HeartSong Studio: iCord Circle Weave Hot Pad

Well, here's ONE idea----

HeartSong Studio's

iCord Circle Weaving Hot Pad.

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Intension:

Before this piece was even off the loom, I realized it was going to be way too large for the Pot Holder I had initially intended to create. SO---- Hence my Hot Pad Project. (~:

The Basics:

I worked with the 9" -- 36 Peg Round Knitting Loom to weave.

I used LION BRAND WOOL-EASE Worsted Weight yarn for the iCord; I Spool Knitted approximately 10 yds.

I warped the loom with Sugar 'N Cream Cotton yarn.

And, I tore 6, 2" strips of Cotton Quilting fabric, plus cut one 10" circle; so--- depending on the yardage of iCord, with which you have to weave, you may need at least 1/2 to 1 yard of 100% Cotton Fabric.

That said, consider the possibility of Rag Weaving this entire piece.

In which case you will need to figure fabric usage, accordingly.

BUT--- An entire Rag Weaving Circle Weaving Hot Pad would be just lovely!

It is ALWAYS about Options and Possibilities. (~:

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Long Overdue Apology:

I also feel the need to apologize for the inconsistency of my photos. I have a very old [by today's electronic standards] point and shoot digital camera [ebay link for reference only]. It is easily small enough to hide behind a dollar bill. And I liken it to being one or two steps above a basic cell phone camera. With that out of the way, Let's Get Started!

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SPECIAL NOTE: With the exception of the Center Knot and Bullion Round, the following series of photographs clearly depicts I worked inward, from the Outer Edge.

The photo to the left, shows my Test Weave. I simply wanted to see how this would best come together.

Weaving from the Outer Edge in, is NOT necessarily something I would recommend; especially to those newer to this particular style of weaving. I spent a good bit longer making sure I was leaving enough 'ease' so as to NOT end up with the ever-unpopular and dreaded Curled Edge. I wanted a hot pad. Not a bowl-shaped end result. (~:

The only reason I chose to weave this way is due to the limited amount of iCord yardage [which was approximately 10 yards], and I simply was not sure how far it would go. Meaning, I wanted to weave the iCord to the edge; but, I could not really know where I would need to start in order to accomplish that. Especially with as tight as I was intent upon packing the weave. I did NOT want this project loosely woven.

SO! As this tutorial progresses, I will speak about where to approximate starting your iCord weaving. That said, it will also depend on four factors.

The weight of your Cotton fabric, and how tight you pack the Weft.
What Yarn you choose to knit your iCord.
The Spool upon which you knitted your iCord.
Approximately how many yards of iCord you end up knitting.

And--- Since weaving has been covered in previous posts, this tutorial will focus more on specific aspects that are more unique to this project:

such as the Warping and the Center Knot; the Edging Thread; the Crochet Work; and the Backing.

Think of all the colorful possibilities for the coming Holiday Season

Autumnal colors for Thanksgiving. [y-y-Yeah! I MEANT to have this up prior to Thanksgiving! Sorry.]

Blue, White, Gold for Chanukkah / Hanukkah.

Red, Green, Silver, and/or Gold for Christmas.

Black, Red, Green, for Kwanzaa

The lighter, more calico-esque fabric, in the photos below, was my first choice for this project. It would have worked best, decoratively, in my Kitchen. But--- knowing I wanted to add a Backing, there simply wasn't enough in my Fabric Stash. So, working with what I already had on hand, the larger scale print was my next best option.

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Let's Get Warped!

*If a picture is all you need, click on the image above for a Slide Show.

36 Pegs, but Warping only 35.

As I have done in the past, utilizing the Anchor Peg to create an UNEVEN number of Warp Threads was not a good option for this project. If I were working on a finer weave, more in line of a tapestry weave, then it would be an excellent option. But--- since the iCord is so much thicker, and we will be plain weaving over a SET of Warp Threads, it is better to skip a Peg.

Let's begin.

Tie On at Peg No. 2.

Tie Half Hitch Knot so that the Warp Thread runs down the left side of the peg.

Run Warp Thread down to the left side of Peg No. 20.

Run Warp Thread back up to the right side of Peg No. 3.

Take Warp back down to the left side of Peg No. 21.

Bring it back up to the right side of Peg No. 4.

And so on....

SPECIAL NOTE: For a larger view of individual photos:

Right Click on a photo and chose either
Open link in new tab --or-- Open link in new window

Continue on until you run your Warp Thread down the left side of Peg No. 19.

When you bring the Warp Thread back up, along the right side, Tie Off at Peg. No. 2.

Ready to Tie the Center Knot.

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Center Knot

Measure out--twice around the outer edge of the loom [as shown below]--enough Cotton Yarn to weave the first few rounds.

SPECIAL NOTE: For the purpose of making things easier to see,

the next few photos are showing a contrasting thread.

[Otherwise---] Tie On with the thread you just measured out.

Pull your Weft Thread up from behind the loom, through the set of Warp Threads at Peg No. 19.

Cross up and over the Intersecting Threads,

and then run your Weft Thread back down between Pegs No. 2 and No. 36.

Turn the loom over, and tie your Square Knot from the back side of the loom.

This is also the time, as you make the first tie, to make sure your knot is centered.

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The First Few Rounds

I thought I would take some time here, for those who might be newer to, or just now joining in the craft of Circle Weaving, to focus on the Center Knot and the first few Rounds. I know not everyone will need this much detailed explanation; but--- I prefer to create my tutorials as though someone is just becoming familiar with this craft for the very first time. And for that reason, I offer up front, the option to go straight to Slide Show, for those who need only the pictures to proceed.

And yeppers! That is my Lucy, attempting a Photobomb! (~:

Once the Center Knot is tied, bring your Weft Thread/Yarn up between Pegs 36 and 35.

Plain Weave the next few rounds around double Warp Threads [or sets of Warp Loops].

After the first 3 or 4 Rounds, I stop and even out the weave.

This is a good time to get your Center nice and round.

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Now for the Bullion Round

To my thinking, the Bullion Stitch [or Round] for this project, helps to create a little bit of insulation.

What you see here [below], the diameter of the Center Knot, and subsequent Weaving, measures 2 inches across.

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A moment on the Thickness

of the Center Knot.

As I spoke to this very concern in my A Denser Warping Overview post, this particular Cotton Yarn creates an extremely thick center knot. But--- the beauty of this project is the fact that the thickness of both the iCord and the Rag Weaving help to offset that concern, making it--for this project--a non-issue.

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The next series of photos shows how---to a certain degree---I reverse engineered this project.

I wove from the outer edge inward. I stopped when I felt it too difficult to continue weaving with the iCord.

The following image helps to show how I started--[which means you will END with]--the loom weaving with 2 rounds of Plain Weave, with the Cotton Yarn, that wove inside the Warp Loops.

This is an important round, since the rest of the weave is done over and under each set of Warp Loops. This will keep the iCord from unraveling off said Warp Loops, once your finished piece is removed from the pegs.

The Rag Weaving Round measures 1 inch.

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Knotting the Warp Loops

Because the finished product is intended for a high amount of functional use, I determined to run my Edging Thread as secure as possible. This is not meant to be simply a decorative piece. It will end up being laundered any number of times.

The following series of photos shows the steps I took.

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Ready to De-Loom!

I considered crocheting my decorative edge while the weaving was still on the loom. I did this last, with the Be My Valentine project. But, because I wanted to incorporate a lsc [long single crochet] stitch, it became impossible.

So, off the loom it came.

See how this edging provides such nice foundation upon which to start to crochet?

This is also the time to clean up and/or whip stitch certain loose ends on the back side.

A nice thickness shot.

This makes for great insulation.

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The Decorative Crochet Edging

Here is why you will love this Edging Thread. It helps to create a wonderful starting base for Crochet Work. And, as I've stated in previous posts, this will vary depending on the yarn you choose to work with.

For this piece I crocheted two rounds, utilizing the following stitches:

ch --- chain

sc --- single crochet

sl st --- slip stitch

lsc --- long single crochet

Round One:

3 sc on the Edging Thread---in between the Warp Loops

ch 1---over the Warp Loop

~~~That's: 3 sc, ch 1, and repeat to end of round.

Round Two:

sl st in the back loop of 3 sc.

lsc---inside the Warp Loop

~~~That's: 3 sl st [in back loops of previous sc], 1 lsc [into Warp Loop], and repeat to end of round.

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Lsc (long single crochet)

Note: A special Thank You! to Kimberly McAlindin for helping me with the proper Crochet term for: Long Single Crochet [Lsc]. You can also find Kimberly on Facebook at: Hooked on Knitting Blessings~

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Needle Weaving

Two More Rag Rounds

Because there was still a small amount of space, I decided to end the woven part of the project with a two more round of Cotton Fabric.

Another good view of the Cotton Yarn Plain Weave.

a-a-And, Voila!

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The Decorative Backing

This actually ended up serving two purposes.

1) To help hide hand stitched start/stop iCord and Rag Weave ends, and then 2) To protect the iCord yarn from messier casseroles and/or pots and pans; serving to camouflage any staining from usage; over time.

I simply used the outer edge of the loom to measure the backing.

Once cut, I turned under not quite 1/2 inch.

Press, Pin, and Whip Stitch into place----

OK--- NOW, Voila!

You have yourself one very nice Hot Pad.

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What's Next?

I've been in Cotton Mode recently. Spinning. Hand Carding. Creating new spindles upon which to spin. If you follow me over on my Facebook Studio page, you may have seen my Asian Point Spindle Prototype. Plus, my order just came in for an item that I desperately wanted to include in my Ginning Cotton by Hand post.

I may also skip ahead of one or another post sitting in the Draft folder, and share some of my images of my recent foray into Spinning Paper Thread. It was a lot of work, but very the outcome--the accomplishment--was very rewarding.