A priceless portfolio of weaving charts for loop potholders.
Tiny Boxes
Here’s a fun variation based off of “Cobblestones” that is provisionally named “Tiny Boxes”. It’s another highly textural fabric, very ridged, almost like corduroy? Has insulating pockets spread out evenly, and should make an excellent trivet.
For the smaller version of this potholder, I folded the 27-peg pattern to show the first 19 rows and columns. I marked my new centers with pink highlighter. This pattern is easy to weave, once you notice its internal structure. Every even row is plainweave (tabby, over/under across the row). You begin with an over for the rows between the boxes, and with an under for the rows that form the middle of the boxes. The odd rows are a 2×2 twill (over 2 / under 2 across the row). On the rows that are box tops, you start with over 2; on the rows that are box bottoms, with under one.I start weaving in the center, to distribute the tension more evenly. Because weaving pattern is so easy, I also opted for a simpler method of handling the extra column. I have put a 19th loop on this loom by simply stacking it on top of the 18th loop. As I begin weaving, I have to be careful to include the columns in their correct order. As I work, the fabric locks them in place so they are properly separated.After just 3 rows, the 18th and 19th columns are clearly white and then brown.With the middle line of boxes complete, you can really see the pattern coming together. This is not a tightly constrained weave; the loops like to roll around while you are doing this. Take the time to put them back where they belong as you work. Fidget with it as you go to keep squaring off your boxes, and it will draw up better when you take it off the loom and massage it into shape.
Front of finished potholder, dangling from its corner ring.Closeup of potholder front, showing 5×5 brown boxes.Angled view of front, highlighting the ridges.Another view of the front, slanted to capture the texture, which is impossible. It’s so corrugated!Back of finished potholder, showing…. 4×4 brown boxes!! The front and back are not identical, after all.
