peg.  A strong sturdy string for rugs (I use natural jute), a thinner string for smaller projects.  The length of the each warp thread should be at least as long as the required size of your finished project.

3.   Start to weave, winding fleece/fabric a couple of times around the first peg, then in and out all the pegs up to the end, around the end peg and back again, keep the weaving thickness even and compact.  To join lengths together either twist two pieces together or start a new piece by over-lapping over last four pegs.

4.   When the pegs are full, push the weaving down the warp, replace empty pegs in the holes and carry on.

5.   When you have reached your required length, finish off by knotting into tassels or knot and weave or sew ends discreetly into the weaving.

More details here.

Here is a link to a YouTube video to demonstrate.

Like I mentioned, children can enjoy this form of weaving.  My son made two magic carpets over a year ago.  Here is the post.  and he is currently making a rug.  He works on this on and off.  It is always there to come back to.  He is using ordinary yarn from a big bag of assorted yarn someone gave us through Freecycle.

Please do let me know if you would like to know anything more about peg loom weaving and I will be pleased to help.