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Apr 19

Part 1: Zoom Loom Yarn Explorations

We are gearing up for TNNA – The National Needlework Association trade show in Columbus, Ohio this coming June. We are partnering with yarn companies to showcase a variety of yarns woven on the Zoom Loom which be displayed in these companies’ booths. We are so excited by all of the scrumptious yarns available from such great companies.

A Zoom Loom display with a woven swatch on it

Zoom Loom Display

We will be posting sample squares here for all the yarn companies that are participating in this special project, so check back frequently to see all of the latest squares!

Below are squares woven with yarns from Mountain Colors, www.mountaincolors.com
Mountain Colors always has a wonderful selection of yarns and colors perfect for weaving!

Mountain Colors mixed color yarns

click to enlarge

Yarns shown are:
Top row, left to right: Wool Crepe, 100% Merino Wool, color Spring Eclipse. This yarn is really springy and has a great drape. Bearfoot, 60% Superwash Wool/25% Mohair/15% Nylon, color Logan Berry. The third square is one strand of Wool Crepe Spring Eclipse and one strand of Logan Berry, woven together in all 4 layers.

Bottom row, left to right: Bearfoot, 60% Superwash Wool/25% Mohair/15% Nylon, color Harmony Aspen. Weaver’s Wool Quarters, 100% Worsted Wool, color Juniper. Merino Ribbon, 80% Superfine Merino Wool/20% Nylon, color Winter Sky. We recommend the Ribbon yarn to more advanced Zoom Loom weavers because it is a little bit more of a challenge to weave on the Zoom Loom–it’s worth it, though, for the wonderful texture it produces. Twizzle, 85% merino wool/15% silk, color Gold Rush. We love how the Twizzle weaves up!

It would be fun to mix and match different yarns with the same colorway to create coherent pallets with different textures. Another interesting experiment would be to use the same yarn type (ex. Weavers Wool) in different colorways.

Below is a lively swatch from The Alpaca Yarn Company, www.thealpacayarnco.com.

The Alpaca Yarn Company Swizzle yarn

click to enlarge

Yarn: Swizzle, 100% Superfine Alpaca, in color 07 Tiger Lily. Of course since this is Alpaca, it is SUPER soft and feels great to touch. Swizzle in this colorway is a black ply spun together with a tonally-dyed red/orange/gold ply. Due to the combination of colors and plying, the woven structure of the square is not obvious, so it creates an interesting visual texture which mimicks tracking. If you want to make a project where the outlines of the squares are less obvious, this yarn and colorway would be a good choice.

Stay tuned for yarns from Karabella, Knitted Whit, and Bartlet Yarns.

3 Comments

  1. Lelia
    April 29, 2013 at 8:47 pm ·

    I am a new owner of the Zoom Loom – and wonder about the different yarns. is there a particular size to use on the loom? When I am on yarn sites, they have all kinds of names & I'm not sure what will work on the loom.

  2. Jane Patrick
    April 29, 2013 at 9:09 pm ·

    Dear Lelia, You'll be seeing lot's of swatches go up on the blog–all are great for use on the Zoom Loom. Wools are easiest for beginners and DK, sport and lightweight worsted weight yarns are great bets for new Zoom Loomers. Happy Weaving, Jame

  3. Lelia
    May 2, 2013 at 3:25 am ·

    Oh, thank you very much. I am enjoying creating squares. I know NOTHING about yarns. When in craft store, I felt 'lost'. did order some yarn from WEBS.

    I guess I just don't understand all the labels – the yarn jargon. Some say #stitches/inch. And the colors! Good to know lightweight and sport yarns are ok — those are easy to identify.

    I do appreciate your reply. This loom is wonderful fun.

    Thank you for the excellent blog posts and links. I have some on my humble little blog, too.