We get asked on a regular basis, how do you weave on your looms? Well I’ve decided to give you step by step instructions on how to weave on each size and shape loom Theresa and Chuck Jewell at Stone Mountain Looms have created.
Triangle looms. Where to begin? If you’ve ever seen a frame loom/continuous strand weaving loom, odds are you saw the triangle. It is the most popular shape by far, and just as easy to learn as the square loom! AND there are so many sizes!
Another fun fact about triangles is everyone weaves on them differently. That’s right, there are no ‘wrong’ way to weave on any of our looms. In particular, some people weave with the triangle point up, others with the point down. Some from left to right, others right to left. It’s all about your preference and of course, where you learned to weave.
I’m going to show you how to weave on the triangle from left to right with the triangle point up. *I originally learned with the triangle point down, but found my working yarn kept getting caught as I worked.*
I enjoy weaving on the triangle. My favorite size as of right now is the 3ft triangle. They weave up quick and I can make larger projects with the small triangle if I want to, or I can make smaller projects. It’s fun to play and come up with new ideas.
Stick around to the end of this post to get FREE Triangle Loom Project Planner Worksheets!
Just a heads up, some of my links are associated with an affiliate program, which means if you click the link and purchase the item I can get a small commission at no cost to you. Feel free to read all the boring details here.
Starting your Triangle Loom
*All Triangle looms are woven the same way, these directions apply to ALL Stone Mountain Triangle looms.
First things first, before you start make sure your loom is in the correct position. This tutorial will teach you how to weave on the triangle with the point up.
STEP 1: Starting in the lower left hand corner of the loom, place a slip knot over the corner nail.
STEP 2: Now take your working yarn ‘for a walk’ across the loom to the other corner. Here you are going to take your working yarn under the corner nail bringing it counterclockwise over the nail.
| *I like to hook my yarn over the corner nail and the nail above it just to space out my weft a little to make weaving a little easier later. |
STEP 3: After you have the yarn on the right corner nail, walk your yarn back to the left where you started. Hook the working yarn on the nail above the nail with the slipknot on it. The yarn goes above the nail going counterclockwise over the nail to bring the working yarn down towards your feet.
Your yarn should be hanging straight down off the second nail along the left side. We’re going to start weaving now. You can either use your crochet hook, or you can use your fingers. Whichever is more comfortable for you.
| *I like to use my fingers for the first one and the crochet hook for the rest of the project. |
STEP 4: Take your working yarn in your hand and bring it up around the first nail along the hypotenuse (longest side of triangle). Go under the first string and over the next string before you hook your yarn clockwise over the third nail on the left side.
At this point you should have 3 nails with yarn on them on the left side and one (or in my case two) on the right.
You have started your loom!
STEP 5: The yarn you just pulled clockwise over the third nail on the left is now ‘taken for a walk’ across the loom to the right side. Once there hook the yarn on the nail above the one with yarn on it. Hook the yarn clockwise on the nail and slide the woven bit into place on the left side.
Now it’s time to weave!
STEP 6: This time get your crochet hook and do the opposite of what you did the last time. In this case, going from the top using your crochet hook, go over, under, over. Hook your working yarn on the crochet hook and pull the yarn up through your work to the next free nail on the right side.
Repeat.
Take your yarn for a walk to the left. Hook the yarn onto the next available nail, slide weave into place and weaving from the top with your crochet hook bring the working yarn up to be placed onto the next nail.
Repeat process on the right side after taking your yarn for a walk.
Finishing your Triangle Loom
You have one more row to weave. Congratulations you’re almost done!
Time to “measure” your yarn. Without weaving, wrap your yarn clockwise around the last center nail and bring the yarn straight up to the top nail. Leaving enough room for fringe, cut your yarn.
I know, super scary, but it will be okay. I promise.
Now that your last strand is cut, you can start weaving once again. By ‘measuring’ your yarn before weaving that last row, you’re making it easier on yourself to weave it. The last row is tight, and who wants to pull 2 strands of yarn through when you only need one?
Once you’re done weaving, tie off your end. Go back to your slip knot, pull it off the nail and tie that end off too.
At this point, if you want to add fringe do it now. It’s much easier getting your latch hook, crochet hook, whatever tool you’re using to get the job done, in and out of the woven strands.
Finally, pull off your triangle piece.
There is no need to crochet/sew it off the loom. It’s all interwoven already, so just slip that sucker right off the nails and enjoy! Bonus: It makes a satisfying noise and is super fun to slide your work off the nails.
Some helpful tips:
- Your yarn will always form a right angle on the side nails. If it doesn’t, that means you forgot to take your yarn for a “walk”.
- You will always be weaving two strings at one time.
- You should always start weaving from the top by going over the first string on both the left and right sides of the loom.
- Always make sure the yarn on the bottom nail is over and under the first string across so when you are ready to pull your work off the loom, it will not unravel.
- At some point, it will become difficult to weave your crochet hook all the way through your work. This is when you start weaving a few strands at a time, starting from the bottom. This is hard to explain with words, I will attach a how-to video at the bottom of this post to show you.
Video Tutorial
This is my second ever tutorial video, so it’s not the greatest, but I think I did a good job showing you how to weave on a triangle loom. I hope it helps you with your projects!
What Can you Make with a Triangle Loom?
There are so many different projects you can do with a triangle loom. Here’s a list of things I’ve seen them used to make. Just know this is NOT a complete list. Honestly, the possibilities are endless!
Check out my page Triangle Loom Gallery for images of projects I’ve completed on triangle looms.
*I’ll add Links to my Tutorials on how to make your own as I write them*
- Washcloths
- Bags
- Hats
- Pockets
- Blankets
- Baby Lovies (small blankets with crochet stuffed animal attached)
- Quilt pieces
- Blankets
- Tunics
- Panchos
- Shawls
- Neck Cowls
- Pillow Cases
Just think of your woven piece as a piece of fabric. What can you make with a triangle piece of fabric? That’s how most of these ideas have happened.
Plan your Project!
Not sure where to begin? I’ve got you covered! I’ve put together free, PDF downloadable project planners for each size of triangle looms currently available with Stone Mountain Looms.
Project Planners include:
- List of yarn and how to estimate the yardage for a project
- A chart to color in to create a pattern
- A place to write out your yarn color choices for each nail
The project planners are designed to help you create your own weaving pattern on each of the different size looms. I hope they help you come up with many beautiful projects!
Triangle Loom Project Planners
12″ Triangle Loom Project Planner
3ft Triangle Loom Project Planner
4ft Triangle Loom Project Planner
5ft Triangle Loom Project Planner
6ft Triangle Loom Project Planner
Share your Projects
Are you working on anything new? I’d love to see your triangle loom projects, either in the comments here or join our Facebook Group!
Hello! I’m Ashli!
Fiber artist extraordinaire, soaper, and founder of Cobblestone Alpacas.
Here you’ll find information on weaving, knitting, crochet, sewing, felting, yarn dying, spinning, cold process soap making, candle making, and more.
I also provide helpful tips of the trade for creative business artisans and vendors to help grow your business where you want it to be!