I’ve just published updated versions of a few charts to correct errors; in one case it was merely a typographic mistake but in others I had reversed either the loop colors or the over/under weaving pattern in a way that garbled the charts.
My thanks to Allie Hoffman, Brie Zobel, Kathryn Kelly, and Teri Stratford for writing in to let us know about these issues.
If you’ve previously run into problems with any of the “Parallel Chevrons” or “Floating Double Circle” patterns, please accept my apologies and grab a fresh copy from the charts page so that you have the corrected version.
Unfortunately, occasional mistakes like this are hard to avoid in “live” projects like this, where we don’t have a separate editorial team or dedicated test-weavers to double-check our work — so we’re very grateful to those of you who are willing to try out the charts that are marked as “New!” and let us know when something has gone wrong.
If you spot a problem, please do drop us a line, either in a comment on the relevant blog post or by using the Contact Us form — and thanks for being part of our team!
Someone recently asked about the numbers of cotton potholder loops included in the various package sizes available from Friendly Loom.
I put together the reference list below based on the current prices as of June 2024. Each package size has a rated number of potholders it can make, which we can multiply to estimate the number of loops included, and the price per loop and per potholder.
Package
Pieces
Loops
Price
$/Loop
$/Piece
Colors
Traditional / 7″
Mini
2
72
$9
$0.13
$4.50
Multi, 34 Solids
Lotta
6
216
$20
$0.09
$3.33
4 Multiples, 2 Solids
Party
18
648
$48
$0.07
$2.66
4 Multiples
Studio
48
1,728
$100
$0.06
$2.08
4 Multiples
Studio
36
1,296
$70
$0.05
$1.94
4 Multiples
Pro / 10″
Mini
2
108
$17
$0.16
$8.50
Multi, 34 Solids
Lotta
6
324
$40
$0.12
$6.66
4 Multiples, 2 Solids
Party
18
972
$90
$0.09
$5.00
4 Multiples
Studio
48
2,592
$200
$0.08
$4.17
4 Multiples
Studio
36
1,944
$130
$0.07
$3.61
4 Multiples
[Update, 30 Nov 2024:] I’ve updated the table based on the November changes to the “Studio” packages, which are now 25% smaller than they used to be, and at lower prices, for a net savings of 7% per traditional loop, or 13% per pro loop.
You’ll notice that there is a significant discount for volume purchases; the Studio packs are half the price-per-loop of the Mini packs, and the Party packs are close to that.
On the other hand, when buying the larger bags you’re limited to choosing from the four multi-color palettes they offer: rainbow (9 brights), botanical (7 pastels), earthtones (7 darks), and neutrals (8 beige/grays). And as they note, the multi-color bags don’t have perfectly even numbers of each color, and the proportion will vary from one bag to the next; in extreme cases you might get twice as many loops of one color than another.
Three colors are not included in any of the multi-color palettes and are thus only available in Mini packs: peacock, purple, and salmon.
Not shown on this chart art the “exclusive” colors: cayenne, sea glass, denim, skillet, lipstick, and lichen. These are sold in the “lotta loops” size (enough for 6 potholders) and cost an extra $1 (traditional) or $2 (pro) more than the other colors.
There are also “bundles” which contain 3 or 4 different solid-color “Mini” packs; these are mostly useful if you’re having trouble choosing color combinations, and most of them aren’t any cheaper than just buying the individual colors separately.
There’s also one “exclusive bundle,” called “spring thaw,” which includes two “lotta loops” bags, one of white loops and the other the botanical mix, which is discounted to a few dollars less than buying the two independently.
I hope this information helps folks make informed purchasing decisions!
Over the last year, Margie Duffy has created a collection of dozens of videos showcasing a wide variety of potholder weaving patterns and techniques. Some of the videos feature patterns found on our website, but lots of other creators’ designs are featured as well.
Her “weave along” format lets you watch as she works a project from start to finish, buoyed by her cheerful commentary, and because it’s shown in real time, you can weave your own at the same time as you watch the video, without having to repeatedly pause and rewind to keep it in synch.
You might find these videos especially useful if you’re trying to learn a new technique, like doing your first shadow weave or clasp weave project — being able to see someone’s hands working through the process can provide an “a-ha” moment that’s missing from just reading descriptions or looking at charts.
